Forum 2025

3rd edition of the Franco-Ontarian Business Forum – Sudbury, May 15, 2025

After successful events in Ottawa in 2023 and Toronto in 2024, the Franco-Ontarian Business Forum is back in full force for its third edition in Sudbury on Thursday, May 15, 2025. This major event offers a unique opportunity to bring together key players in economic development and francophone entrepreneurship in Ontario and beyond. It will take place at Science North’s Vale Cavern, with an expected attendance of 200 to 250 participants.

Take advantage of the early bird rate by April 7, and benefit from a $25 discount on the FGA member rate and on the non-member rate (not applicable to the cocktail reception).

Themes

The main topics will cover the following areas:

Health
Mining Engineering
Transportation
Energy Transition
Artificial Intelligence

Format innovant

The conferences will once again adopt a short, TEDTalk-style format of 20 minutes. Speakers, either alone on stage or with a moderator for questions, will have maximum visibility to amplify their message. Additionally, each 20-minute presentation will be followed by a 10 to 15-minute networking session where participants can further discuss the topic presented.

Brief Schedule of the Day

Hosted by Éric Robitaille | Radio-Canada

8 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.: Welcome and breakfast

8:50 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.: Opening remarks

Opening remarks: Dominic Mailloux | President, FGA
Opening remarks: Paul Lefebvre | Mayor, Sudbury
Opening remarks: Patrick Van Gheel | Ambassador, Belgium
Opening remarks: Stéphane Sarrazin | Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Francophone Affairs and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

9:10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: First series of on-stage presentations

9:10 am – 9:30 am: Francophone Entrepreneurship in Ontario: Financing and Opportunities
- David Pinsonneault | Executive Vice President, TD
9:35 am – 9:55 a.m.: Corporate cybersecurity: preventing threats to ensure your company’s survival
- Hind Ayouni | Financing and capital strategy consultant, Bradley & Rollins

9:55 a.m.: Networking break

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Mastering uncertainty: Understanding and managing financial risk
- Natasha Francis | Derivatives Portfolio Manager, Finmetrix
10:35 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.: The francophone entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ontario and Canada: challenges and opportunities
- Véronique Dorval | Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, BDC

10:55 a.m.: Networking break

11.15 a.m.: Mayors’ panel – Starting a business in the North: Opportunities for francophones in business
- Michelle Boileau (Mayor of Timmins)
- Roger Sigouin (Mayor of Hearst)
- Paul Lefebvre (Mayor of Sudbury)

12 p.m. – 13 p.m.: Working lunch

- 12:15 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. : Serge Dupuis – French as a working language in business and public administration

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Second series of on-stage presentations

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.: A look back at an inspiring career path
- Jean-Marc Leclerc | President and General Manager, Honda Canada
1:25 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Economic outlook in a changing trade landscape: navigating tariffs and uncertainty
- Jean-Francois Perrault | Chief Economist, Scotiabank

1:45 p.m.: Networking break

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.: Competitive clusters generate innovation and employment in Wallonia, Belgium
Yann Gall | General Delegate to the General Delegation of Wallonia-Brussels in Quebec / Canada, Wallonia-Brussels Region
2:25 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.: Collaborative planning for a seamless, integrated transport network
- Michelle Ferrigan | Director, Integrated Network Planning, Ontario Northland

2:45 p.m.: Networking break

3:00 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Mining engineering and energy transition panel
- Introduction by Raed Kadri | Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives and Director, OVIN
- Michel Payeur | Vice-President, Technical Services, IAMGOLD
- Pierre-Olivier Lamy | Mining Technology Manager, Toromont CAT
- Marla Tremblay | Moderator

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.: FGA Annual General Meeting (Concurrently, Ramsey Room)

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Plenary session/Alliance de la francophonie économique canadienne (AFEC) activity

Panel on Francophone Interprovincial trade
- Introduction by Marc-Antoine Dumont | Senior Economist, Desjardins
- Simon Gaudreault | Chief Economist and Vice-President, Research, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
- Sylvie Painchaud | Executive Director, Council of Ministers for Canadian Francophonie
- Daye Diallo | Vice-President, Labour Policies and Economic Intelligence, Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ)
- Moderator: Éric Robitaille | Radio-Canada

5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Networking cocktail

Note: The program is subject to change.

Important information

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Science North, 100 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 5S9
Tickets
Take advantage of the early bird rate by April 7, and benefit from a $25 discount on the FGA member rate and on the non-member rate (not applicable to the cocktail reception).
Entry fee per person, including access to all presentations, breakfast, tea, coffee, non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day, lunch, and cocktail (drinks and canapés):

FGA members:
- Early bird: $115 + HST
- Regular: $140 + HST
Non-members:
- Early bird: $165 + HST
- Regular: $190 + HST
Students: $45 + HST
Cocktail only: $50 + HST

Spotlights

Preferred rate at the Hilton Garden Inn Sudbury for participants: $159 + taxes per night.
Click here to book: Choose your dates, select “Special Rates” and enter the code FRANCO.