Our People

Meet the team working to get the project on track.

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Executive Team

Our management team brings extensive international experience in project management, railway engineering, public affairs, Indigenous and stakeholder relations. Their knowledge and experience will allow us to carry out this ambitious project.

Caroline Hardy

Vice President Environment and Regulatory Processes

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Biography

With over 25 years’ experience in the environmental field and an engineer by training, Caroline Hardy joined VIA HFR as Vice President, Environment and Regulatory Processes.

Her rich career has allowed her to hone an expertise in mining, energy and industrial projects and a unique know-how in developing and nurturing trusted-based relationships in various sectors. She has steered numerous studies, including environmental and social impact studies (ESIS), and public consultations with communities and Indigenous Peoples, and has been actively involved on different consultative committees. She masters the inner workings of provincial and federal regulatory processes.

In recent years, she has held management positions in the environment sector at numerous companies, most notably Minerai de Fer Québec, Hatch, GNL Québec, Mine Arnaud and Ressources Strateco, to name but a few.

Caroline Hardy holds bachelor’s degrees in geological engineering and in geology from Université Laval, and studied oceanography at the University of New Hampshire. She is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.

Felix Turgeon

Vice President Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretariat

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Biography

Félix Turgeon is a lawyer, manager and corporate director. He is the interim head of VIA HFR’s real property acquisition activities.

Prior to joining the organization, Félix Turgeon was Director General, Planning and Regulation of the Régie de l’énergie du Québec. He supervised nearly 45 executives and professionals who were responsible for conducting economic and technical analyses of the case files, monitoring the petroleum products market and ensuring the compliance of entities subject to North American standards for electric power transmission.

Over the course of his career, he has held numerous management positions at Énergir. His diverse duties included overseeing the legal aspects of the development and completion of Canada’s largest wind farm (340 MW), the acquisition of a solar energy producer, the commercialization of renewable natural gas and the growth in production and commercialization activities of liquefied natural gas. He is proud to have steered Énergir’s first action plan on equity, diversity and inclusion.

For a number of years, he served as legal counsel on business law for SNC-Lavalin (now Atkins Realis). During that period, he contributed to several infrastructure projects, some of them using a public-private model. He represented the company in numerous major transactions and helmed efforts to defend its interests with regard to certain contentious issues.

Mr. Turgeon has sat on several boards of directors, including those of Intragaz, the Natural Gas Technologies Centre, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Historic Site and the Théâtre Duceppe foundation, in addition to participating in the campaign cabinet set up for Juripop’s 10th anniversary.

A member of the Barreau du Québec since 2002, he holds a bachelor’s in law and a master’s in international law and international politics.

GRAEME HAMPSHIRE

Interim Senior Vice President Project Management and Current Procurement Process

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Biography

A chartered engineer for nearly 40 years, Graeme Hampshire has held senior positions in major transportation and infrastructure organizations in the rail and aviation sectors around the world. He has also played key roles with private and government organizations and national rail network. His clients have included project developers, regulators and operators across the supply chain.

In the UK rail sector, Graeme has over 20 years' experience in franchising and was Chairman of the Rail Delivery Group Reform Board. He was Business Development Director for Stagecoach plc, a UK rail and bus operator, and Franchise Director for the Strategic Rail Authority in the UK.

He has worked in all areas of franchising having leased and managed most of the UK network, either for the Strategic Rail Authority or for operators and led bids for some 12 franchises and contracts, including both Virgin West Coast and East Coast operations.

Prior to joining the High Frequency Rail project full time, he was involved in projects in throughout Europe, including the High Speed Line project in the Netherlands, Australia, Botswana and the United States. In Canada, he recently served as Consortium Director for the procurement of the Metrolinx OnCorr RER. He also played a leading role in the design of High Speed 1 in UK.

Graeme holds a MA from Cambridge University and an MBA from Brunel University. His wife Liz and four adult children are delighted he has taken this role.

Jacynthe Audette

Senior Vice President Commercial Projects

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Biography

With her rich experience of more than 20 years in commercial and financial advisory services, in the field of infrastructure in Canada and abroad, most notably for a number of railway projects sponsored by the World Bank, Jacynthe Audette joined VIA HFR as Senior Vice-President, Commercial Projects.

Jacynthe is the former managing director of PwC’s Capital Projects and Infrastructure group in Montréal. Over the years, her varied duties at PwC led her to draw on her solid acumen in commercial, financial and strategic analysis; procurement strategy and process; project finance; risk analysis; structuring and negotiation of contractual agreements; and execution and management of programs and large-scale projects in sectors as varied as transportation, energy and social infrastructure. Most notably, she supported VIA Rail, for several years, by providing financial and strategic consulting services for the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project.

In her career, Jacynthe Audette has collaborated on more than 30 major infrastructure projects involving innovative modes of procurement and financing. She has held the position of Business Optimization Specialist at CN and of Vice-President, Corporate Development and Projects at Gazoduq, participating in the development of a natural gas transmission line project in Ontario and Québec.

Ms. Audette holds an International MBA from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor’s in business administration from HEC Montréal.

Julie Boucher

Senior Vice President Communications, Public Affairs and Indigenous Relations

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Biography

Julie Boucher joined the Via HFR team in March 2024 to contribute to a project she deemed rallying and necessary: a rapid, reliable and frequent train connecting Québec and Toronto. Julie is currently in charge of the brand’s external and internal communications, and community, government and Indigenous relations.

Julie began her career as a journalist, working for TQS and Radio‑Canada television for seven years. She went on to work for Hydro-Québec for over 16 years. In March 2020, she became a member of the organization’s steering committee as VP Sustainability, Community Relations and Communications. Julie led the teams in charge of ensuring open, constructive communications with the general public and all stakeholders, including governments, and maintaining privileged relations with local and Indigenous communities. She was also responsible for the management of the brand, sustainable development, and donations and sponsorships.

Ms. Boucher holds a bachelor’s degree in geography with a minor in political science from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC). She sits on the board of the Montréal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM) and on the board of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Marc-Olivier Ranger

Senior Vice President Strategic Policy and Partnerships

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Biography

As Senior Vice-President, Strategic Policy and Partnerships, Marc-Olivier plays a fundamental role in the organization’s success. His duties include shaping the strategic orientations and the public interest objectives for the High Frequency Rail project. As well, he collaborates with the Government of Canada and academia to define the project’s policy, financial and economic frameworks.

Marc-Olivier Ranger left his mark on the federal government over many years during which he contributed a wide-ranging collection of unmatched expertise in the areas of sound governance, the management of public finances, and the design, administration and implementation of sweeping programs and major infrastructure projects.

He was a senior director at Transport Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Prior to joining VIA HFR, Marc-Olivier oversaw the monitoring, policy orientations and appointment recommendations to support the mandates of all federal Crown corporations, shared governance organizations and the other entities comprising the Department of Transport’s portfolio. For many years, he supervised all construction work within the framework of the Canadian Parliament’s Centre Block rehabilitation project, the largest and most complex rehabilitation project for a heritage building ever undertaken in Canada. During the pandemic, he ensured the operational safety, security and continuity of one of the biggest construction sites in the country, supporting the local economy and safeguarding hundreds of jobs in downtown Ottawa.

In his career, Marc-Olivier also contributed to the founding of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. He participated in the design and creation of the Investing in Canada Plan, a plan with funding in excess of $180 billion for the creation of infrastructure for public transit, ports, broadband networks, energy systems, community services and natural spaces.

Marc-Olivier pursued graduate studies in public and infrastructure administration at the Harvard Kennedy School and the École nationale d’administration publique.

MARTIN IMBLEAU

President and Chief Executive Officer

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Biography

Martin Imbleau brings to VIA HFR exceptional leadership skills and vast expertise in the realization of complex infrastructure projects in green zones. His impressive network of contacts, comprised of stakeholders from Indigenous communities, experts, national and international partners, business managers and players from all levels of government, is a precious asset for the HFR project.

Before joining VIA HFR, Mr. Imbleau was CEO of the Montreal Port Authority. Under his guidance, the organization built a reputation as an environmental and sustainable development leader. At Hydro-Québec, he was Vice-President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development for Canada and the United States. He also worked for Énergir as vice-president in several important roles, among them as regards renewable energy sources, community relations, security, gas supply and transportation.

Martin holds a master’s in law from Université de Montréal and a bachelor’s in law from Université du Québec à Montréal. He has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1997. While working on the development of major infrastructures, he pursues his commitment to defending human rights around the world and has authored numerous works on international law as it regards human rights, genocide and transitional justice.

Mr. Imbleau is chairman of the board of directors of Université du Québec à Montréal’s Raoul Dandurand Chair in Strategic and Diplomatic Studies. He is the cofounder of the Chaire de gestion du secteur de l’énergie at HEC Montréal.

PHILIPPE LANDRY

Vice President Information Technology

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Biography

With over 20 years’ experience in information technology in the fields of finance, mining and pulp and paper to his credit, Philippe Landry is responsible for implementing VIA HFR’s IT strategic plan and for IT administration.

Throughout his career, his leadership skills have helped him inspire, lead, motivate and mobilize teams to meet business and growth targets. His varied duties have seen him develop expertise in IT strategies and IT roadmaps, in the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software suites, in the management of IT applications and in the management of multifunctional teams.

Prior to joining VIA HFR, Philippe Landry held the positions of senior director of the SAP platform at National Bank of Canada; director of the ERP program at ArcelorMittal; and director of corporate IT projects and director of IT for the chemicals division at Tembec.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in management information systems (MIS) from Université de Sherbrooke.

Pierre-Yves Boivin

Vice President Community Relations

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Biography

Pierre-Yves Boivin leads our community relations team, whose mission is to develop and implement the strategy that will ensure adequate consultation and the establishment of relations based on trust with numerous partners, including governments, municipalities and a host of organizations from civil society that are located all along the service corridor.

Over the past 20 years, Pierre-Yves Boivin has built a solid track record in communications and in public and governmental affairs in both the energy and rail transportation sectors.

Prior to joining VIA HFR, he was chief of staff for several ministers of the Government of Québec. He also worked at the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec as Vice-President, Strategy and Economic Affairs. In the private sector, he was senior manager of stakeholder relations at CN and held a number of positions at Énergir, including that of director of stakeholder and First Nations relations for the North Shore Extension Project. He began his career in the federal civil service as an economist at both the Finance and Industry departments.

Pierre-Yves Boivin has an economics degree from Université Laval and a degree in public administration from Queen's University.

ROBERT GODBOUT

Controller and Vice President Finance

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Biography

VIA HFR’s Controller and VP Finance, Robert Godbout, is a seasoned financial manager with a rich background in both the federal civil service and Crown corporations. An expert financial strategist, he specializes in the mobilization of government funding for the purposes of reaching national objectives and supporting intergovernmental collaborations. His expertise also contributes to putting in place the financial structures essential to the proper functioning of a Crown corporation.

In his career, Robert has held numerous senior management positions, notably with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Canada School of Public Service and Transport Canada. Prior to joining VIA HFR, he was in charge of financial operations at the Canada Innovation Corporation, a Crown corporation whose mission is to stimulate investment in research and development in Canada.

Robert played a key role in the due diligence process for the launch of the Windsor-Detroit bridge project and made a large contribution to the establishment of the Canada Innovation Corporation by developing several of its organizational functions. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Ordre des CPA du Québec, and also holds an MBA from the Université du Québec à Montréal.

TOM ROBERTS

Senior Vice President Corporate Services and CFO

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Biography

Tom Roberts joins the VIA HFR team bringing to the table nearly 15 years of experience in different management positions in ministries and central agencies, notably the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Infrastructure Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canada School of Public Service.

Throughout his career, he has shown rigour, transparency and commitment in carrying out his different functions. He has played a key role in difficult issues, among them the updating and advancement of the government’s financial policies, the design and promotion of horizontal government programs, and major infrastructure programs involving several levels of government, private-sector partners and large-scale capital investment.

An asset for VIA HFR is his expertise with the federal government apparatus, particularly the Treasury Board Secretariat and Infrastructure Canada, where he led complex negotiations in the drafting of realistic programs and implementation plans for successful projects. His work has notably focused on climate change, national shipbuilding, and the review of departmental spending, annual reports and business plans for State corporations within the economic sector.

Tom Roberts holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) with a concentration in finance from Carleton University, as well as a certification for the Senior Executive Advanced Finance and Accounting Program (SEAFAP) from CPA Canada.

Board Members

FIONA BLONDIN

Board Member

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Biography

Ms. Fiona Blondin is a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in the Northwest Territories, the proud mother of three children and the granddaughter of George Blondin, a highly respected author, storyteller and Indigenous leader.

Ms. Blondin brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the board table. As Vice-President of Indigenous Strategy at Cormorant Utility Services, she is a respected advocate for Indigenous rights and well-being and has spent many years working closely with First Nations and the Métis. She has dedicated her career to improving the lives of Indigenous people, promoting cultural awareness, traditions and understanding, and supporting Indigenous-led economic development initiatives.

In 2021, she was appointed to the board of directors at KWG Resources, an exploration-stage mining company participating in the discovery, delineation and development of chromite deposits in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.

Ms. Blondin attended Douglas College in British Columbia. She received Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee medal in recognition of her work with First Nations.

ROB FONBERG

Board Member

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Biography

Mr. Rob Fonberg has had an extensive career in the public and private sectors.

He was a long-serving Deputy Minister in the Government of Canada. First appointed Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet in the Privy Council Office in 2000, he went on to serve as Deputy Minister at International Trade, Associate Secretary at Treasury Board and, from 2007-2013, Deputy Minister of National Defence.

As Deputy Minister of National Defence during the most intense operational period for the Canadian Armed Forces since the Korean War, Mr. Fonberg was involved in all aspects of the Department, from deployments of the Canadian Armed Forces to defence policy renewal to international defence relations. In this role, Mr. Fonberg was integral to stewarding Cabinet-level decision making on all defence matters and aspects of military procurement including major capital projects.

Since 2013, Mr. Fonberg has been active in the private sector as an advisor to start-ups and mid to large scale clients on a range of challenging strategic issues across diverse business verticals.

Mr. Fonberg was the Chair of the Board of Digital Public Square from 2018-2022.

Mr. Fonberg has also been active in the academic and think-tank community. He is currently Executive Fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy and Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. He was formerly a Fellow with Global Solution Networks, a Mentor with the Trudeau Foundation, Chair of the Government of Canada’s Workplace Charitable Campaign and a Member of the Board of Export Development Canada.

Mr. Fonberg is trained as an economist, doing his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and his graduate degree at Queens University.

MARIE-JOSÉ NADEAU

Vice Chair of the Board of Directors

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Biography

Ms. Marie-José Nadeau is a Corporate Director and an expert in energy.

Ms. Nadeau is a Director of ENGIE (France) where she is the Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Strategy, Investment and Technology Committee. She is also a Director of Trans Mountain where she chairs the Human Resources, Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee. In addition, she is a Director of the Electric Power Research Institute, based in the United States.

She is the past Chair of the World Energy Council where she served from 2013-2016. From 1993-2015, she also served as Executive Vice-President and Secretary General of Hydro-Quebec.

Previously, she served as a Director of Metro, Chair of the Advisory Council of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) based in the United States, Vice Chair of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and held several other board appointments.

Ms. Nadeau holds a Master's Degree in Public Law from the University of Ottawa. In 2009, the Quebec Bar awarded her the distinction Advocatus Emeritus in recognition of her contribution to the legal profession. In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her outstanding support to many organizations involved in the arts and education.

J. ROBERT S. PRICHARD

Chair of the Board of Directors

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Biography

Mr. J. Robert S. Prichard has had a career in higher education, law, business and public service.

He serves as Chairman of Tory's LLP and as a Director of Onex Corporation, Wittington Investments Limited and Alamos Gold. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of Barrick Gold Corporation, and he is also President Emeritus of the University of Toronto and Visitor at Massey College.

At the University of Toronto, Mr. Prichard was a professor of law from 1976-2001, the Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1984-1990 and President of the University from 1990-2000. He also taught at the law schools of Yale (1982-1983) and Harvard (1983-1984 and 2000-2001). He served as Chair of the Council of Ontario Law Deans and Chair of the Council of Canadian Law Deans.

Mr. Prichard's business sector experience includes serving as President and CEO of Torstar Corporation from 2002-2009, and Chair of BMO Financial Group from 2012-2020. He has previously served on the boards of numerous other leading Canadian companies including George Weston, Brookfield Asset Management (Brascan) and Four Seasons Hotels. He was made a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2016 for his contributions to good governance in Canada.

Mr. Prichard also served as President and CEO of Metrolinx from 2009-2010, and as Chair from 2010-2018, and was the Vice Chair of Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council from 2007-2013.

Mr. Prichard attended Swarthmore College, earned his MBA at the University of Chicago, and earned law degrees from the University of Toronto (LLB) and Yale University (LLM). Recognized by appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada and as a Member of the Order of Ontario, Mr. Prichard has also received honorary degrees from multiple colleges and universities in Canada and the United States.

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Our People

Executive Team

Caroline Hardy

Felix Turgeon

GRAEME HAMPSHIRE

Jacynthe Audette

Julie Boucher

Marc-Olivier Ranger

MARTIN IMBLEAU

PHILIPPE LANDRY

Pierre-Yves Boivin

ROBERT GODBOUT

TOM ROBERTS

Board Members

FIONA BLONDIN

ROB FONBERG

MARIE-JOSÉ NADEAU

J. ROBERT S. PRICHARD

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