Meet the Speakers

Menelaos Argiropoulos

Menelaos (Manny) Argiropoulos has been working for Public Services and Procurement Canada, Ontario Region for over 25 years. His positions, range from Real Estate Advisor to Geomatics Project Manager to currently the Regional Manager with Procurement Assistance Canada, Ontario Region.

Mr. Argiropoulos is responsible for the development and implementation or the supplier outreach and engagement strategy, stakeholder engagement and partnership development with SME stakeholders, including partnerships with many non-government organizations and  with the Department of National Defence’s, Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program.  He is responsible for the delivery of PAC-OR’s core mandate to help assist and inform small and medium business on how to do business with the Government of Canada, how to navigate the federal procurement system and how to utilize canadabuys.canada.ca, the Government Electronic Tendering Service in order to get more involved in bidding on federal procurement opportunities.

Jeffrey Beaudoin

Jeff Beaudoin is a graduate from Laurentian University from their Honours Bachelor of Commerce program and has been working in the not-for-profit sector support business growth ever since. Overseeing Northern Ontario with OCI in his current role Jeffrey has been successful with delivering over $8 million in funding to businesses across the province on R&D Projects. 

Natalie Brabant

Natalie has a Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. She has worked in various departments of the federal public sector for the past 25 years, occupying a variety of positions in finance, systems, policy and programs. She has been with FedNor since 2006 and in her current role since 2012. Natalie is a business matchmaker, helping Northern Ontario companies find opportunities with multinational companies. Natalie also keeps busy volunteering and currently sits as Treasurer for Health Sciences North’s Volunteer Association (HSNVA). She enjoys spending time with family and friends, dog training, reading, playing board games and just spending time in the great outdoors!

Graham Bracken

Graham Bracken is a Project Coordinator with the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, and leads the Boreal Springboard collaborative initiative. Graham holds a B.A. in Economics, and has a professional background in remote construction management, community-level and organizational strategic planning, and corporate governance. Graham was a founding director of a non-profit urban farm and he toils in the forest outside Thunder Bay with his family, his garden, his sawmill, and his chickens.

Greg Da Re

Greg Da Re is the Vice President of Corporate Development at Frontier Lithium, where he leads strategic partnerships, financing initiatives, and corporate growth activities to advance the company’s integrated PAK Lithium Project in Northern Ontario. He plays a key role in structuring funding solutions, cultivating relationships with global battery and automotive stakeholders, and supporting Frontier Lithium’s transition from project development to future production. With a background in corporate strategy, banking and development finance, and government relations, Greg brings a disciplined, collaborative approach to building the partnerships and investment frameworks necessary for a resilient North American lithium battery supply chain.

Before joining Frontier Lithium, Greg held senior roles including at RBC Ventures, and at Invest in Canada, Canada’s global investment attraction agency, where he played a key role in supporting the development of EV battery supply-chain investments in Ontario.

He holds a Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of Waterloo.

JP Gladu

JP Gladu is currently Principal of Mokwateh and previously served as the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business for approximately eight years. Mr. Gladu has nearly 35 years of experience in the natural resource sector including working with Indigenous communities and organizations, environmental non-government organizations, industry and governments from across Canada and the globe.

Mr. Gladu serves on the boards of Suncor, Superior Plus, BHP’s Forum for Corporate Responsibility, Domtar’s Sustainability Committee and most recently the Major Projects Office Indigenous Advisory Committee. He has completed a forestry technician diploma from Sault College, obtained an undergraduate degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University, holds an Executive MBA from Queens University, an ICD.D from Rotman School of Management University of Toronto, an honorary doctorate in law from Carleton University in 2024 and an honorary doctorate in business from Lakehead University in 2025.

He is a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and served as the Chancellor of St. Paul’s University College Waterloo from 2017 to 2020. JP’s achievements have been recognized by the Public Policy Forum as a prestigious 2024 Honouree and the Premiers Award.

Tim Larocque

Dr. Tim Larocque is the Director of Applied Research and Innovation at Confederation College, where he leads the College’s research strategy to support industry and community innovation. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, holds issued patents, and has served as the principal applicant on more than $12 million in research and training funding. In his current role, he is passionate about providing students with hands-on experiences through industry-relevant projects, helping them develop valuable skills for their future careers.

Charles Nyabeze

Chamirai Charles Nyabeze holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering and an MBA. As the EVP of Business Development for the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and the Network Director for the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network, he focuses on creating long-term value for organizations and clients.

Chamirai identifies business development opportunities in both the public and private sectors, aiming to generate revenue, leverage funds, foster collaboration, and expand networks. He leads CEMI’s Commercialization Support Services division, helping clients bridge the gap between new mining technologies and commercialization. Additionally, as the MICA Network Director, Chamirai drives the expansion of the national collaborative platform for mining industry innovation, overseeing ecosystem engagement, project support, operations, government relations, and revenue generation for the network.

David Pierce

David is Vice-President of Government Relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, where he leads the Chamber’s policy team on critical files including cybersecurity, energy and resource development, economic and finance, and defence. A seasoned leader in government relations and community engagement, he brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors.

David has appeared before Parliament as an expert witness on issues such as energy security and is recognized for his deep understanding of Canada’s political and policy landscape. Prior to joining the Canadian Chamber, he held senior political roles under Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government, supporting cabinet ministers at Industry Canada, the Treasury Board, Health Canada and Veterans Affairs.

Max Skudra

Max Skudra brings extensive experience working with Indigenous people, communities, and businesses to Mokwateh. He formerly led the research department for the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, his work has been used to create the Federal government’s 5% procurement target for Indigenous businesses, to justify the province of Ontario’s $100 million Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF), and to set corporate strategy for companies like VIA Rail, Canada Post, Enbridge, and OPG. Max has worked with hundreds of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities, spending his time building relationships with a hands-on understanding of what it takes to create economic reconciliation.

Jamie Taylor

Jamie Taylor has served as the CEO of the Thunder Bay CEDC since 2022, bringing over 20 years of economic development experience to the role. She has extensive expertise in stakeholder and Indigenous community and engagement, along with a proven track record of managing large, complex, and politically sensitive projects.

Prior to joining the Thunder Bay CEDC, Jamie held several senior positions within the Federal and Provincial Public Service, where she demonstrated strong leadership and management skills. Jamie holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Lakehead University and a certificate from the IVEY Executive Leadership Program, making her a valuable asset to the Thunder Bay CEDC and the community it serves.