Advisory Committee
Dawn Madahbee Leach
Dawn Madahbee Leach, a stalwart leader at Waubetek Business Development Corporation since 1988, brings a wealth of experience. She holds a degree in Political Science and Law from York and Laurentian Universities, complementing her education in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. Her journey includes public sector program development, successful entrepreneurship with a 12-year small retail venture in Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and consultancy for various First Nations communities. Dawn’s diverse roles extend to serving on the boards of Peace Hills Trust, the Northern Policy Institute, and as Vice-Chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board. Her illustrious history features positions on the boards of North-East Local Health Integration Network, the Ontario Development Corporation, and Innovations Ontario. She’s also held the esteemed role of Chairperson at the Northern Ontario Development Corporation and actively participates in numerous Federal and Provincial economic advisory committees. Dawn Madahbee Leach stands as a beacon of leadership and innovation in economic development.
Jonathan Launière, eng.
Jonathan Launière, a member of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, holds a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering and has extensive experience in the energy sector. From 2012 to 2021, he worked as a project manager and chief geologist on hydroelectric power plant projects, taking part in all phases from development to operation. Since 2021, Jonathan has served as Coordinator of Economy and Strategic Partnerships within the Department of Economy, Employment, and Strategic Partnerships responsible for the economic development of Mashteuiatsh. In this role, he is involved in community energy project partnerships, agreement negotiations, and development on the Nitassinan. He also manages relations and negotiations with mining companies interested in the natural resources on the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation’s territory. His work focuses on fostering sustainable development while strengthening strategic partnerships to benefit the community.
Caroline Olsen, metallurgist
Caroline Olsen has nearly 30 years of experience in applied research on mineral processing. Holder of a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Sherbrooke, with a specialization in the behaviour of gold, she has contributed to the improvement of the performance of many plants, developed skills in partnerships, supervision and financing of sustainable projects. She has extensive knowledge of critical and strategic minerals, as well as precious and base metals. Her successes in innovation have given her cross-disciplinary expertise in the metals market and the circular economy. An active member of various committees such as the MCS Scientific Network, CIM Quebec, Prima, EcotoQ, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, C2M2A, ISO TC345 and ISO TC333, Caroline joined SGS in 2022 in her current role focused on organic growth through R&D, innovation and strategic partnerships.
Jean-David Moore, eng.
Jean-David (“JD”) Moore has over 20 years of experience advising mineral exploration and development companies and is a significant investor in the sector, holding stakes in more than 50 junior miners across Québec and Canada, including over 7 million shares of Orbec. He serves as a director of Bullion Gold Resources, Dios Exploration, Fokus Mining, Green Canada, and PTX Metals, and was a director of Vanstar Mining Resources until its acquisition by IAMGOLD in 2024. JD holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Forestry Engineering from Université Laval, is a member of the Ordre des Ingénieurs Forestiers du Québec, and has published over 80 peer-reviewed scientific papers.