Team

MARIE-PIERRE IPPERSIEL, PH. D.

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Marie-Pierre Ippersiel is President and Chief Executive Officer at PRIMA Québec since 2016. Prior to this, she spent over six years working as Vice-President for the cleantech industry cluster Écotech Québec. Among other responsibilities, she managed the cluster’s operations, coordinated steering committees and developed a variety of content (dissertations, studies, etc.). As Research Advisor for the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) between 2004 and 2010, she helped implement the primary tools used in the Greater Montréal Economic Development Plan, including the cluster strategy. In 2003, she produced a report on innovation in Quebec municipalities for the Conseil de la science et de la technologie. Ms. Ippersiel holds a PhD in Urban Studies from the INRS – Centre Urbanisation Culture Société, where she focused on science/industry relations and technological support for SMEs in college technology transfer centres. For over 25 years, she has focused on the dynamics of innovation ecosystems and their actors.

She took part in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in 2017 and co-chaired the Net-Zero Advisory Body from 2021 to 2023. She is a member of various committees, and she also sits on the boards of directors for ADRIQ, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) and the Quantum Innovation Zone, DistriQ.

mp.ippersiel@prima.ca
514 235-1627

LAURA SALATIAN-WEY

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Laura Salatian-Wey joined our team in 2021, she is currently Director of Operations and is also responsible for managing various structuring projects. She began her professional career in 2008 as a social worker with a diploma in Social and Family Economy Advisor whose core business is based on expertise in areas of daily life: consumption, housing, employment, budget, food or health. Laura then obtained her Masters in teaching, education and training at the University of Aix- Marseille (France) in 2014, with a specialty in Medico-Social Sciences and Techniques which allowed her to teach and train students for their social and professional integration in the social and health fields.

Since arriving in Canada in 2019, Laura has shifted to more administrative jobs in order to develop her skills and put her organizational skills forward. With her rigor, her investment and her problem solving skills, she will provide logistical support to the entire team, be responsible for the different databases needed for the coordination of various projects and funding.

laura.salatian@prima.ca
438 338-2357

MICHEL LEFÈVRE, B. ING. PH. D.

DIRECTOR – PROGRAMS & INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Michel Lefèvre, Director – Programs and International collaborations, is responsible for the deployment of the various calls for projects in addition connecting with foreign partners. He also supports Quebec companies and academic researchers in their innovation projects in the field of advanced materials.  With over 20 years of experience in materials research, analysis and development, Mr. Lefèvre has developed an expertise in battery and fuel cell nanomaterials and energetic materials. As a Materials Science Engineer at the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), he obtained his doctorate on non noble metal catalyst for oxygen reduction for fuel cells in 2003 from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunication (INRS-EMT) while working under Prof. Dodelet, a world leader in the field. As a INRS Research Associate in Prof. Dodelet’s research group, he co-invented two patents and co-authored 42 publications in journals that include Science and Nature Communications. In 2010, he co-founded Canetique Electrocatalysis Inc., a start-up that emerged from his INRS research, and has taken part in the company’s R&D and management activities for 5 years.

michel.lefevre@prima.ca
514 241-3322

SÉBASTIEN GARBARINO, PH. D.

COORDINATOR HORIZON EUROPE AND INTERNATIONAL FOR QUEBEC RSRI

Sébastien Garbarino will be joining PRIMA Québec as an Infrastructure and Innovation Consultant in 2018.

With over 15 years of experience in materials research and development, Mr. Garbarino is an expert in the field of chemistry and nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion systems. After obtaining his Master’s Degree in Organic, Analytical and Marine Environmental Chemistry from the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (France) in 2002, he completed his PhD in Electrochemistry in 2007 at University College Cork (Ireland) as part of the Surface Active Sites and Exhaust Fumes European network. With a passion for materials structuring (meso to nano) in the field of electrocatalysis, functionalized nanoparticles and the development of sensors and microsupercapacitors, Mr. Garbarino will pursue his post-doctoral training at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – Energie Matériaux et Télécommunication (INRS-EMT).

As a INRS Research Associate in Prof. Guay’s research group since 2011, he co-invented three patents and co-authored 67 publications. Mr. Garbarino also contributes to scientific committees of structuring projects such as the National Asbestos Observatory (ONA) or CREATE training programs from NSERC (TrUST and ISAM). Mr. Garbarino has also been recognized by a number of innovation contests (including the FRQNT and NSERC), granting him considerable knowledge of Quebec’s innovation ecosystem and funding opportunities.

Since April 2025, he acts as the Horizon Europe and International coordinator for Quebec’s RSRIs, supporting stakeholders in Quebec’s research and innovation ecosystem, particularly the RSRIs and their members, in their efforts to develop collaborative research projects internationally, including Horizon Europe.

sebastien.garbarino@prima.ca
+1438 504-6068

CLOÉ BOUCHARD-AUBIN, Chemist, MBA

ADVISOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Cloé Bouchard-Aubin joins the PRIMA Québec team as a innovation and technology advisor. In 2013, she completed her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and began her professional career working on various research and development projects in the field of bioproducts. This allowed her to be the co-inventor of three patents. Cloé completed her MBA at HEC Montréal in 2021 and in addition a microprogram in technological innovation and commercialization at Polytechnique Montréal.

Cloé’s role is to assist in setting up calls for projects, managing various databases while helping to facilitate networking between the industrial and research community in the advanced materials ecosystem.

cloe.bouchard-aubin@prima.ca
514 632-2429

RUSOMA AKILIMALI, PH. D.

ADVISOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

As a physicist with a passion for technology and innovation, Blaise Rusoma Akilimali holds a Ph.D. in Materials for energy and nanostructures from Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique-Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunication (INRS-EMT). His academic and professional career has led him from the benches of the University of Strasbourg (France), followed by the Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique’s (CNRS) physics and chemistry research laboratories, to the collaborative environment INRS research and development in the greater Montreal area.

It is from these experiences in the field of advanced materials applied to different sectors such as health, microelectronics and energy that he quickly became aware of the advantages of innovation clusters dedicated to high value-added fields.

His experience in Quebec has allowed him to actively contribute to innovative research projects and to collaborate with leading companies in the field of energy and materials.

In addition, he has extensive experience in organizing and managing events showcasing professionals and entrepreneurs from Quebec. He believes that innovation is the key to long-term success, and he will be able to put his expertise and strengths at your disposal in addition to his solid experience in advanced materials to help you achieve your goals.

rusoma.akilimali@prima.ca
438 401-9821

MÉLANIE GIRARD, PH. D.

ADVISOR, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURES

Mélanie Girard joined the PRIMA Québec team in 2024 as a technology and innovation advisor. She is in charge of the Infrastructure en Recherche et Développement du Québec (IRDQ), a unique tool that supports Québec companies and academic researchers by facilitating access to the equipment and expertise available in Québec. Her education in France at École européenne d’ingénieurs de chimie, polymères et matériaux was consolidated by several industrial experiences in the United States and Germany.

Then, she worked as a research engineer at the Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux de Mines Paris in France, optimizing an industrial polymer forming process. Mélanie continued her education with a PhD in chemical engineering at Polytechnique Montreal, focusing on nanocellulose dispersion.

Afterward, she worked on 3D printing of electrically conductive nanocomposites during a post-doctorate at École de Technologie Supérieure.

Her experience allows her to understand the challenges of the industrial and academic sectors, and the importance of collaboration. It has also given her significant expertise in project management.

melanie.girard@prima.ca
263 362-7490

HAJAR FTOUHI, PH. D.

ADVISOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Hajar Ftouhi holds a PhD. in materials physics, specializing in third-generation photovoltaic technologies, particularly organic solar cells. She has over six years of experience in applied research on advanced materials, including the growth and characterization of thin films for optoelectronic applications.

Her doctoral research was carried out as part of an international collaborative project, between the CNRS in France (IMN – MIOPS team) and the CNRST in Morocco. Her work focused on optimizing organic planar heterojunction solar cells by developing and characterizing innovative hybrid buffer layers such as MoO₃:MoS₂ and MoO₃/CuI.

Now based in Quebec, Hajar combines scientific expertise with experience in accounting, giving her both technical and organizational insight. As a Technology and Innovation Advisor at PRIMA Québec, she helps bridge the gap between research and industry, promoting clean technologies and responsible innovation in the advanced materials ecosystem.

hajar.ftouhi@prima.ca
514 360-8124

LYDIE CHAUVIRÉ

ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS MANAGER

Lydie Chauviré joins the PRIMA Québec team as Administrative and Financial Affairs Manager. She has over 10 years’ administrative experience in France and Canada.

She worked for 6 years as a sales assistant and then as marketing coordination assistant at ERPI, a publisher of school books.

With her wealth of experience, Lydie will put all these skills to work to support the team and the company.

lydie.chauvire@prima.ca
514 834-2052

CLÉMENT STENGER

COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING ADVISOR

Originally from France and based in Québec since 2020, Clément Stenger joined PRIMA Québec in October 2025 as Communication and Marketing Advisor. With several years of experience in communications and digital strategy, he has worked in diverse environments, combining creativity, rigor, and collaboration.

At PRIMA Québec, he will contribute to the development of value-added content, website and SEO optimization, as well as the implementation of coherent and innovative communication strategies. He will also support strategic monitoring and the promotion of the organization’s initiatives, both in Québec and internationally.

Passionate about arts and culture, Clément is actively involved in the local cultural scene as a volunteer. Curious and versatile, he also practices archery combat, a discipline that reflects his sense of strategy, teamwork, and precision.

clement.stenger@prima.ca
438 506-1224