JPAC Public Forum: Regenerating North America’s Future
(Hybrid Event)
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (900 René-Lévesque Blvd W, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 4A5)
Canada
December 2, 2025
9:00 – 17:00 Eastern Standard Time
Public
North America is increasingly affected by persistent environmental pollutants—including pesticides, forever chemicals (PFAS) and microplastics—that accumulate in soils, water, air and ecosystems. These pollutants not only impact the environment and biodiversity but also pose significant risks to human health, via direct exposure, food consumption, water contamination or inhalation. The 2025 JPAC Public Forum, Regenerating North America’s Future, provides a space to exchange ideas and explore pathways toward systems that restore ecological integrity while safeguarding community well-being.
By focusing on these interconnected challenges, the Forum will examine how scientific innovation, traditional knowledge, emerging regulatory and policy measures, corporate accountability and multi-actor engagement can deliver practical and lasting solutions. Designed as a participatory platform, the discussions will bring together diverse voices from Indigenous Peoples, governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, women and youth to inspire collaborative action and support the CEC long-term environmental and sustainability objectives. Participants will explore concrete strategies to reduce environmental contamination, restore ecosystems and enhance human health across North America.
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Agenda
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
9:00 am-9:20 am
Traditional Welcoming Ceremony
9:20 am-9:25 am
9:25 am-9:30 am
Opening Remarks
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin
JPAC Chair
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin
JPAC Chair
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of proven leadership in the natural resources and energy sectors. As the Chief Executive Officer of Nukik Corporation, she is advancing significant infrastructure development in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, spearheading the adoption of large-scale renewable energy and broadband connectivity. Her strategic oversight of the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link in particular — a multi-billion-dollar initiative— is positioned to unlock immense value for both the region and Canada. Thanks to this expertise in financial modelling, project approval, and large-scale infrastructure execution, the company is driving impactful change in the Canadian Arctic.
Previously, as President and CEO of WaterPower Canada, Anne-Raphaëlle led the national association representing Canada’s largest electricity sector. She significantly expanded revenue, successfully launched the first national industry conference and trade show, and grew the membership base, enhancing the organization's visibility and influence across the sector.
Anne-Raphaëlle’s background also includes a role as Environmental and Social Impacts Management Specialist at Hatch Ltd., where she worked on energy and mining projects. She excels in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments, securing strategic partnerships, and driving consensus across regional, provincial, and federal levels. Recognized as a thought leader, Anne-Raphaëlle is frequently quoted in national media and serves on several boards of directors.
In 2019, Anne-Raphaëlle became a Governor in Council Appointee to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation's Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), where she promotes sustainable development and ecosystem protection across Canada, the US, and Mexico. She was reappointed in 2022 for a four-year term by the federal government.
Anne-Raphaëlle holds a degree in Business Administration from the Université de Nantes (France), Civil Law and Common Law degrees from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from Dalhousie University. She also earned an Executive Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from the Yale School of Management in 2021. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she is certified in Project Planning and Controls.
9:30 am-9:45 am
Welcoming Remarks
Jorge Daniel Taillant
CEC Executive Director
Jorge Daniel Taillant
CEC Executive Director
Jorge Daniel Taillant serves as the CEC’s Executive Director since August of 2022.
He is a life-long global advocate for human rights and environmental protection. His career spans several decades, working with international development agencies, as an advisor to governments, leading innovative civil society organizations and networks, and with disadvantaged communities to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
He has spear-headed incisive global initiatives to link human rights and environmental advocacy, pushing for more effective public policies, stronger legislation and greater corporate accountability and respect for human rights and environmental sustainability.
During the past decade, he has turned his focus to tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, advocating for immediate actions to aggressively phase out the most intense climate pollutants, such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone (O3), while promoting inclusive, equitable and resilient adaptation for the most climate-vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
9:45 am-11:00 am
Session 1. Regenerating Soils and Protecting Health: Breaking Free from Pesticides
While pesticides, chemical compounds that are used in agriculture to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds), have played a role in increasing food production and minimizing short-term losses, their excessive use has resulted in soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, water pollution, pest resistance and considerable risks to both human and animal health. These negative impacts have fueled a growing movement toward regenerative and agroecological methods that reduce or eliminate reliance on pesticides while sustaining productivity. This session will highlight innovative and effective regenerative practices that minimize or avoid synthetic inputs, demonstrating that it is possible to nourish a growing population while restoring ecosystem health. By regenerating soils, promoting biodiversity and supporting rural livelihoods, these methods present a pathway to an agricultural system that is both productive and sustainable. The goal is to deliver practical guidance for scaling up food production systems that safeguard human health and the environment throughout North America.
11:00 am-11:15 am
Break
11:15 am-12:30 pm
Session 2. Forever Chemicals in Our Food and Water: Understanding the Risks and Acting Now
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are a group of thousands of human-made compounds used as surfactants, lubricants and as repellents for dirt, water and grease in a wide variety of products. Highly resistant to natural degradation, PFAS persist in the environment for extended periods, accumulating in water, air, soil, wildlife and humans. Found in everyday products, such as non-stick cookware, food products and packaging, cosmetics and even toilet paper, they have been linked to harmful effects on both human health and the environment. This session will present the latest research on PFAS and other persistent chemicals, examining their health impacts, exposure pathways and contamination in soils, crops, livestock and drinking water. It will also explore emerging regulatory measures, corporate responsibility, safer product innovation and community-led monitoring. The discussion will center into actionable strategies and coordinated efforts to protect public health and reduce chemical exposure across North America.
12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Break
1:30 pm-2:45 pm
Session 3. From Oceans to Our Bodies: Tackling the Microplastics Crisis
Microplastics, fragments of plastic between 1 nanometer and 5 millimeters wide, are pervasive across air, water, soil and food systems. They pose potential risks to both ecosystems and human health, including ingestion by marine life, contamination of drinking water, bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain. This session will explore the urgent need to address microplastic pollution and highlight transformative solutions across textiles, packaging, industry and wastewater management. Discussions will focus on the sources and impacts of microplastics, innovations in filtration and circular materials and manufacturing design improvements. The session will also explore how aligning local solutions—from coastal and watershed restoration to community leadership by fishers, Indigenous Peoples and youth—with regional policy strategies and producer responsibility can foster a coordinated North American response to plastic pollution.
2:45 pm-3:00 pm
Break
3:00 pm-4:15 pm
Session 4. Voices from North America: Multi-Actor Storytelling Circles and Dialogue
A dynamic space for participants to share experiences, perspectives or initiatives related to the forum’s topic, engage with JPAC members and create visual representations of diverse stories together.
4:15 pm-4:30 pm
Presentation of the Public Consultation on H-2030
José Antonio Casis
Lead, Planning and Performance, CEC
José Antonio Casis
Lead, Planning and Performance, CEC
José Antonio Casis, Pepe, is the Lead, Planning and Performance at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). Since 2021, Pepe has led strategic planning, monitoring and reporting efforts. He has also led key initiatives in environmental education and trilateral action research supporting progress toward shared environmental goals for 2030. He holds a PhD in environmental policy and economics from Cornell University and a master’s in integrated resource management from the University of Edinburgh. With over 20 years of experience, he has developed policy recommendations, managed projects and conducted strategic planning for national and international organizations across Asia, Central America and North America. His work includes collaborating with the Mexican federal government, think tanks, NGOs, research centers, and serving as a consultant for the World Bank, United Nations and other leading organizations.
4:30 pm-4:45 pm
Traditional Ecological Knowledge Expert Group (TEKEG) Intervention
4:45 pm-4:50 pm
Remarks
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin
JPAC Chair
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin
JPAC Chair
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of proven leadership in the natural resources and energy sectors. As the Chief Executive Officer of Nukik Corporation, she is advancing significant infrastructure development in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, spearheading the adoption of large-scale renewable energy and broadband connectivity. Her strategic oversight of the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link in particular — a multi-billion-dollar initiative— is positioned to unlock immense value for both the region and Canada. Thanks to this expertise in financial modelling, project approval, and large-scale infrastructure execution, the company is driving impactful change in the Canadian Arctic.
Previously, as President and CEO of WaterPower Canada, Anne-Raphaëlle led the national association representing Canada’s largest electricity sector. She significantly expanded revenue, successfully launched the first national industry conference and trade show, and grew the membership base, enhancing the organization's visibility and influence across the sector.
Anne-Raphaëlle’s background also includes a role as Environmental and Social Impacts Management Specialist at Hatch Ltd., where she worked on energy and mining projects. She excels in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments, securing strategic partnerships, and driving consensus across regional, provincial, and federal levels. Recognized as a thought leader, Anne-Raphaëlle is frequently quoted in national media and serves on several boards of directors.
In 2019, Anne-Raphaëlle became a Governor in Council Appointee to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation's Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), where she promotes sustainable development and ecosystem protection across Canada, the US, and Mexico. She was reappointed in 2022 for a four-year term by the federal government.
Anne-Raphaëlle holds a degree in Business Administration from the Université de Nantes (France), Civil Law and Common Law degrees from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Environmental and Natural Resources Management from Dalhousie University. She also earned an Executive Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from the Yale School of Management in 2021. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she is certified in Project Planning and Controls.
4:50 pm-5:00 pm
Closing Traditional Ceremony
5:00 pm-7:00 pm
CEC Networking Event [in-person only]
Click here to download the complete program of public events.
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Marcela Orozco
Director, Advisory Groups and Public Participation
(514) 350-4305