Rafael Ziegler, PhD
Director of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins (IICADD)
rafael.ziegler@hec.ca
Rafael Ziegler is a professor at HEC Montréal. He holds a BSc. from the London School of Economics and a PhD from McGill University. He is associate editor of the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities and the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, and member of the Réseau québécois de recherche en économie circulaire (Québécois Network for Research in Circular Economy – RQREC). Rafael has published the books Creating Economic Space for Social Innovation (Oxford 2019, with Alex Nicholls) and Innovation, Ethics and Our Common Futures (Edward Elgar 2020). When he was a schoolchild in Germany, the Chernobyl nuclear accident happened. A group of parents responded creatively founding an energy cooperative that took over the local grid, and in doing so significantly contributed to the country’s energy transition. Inspired by such innovators from an early age, Rafael is interested in innovations and ideas contributing to transformations towards sustainability. His research perspective is inspired by the capabilities approach. As Director of the IICADD, he seeks to nurture an atmosphere of pluralist and collaborative research in support of the cooperative movement. Rafael speaks French, German and English (and, with patient interlocutors, some Russian and Italian).
Eric Brat, MBA
Secretary General of the international Board of Governors of the Institut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins
eric.brat@hec.ca
Holder of an MBA from Columbia University in New York and a graduate of the Solvay Business School in Brussels, Eric Brat is an Associate Professor and the Secretary General of the international Board of Governors of the Alphonse and Dorimène Desjardins International Institute for Cooperatives at HEC Montréal. He is a CFA and member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. During his career, he has worked for Credit Suisse Group, Oliver Wyman and Accenture. From 2002 to 2016, Eric Brat was a senior partner at the Boston Consulting Group, initially in the Paris office, then at their Montreal office, which he founded in 2012. He was responsible for the strategic and organizational transformation of insurance companies. He was also a professor at Paris-Dauphine program at the Centre des Hautes Études d’Assurances (CHEA). He speaks French, English and Dutch.
Benoît Tremblay, PhD
Honorary Professor, HEC Montréal
benoit.tremblay@hec.ca
Benoît Tremblay is Honorary Professor at HEC Montréal, where he has taught since 1976. He holds an MBA from HEC Montréal and a Doctorate from the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris. One of the founders of the Study Centre for the Management of Co-operatives in 1975, he has been active as a researcher for many years and has served on the board of different cooperative organisations. In 1984, he was appointed Deputy Minister responsible for cooperative development in Quebec. He has been active in public life as a Member of the City of Montreal Council and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Montreal Urban Community and Finance and Economic Development Commission’s President. In 1988, he was elected Member of the Canadian Federal Parliament and nominated as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology. Returning to HEC Montréal in 1997, he focused his research on two main topics: the manager’s craft and the development of financial services cooperatives in the world. From 2001 to 2010, he was Director of the Desjardins Centre for Studies in Management of Financial Services Cooperatives. His research has led to the creation of CoopGateway (previously named the International Observatory of Financial Services Cooperatives), which includes a Database on Institutions and a Virtual Library, as well as a management simulation called Str@tégiCA, developed for Crédit Agricole in partnership with the Crédit Agricole Mutuelle Training Institute (IFCAM). He speaks French and English.
Inmaculada Buendía Martínez, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha
inmaculada.buendia@hec.ca
Inmaculada Buendía Martínez holds a PhD in Business Administration from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). She is also a specialist in cooperative management and an associate professor at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain. Author of numerous scientific articles, books, and other publications, she is a member of various networks and international research projects at the Institute. Her international expertise both in America and in Europe allowed her to collaborate directly with several research centres in Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Ireland, specializing in the field of cooperatives. Her current interests focus on the contribution of cooperatives in local development, the policies for financial inclusion, the role of financial cooperatives in the international arena and corporate social responsibility in the banking industry. She speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.
Justine Ballon, PhD
Assistant Professor, Management Department, HEC Montréal
justine.ballon@hec.ca
Justine Ballon is a professor at HEC Montréal. She is a graduate of the Institut d’Études Politiques de Rennes, holds a Master’s degree from the Institut d’Administration des Entreprises de Paris, Université Paris 1-Panthéon-Sorbonne and a PhD from Université Paris-Cité. She is an associate member of the Laboratoire Dynamiques Sociales et Recomposition des Espaces and of Manufacture coopérative, a research-action cooperative. It was at her hairdresser’s that she discovered an atypical form of cooperative – which brings together entrepreneur-employees-associates – leading her to conduct doctoral research on their socio-economical models. Her research focuses on social innovation projects – such as workers’ and solidarity cooperatives, participatory renewable energy projects – that experiment with modes of production and management of organizations in a perspective of social transformation. She is interested in the relationship between the means and the effects produced by these projects, i.e., the changes induced on the organizational (e.g., work organization) and institutional (socioeconomic effects) levels (see chapters and articles). As a researcher and practitioner, she favors the participatory action research approach to work with cooperatives (e.g. Coopaname, Railcoop in France), a topic on which she has coordinated a book on Action Research (2019) and written several articles. She speaks French, English (and some German).
Gabriel Monette, PhD
Postdoctoral researcher and lecturer, HEC Montréal
gabriel.monette@hec.ca
Gabriel Monette holds a master’s degree in public administration from ENAP (École nationale d’administration publique), a doctorate in the philosophy of politics and economics from Université de Montréal, and a master’s degree in philosophy from UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal). During his doctoral studies at UdeM (Université de Montréal), he examined the link between the discourse of freedom and democratic or semi-democratic forms of economic organisation. His thesis focuses on freedom and the question of democracy in organisations. Passionate about governance structures, Gabriel specialises in examining democratic organisations, such as co-operatives. His thesis offered a unique insight into the interactions between discursive freedom and organisational forms. In addition to his academic work, Gabriel has sat on the Board of Directors of a Desjardins caisse, thereby strengthening his expertise in the internal workings of cooperative structures.
Marie-Josée Lapointe, MBA, Eng., Adm.A.
Administrative Director
marie-josee.lapointe@hec.ca
Holder of a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering from McGill University (Canada) and an MBA from HEC Montréal, Marie-Josée Lapointe coordinates the activities of the IICADD and PortailCoop. She developed the CoopGateway tool and designed the management simulation Str@tégiCA used by Crédit Agricole. Before joining HEC Montréal, Marie-Josée was a departmental head for the multinational Procter & Gamble and an associate at the strategy consulting firm Oliver Wyman. Highly involved in her community at school level, she is also a member of the Order of Engineers of Quebec and the Order of Chartered Administrators of Quebec. She speaks French and English.
Barbara Duroselle, MA
Coordinator – research and business development support
barbara.duroselle@hec.ca
With a Master’s degree in Management and Sustainable Development from HEC Montréal and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the London Metropolitan University, Barbara has supported the transformation of organizations of all sizes for over 15 years, thanks to her dual expertise in communications and change management. Passionate about the circular economy, backcasting and permaculture, Barbara then made a career change, specializing in several community resilience projects in the face of climate change. Prior to joining IICADD, Barbara was a project manager for TIESS on issues of systemic change and ecological transition.
Sandrine Julien, M.I.St.
Librarian
sandrine.julien@hec.ca
Sandrine Julien holds a Master’s degree in Information Sciences at the School of Library and Information Sciences (EBSI) and also has a Bachelor’s degree in French-language Literature from the University of Montreal. Having completed her college studies in natural sciences and classical music, Sandrine is interested in several fields, hence her choice for the library science program, which gives her access to a multidisciplinary professional environment. Before becoming PortailCoop’s Librarian, she worked as an intern developing guides and tools for users and participating in the development of collections for PortailCoop. She speaks French and English.
Nara Meli, MA
Communications Officer
nara.meli@hec.ca
Nara Meli has a BA in Economics from Tufts University and an MA in Political Science/International Relations from New York University. Nara worked for 8 years in Washington, D.C., as a consultant for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, and took part in numerous missions in the Latin America and Caribbean region. In Montreal, Nara has worked in e-commerce and advertising as a copywriter, translator and proofreader. Nara is passionate about communications and development issues. She is fluent in English, French and Italian, is proficient in Spanish and enjoys practicing her Portuñol.
Sophie Lacoste-Normandin, D.E.C.
Document Management Technician
sophie.lacoste-normandin@hec.ca
Holder of a D.E.C. from Collège Maisonneuve, Sophie Lacoste-Normandin is a Document Management Technician. She is assigned to PortailCoop, where she is responsible for cataloging and processing scanned files. Versatile, rigorous and conscientious, Sophie has many varied and enriching experiences in her field of employment, notably at the Center for Access to Legal Information (CAIJ), affiliated with the Palais de Justice de Montréal, where she was able to work on a colossal treatment project for a judge’s collection, making her an expert in cataloging! She was also able to work at the Justice and Faith Center (CJF) where she was responsible for digitizing the library’s collection. Her main interests are reading historical books, painting, classical music, politics, and … cats! She speaks French and English.
Paula Cevallos, BA
Research Assistant
paula.cevallos@hec.ca
Paula Cevallos graduated Magna Cum Laude in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco in Quito. She is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Management and Sustainable Development at HEC Montréal. Paula has acquired solid experience through her involvement in projects linked to education, social responsibility and the environment, such as “The Thin Red Line”. She is interested in sustainable development and corporate responsibility in several industries. As a research assistant in circular economy in North America, she wishes to deepen her knowledge and contribute to this field, strengthening her impact in the research and promotion of sustainable practices. Paula speaks English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
Paul Hernandez, MSc
Research Assistant
paul.hernandez@hec.ca
Paul (he/him) holds an MSc in Social Innovation Management from HEC Montréal and a BA in Cognitive Sciences from Université Lumière Lyon 2. Before joining the Institute, he worked for two years as a social innovation consultant in Montreal. Arts and culture being an integral part of his daily life, he was also President of the Cultural Committee of the AECS – HEC Montréal during his Master’s degree. Since 2023, he has been teaching a sociology course at the undergraduate level at HEC Montréal. His current work covers a wide range of topics related to cooperatives, from writing a case study on a delivery cooperative to studying cooperative philanthropy and exploring Belgian circular cooperatives. He speaks French and English, and takes every opportunity to improve his Spanish.
Khadidja Diop, MSc
Research Assistant
khadidja.diop@hec.ca
Khadidja Diop holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of the West of England in Bristol. She is currently pursuing a DESS in Management and Sustainable Development at HEC Montréal. Khadidja is interested in issues of food sovereignty and justice, agroecology and the circular economy. She is particularly interested in developing the potential for preserving circular practices that already exist in her native Senegal, but whose importance and necessity are not sufficiently appreciated. Khadidja speaks French, English and Wolof.
Marc Belleau, DESSGOC
Administrative Assistant
institutcoop@hec.ca
A graduate of the Montréal Conservatory of Music, Marc Belleau has worked in opera for 20 years. In 2008, he decided to make a career change and began studying at HEC Montréal in order to obtain a graduate diploma in management of cultural organizations. He also works part time for the IDEOS Pole (Development Initiative of Social Enterprises) and is the author of a research document on the evolution of public funding in the Quebec dance field from 2004 to 2008, on behalf of the Research Group on Non-profit Organizations. In addition to his work as an artist and administrative assistant, Marc teaches classical singing. He speaks French and English.
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Meaghan Girard, MSc
PhD student, HEC Montréal
meaghan.girard@hec.ca
Meaghan Girard is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at HEC Montréal. Backed by a strong humanities background, Meaghan researches the relationships between values, organizing, and digital technologies. Having experienced the disruptive effect of LLMs in her first career as a professional translator, her work focuses on understanding how humans and organizations manage rapid technological advancements. Her current projects include studies on how professional practices and identities evolve in contexts of digital transformation, and how values impact the scaling dynamics of digital enterprises in the social economy sector. She also believes, strongly, in the power of community. As such, some of her more recent initiatives have included co-founding the Montreal Business Schools’ PhD Symposium and co-founding a Solidarity Lab for PhD students. Meaghan is fascinated by languages, but despite studying Chinese, Latin, and Spanish with gusto, has promptly forgotten them, and relies on her mother tongues of English and French.
Karl Janelle, MSc
PhD student and lecturer, HEC Montréal
karl.janelle@hec.ca
Karl Janelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Polytechnique Montréal and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development Management from HEC Montréal. During his Master’s degree, he was interested in alternative organizational forms in health care and contributed to Hydro-Québec’s strategic plan for energy efficiency. His research focuses on a variety of themes related to the role of cooperatives in the socio-ecological transition, including the potential of energy cooperatives in Quebec. He favours action research approaches such as participatory systems mapping. Karl also sits on the Board of Directors of the Montreal Climate Coalition. He speaks French and English.
Jason Rivest, MBA
PhD student, HEC Montréal
jason.rivest@hec.ca
Jason Rivest holds a BA in history, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Innovation, entrepreneurship and business development profile) and an MBA (Diagnosis and intervention in the organization concentration) from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. He is also a graduate of the Corporate Governance Certification program of the Collège des administrateurs des sociétés de l’Université Laval. He also holds a Strategy Certification from the Montreal Leadership Institute. As part of his graduate studies, his research focused on the study of innovation potential in a cooperative context, presenting the case of a school-based cooperative. His doctoral research focuses on the interaction between cooperative governance and the circular economy practices deployed by cooperatives. Both professionally and as a volunteer, he has been involved in a number of cooperative networks, including Sollio Groupe Coopératif, Mouvement Desjardins, Coopsco, the Quebec network of school cooperatives, the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité (CQCM) and Cooperatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC). He has been recognized for his leadership and his community and professional commitment with several national awards. These include, but are not limited to, the Prix du coopérateur émergent from CMC, the Prix de l’Administrateur de la relève de l’année from the Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec, and the Canada Volunteer Award, Emerging Leader category, from the Government of Canada. He was also named the youngest ever recipient of the Ordre du Mérite coopératif et mutualiste québécois (2nd degree) by the CQCM.
AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS
Sonja Novkovic, PhD
Professor, Department of Economics and Academic Director of the International Centre for Co-operative Management, Saint-Mary’s University, Halifax
snovkovic@smu.ca
Sonja Novkovic is a Professor of Economics and Academic director of the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada. Her research, teaching and writing revolves around comparative economic systems, co-operative and broader social solidarity economy, with particular focus on economic democracy. She contributes to UNRISD Sustainability Performance Indicators project bringing the cooperative economy perspective. She is a collaborator on a four-year research project on humanistic co-operative governance funded by FWO – Belgium. Her co-edited volumes include Co-operatives and the World of Work (Routledge, 2019); Cooperativism and Local Development in Cuba: An agenda for Democratic Transformation (Brill, 2018); and Co-operatives in the Post Growth Era (Zed, 2014), among other. Sonja is Chair of the International Co-operative Alliance Research Committee (2013-2021) and a member of the NCBA-CLUSA Council of Economists.
Thierry Pauchant, PhD
Honorary Professor, HEC Montréal
thierry.pauchant@hec.ca
Thierry Pauchant is an honorary professor at HEC Montréal, where he founded the Chair in Ethical Management. Author of over 200 publications, including 13 books, he is an administrator and consultant in social and sustainable economy, notably with Attac-Québec, CIRIEC in Canada, the Institut Veblen in Paris and the UNDP at the United Nations. He recently published “Adam Smith, l’antidote ultime au capitalisme : sa théorie du capabilisme”, Dunod, 2023.
Thuy Seran Luu, PhD
Associate Professor and Member of the Montpellier Research in Management (MRM) Laboratory, University of Montpellier
thuy.seran@umontpellier.fr
Holder of a PhD in Management Sciences specializing in Management Control from the University of Montpellier, Thuy Seran Luu is also a graduate of HEC Paris. After working for six years as an auditor at Ernst & Young, she is currently Associate Professor and Head of the higher university degree in Accounting and Management at the University of Montpellier. Her main area of research focuses on cooperative banks. Based on qualitative methodology, these studies incorporate a triangulation of data. She plays the lead role in the analysis of the cooperative bank network as a meta-organization. She also focuses on the governance aspect of banking information systems and the role of boundary objects in the organizational control system. With a team from the University of Montpellier, she also works on the theme of developing alliance strategies related to the hybrid form of these organizations. Her work highlights the specific types of management and key methods used in reducing internal tensions over competitive strategy within hybrid networks, like the French cooperative banks. These studies also cover the management of organizational innovation around virtual teams established in these banking networks.