For more than ten years, Geneviève has been actively contributing to debates on the advancement of human rights and environmental law both internationally as well as in Canada. She has held many positions: Acting Director General of Amnesty International Canada (Francophone division), Director of the Globalization Office of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and served on the Steering Committee of the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ).

Geneviève has conducted numerous surveys in Latin America and Asia, focusing in particular on the environmental impacts of investment projects and has been involved in several files on access to justice. In her role as executive director, she has been interacting with different stakeholders: governments, institutions, companies, non-governmental organizations and the media.

With a master’s degree in political science, Sophie has focused on the communication professions, with an array of experience in numerous structures and sectors of activity (company, federation, public relations firm, and more). After receiving a DESS in environment and sustainable development from Université de Montréal in 2017, she has specialized in environmental communication for non-profit organizations.

Sophie’s position with the CQDE allows this versatile professional to combine her interest in current political and legal issues with her need to raise awareness of environmental challenges among all levels of stakeholders.

Valérie Hénault holds a master’s degree in cultural enterprise management from HEC Montréal and specializes in strategy for cultural and social economy organizations. She stands out by her leadership, efficiency, and passion in her work, which has led her to be part of emerging projects such as the Grand Montréal Comique humour festival and the Convergence Initiative. 

Having worked in Montreal’s cultural NPOs for several years, she is now joining the CQDE team in order to align her environmental values with her career path. Her aspirations are to continue to ensure the proper functioning of organizations in accordance with her values of equity, respect, attentiveness, and eco-responsibility.

After completing a master’s degree in arts and culture, Eléonore began a photojournalism project in Southeast Asia, an experience that raised her awareness of sustainable lifestyles. She then completed a DESS in visual journalism at Concordia University and went on to work for various media outlets and a museum institution, producing photo reports, video capsules, podcasts, and articles for the online press. To tackle the environmental issues closest to her heart, she turned to the community sector and now wishes to put her communications expertise to work for NPOs committed to social and environmental causes.

Mr. Bishai holds a law degree from the University of Montreal and has been a litigation lawyer since 2007. He practiced family, civil and commercial law in small law firms until 2012. During that time he also wrote three articles published in Ontario and Canadian law journals.
He then joined the litigation department of the Barreau du Québec, where he regularly represented the professional order before the courts, including the Court of Appeal, and acted as a legal advisor to the Barreau du Québec. He then worked in administrative, criminal, civil and professional law.
Since 2015, Marc has been a partner lawyer with the Quebec Center for Environmental Law. He holds a deep conviction that environmental law brings together the most important issues of the present and the future.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s degree in transnational law, Ann Ellefsen has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2013. With over ten years’ experience, she has devoted her career to promoting accountability at both national and international levels. She has worked as a prosecutor for the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, or DPCP), as well as a legal advisor to various international tribunals. In 2021, she turned her practice towards environmental law by joining TRAFFIC, an international organization committed to protecting biodiversity. As a lawyer with TRAFFIC, she managed a project in Madagascar aimed at combating financial crimes linked to the illegal wildlife trade. She joined the CQDE team in 2024. 

The CQDE offers a structured and supervised legal clinic to university students wishing to complete an accredited internship in environmental law.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in law at Université de Sherbrooke and joining the Quebec Bar in 2018, Ms. Cloutier began her practice in administrative law and civil litigation. She returned to Université de Sherbrooke to complete a master’s degree in environmental management, which led her to work on the themes of water governance and population resilience in an era of climate change alongside a multidisciplinary research team.   

 Since completing her master’s degree, Camille has worked as a lawyer representing several First Nations and environmental organizations. Based in the Eastern Townships, she enjoys being involved in her community and strongly pursues the ideal of a world free of all forms of oppression on humans and nature.

Following a bachelor’s degree in history, Sara completed her law studies, during which she worked for Migrant Workers Rights (MAC). She also worked in research in environmental law, constitutional law, law history, and administrative law. She kickstarter her lawyer’s career as a researcher at the Court of appeal of Quebec, before joining the QELC in 2024. 

Before beginning her law studies at UdeM, Alexane completed her bachelor degree in political sciences at Concordia. During her studies, she learnt more about environmental issues in Canada, which confirmed her will to direct towards environmental law. During her second year in law at UdeM, Alexane was delighted to complete an internship in the communal setting of the QELC. She is now back among us as a Bar intern!

Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in law and is a student at the Bar school. She completed her internship at the QELC’s legal clinic for the summer of 2020. She proceeded to work with many governmental bodies before rejoining the QELC’s team as a researcher in law for the summer of 2024.

Leila holds a bachelor’s degree in law and is currently a student at the Bar’s legal clinic. She will start her law masters at UQAM in fall 2024 before completing her Bar internship.