Marie-Soleil Lacoursière

Marie-Soleil Lacoursière’s Biography

Marie-Soleil Lacoursière is a highly regarded, sustainability-focused leader with over a decade of multinational management experience, yet with Northern expertise.

Marie-Soleil is firmly rooted in Canada's North while having a solid background in international business and technology in the resource sector. She has worked for some of the largest players in the mining industry, around the world and across commodities, and has been responsible for strategic portfolios reaching $3Bn annually, with heavy digitalization, automation, Internet of Things, and electrification components, enabling her to have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced North of 60.

She is also a certified Board Candidate with CDI.D designation from Corporate Directors International and GCB.D sustainability for board directors designation through the Competent Board Institute. Marie-Soleil is an active board director, notably, on the board of the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Innovation, Indigenous relations, continuous improvement, inclusion, strategic business and sustainability... Marie-Soleil Lacoursière is a highly regarded, sustainability-focused leader with over a decade of multinational management experience, yet with Northern expertise.

Marie-Soleil is firmly rooted in Canada's North while having a solid background in international business and technology in the resource sector. She has worked for some of the largest players in the mining industry, around the world and across commodities, and has been responsible for strategic portfolios reaching $3Bn annually, with heavy digitalization, automation, Internet of Things, and electrification components, enabling her to have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced North of 60.

She is also a certified Board Candidate with CDI.D designation from Corporate Directors International and GCB.D sustainability for board directors designation through the Competent Board Institute. Marie-Soleil is an active board director, notably, on the board of the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Innovation, Indigenous relations, continuous improvement, inclusion, strategic business and sustainability are common threads throughout Marie-Soleil’s career.

Committed to lifelong learning, her professional experience is complemented by university studies in business, operations management, mining technologies, Arctic affairs and a Master’s in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas. She recently completed her Master’s thesis on the emerging topic of the Social License to Automate in the mining industry, a concept that she is pioneering globally.

Marie-Soleil has worked in Mexico, Germany, Australia, West Africa and across the Americas. She is trilingual French, English and Spanish, and proficient in German. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Marie-Soleil Lacoursière’s Newsfeed

Government of Canada

Minister Ng announces appointments to BDC Board of Directors

Marie-Soleil Lacoursière’s Background

Aurora Village

Operations Manager

2025 - Present

Yellowknife, CA

Aurora Village is North America's premier aurora viewing site, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors from around the world annually. Aurora Village is a key contributor to the Northwest Territories' economy.

Kinross Gold Corporation

Senior Manager of Global Supply Chain

2025 - 2026

Toronto, CA

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with a diverse portfolio of mines and projects and 2023 revenues of $4.2Bn. Its diverse portfolio includes mines and projects in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Mauritania.

Sandvik

Global Account Manager

2020 - 2025

Yellowknife, CA

Sandvik is a high-tech and engineering company with 2022 revenue of US$10.4bn. As Global Account Manager Marie-Soleil managed Sandvik’s global business with Newmont, Agnico Eagle and Kinross. Her responsibility spanned 14 countries over 4 continents and included oversight on the roll-out of cutting-edge technology in the areas of automation, electrification, digitalization and Internet-of-Things.

Sandvik

Various roles

2017 - 2020

Yellowknife, CA

Marie-Soleil has acted as Sandvik's Regional Commercial Manager for North America where she was responsible to the management of a commercial portfolio exceeding $600M per year. She was also Project Manager for the integration of Newtrax Technologies into Sandvik following its acquisition. Newtrax is a leading provider of Internet-of-Things and analytics technology for the mining industry.

Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation

Contracts Team Leader

2014 - 2017

Yellowknife, CA

The Ekati mine is internationally recognized as a world-class supplier of top-quality rough diamonds. Marie-Soleil managed the team responsible for the sourcing, contracting and management of an annual supply portfolio of over $300M. Her scope of responsibility included the creation of sustainable business opportunities for Northern businesses and ensuring adherence to obligations under IBAs.

Arctic Energy Alliance

Operations Manager

2010 - 2014

Yellowknife, CA

The Arctic Energy Alliance is an organization promoting the adoption and implementation of energy renewables and energy efficiency in Canada’s North. In this role Marie-Soleil managed the operations and led large-scale energy projects in the North. She also advised the Government of Nunavut’s Energy Secretariat on energy-related matters.

Drake International

Business Development Manager

2006 - 2010

Montreal, CA

Drake International is a global human resources company offering talent management solutions to large organizations, helping to increase productivity.

LexisNexis

Project Analyst

2005 - 2006

Münster, DE

LexisNexis is a subsidiary of information giant RELX group (previously Reed Elsevier) that creates and markets digital solutions. In this role Marie-Soleil reported to the COO of LexisNexis operations for Continental Europe and led a variety of continuous improvement and operational efficiencies programs. Marie-Soleil resided in Germany between 2004 and 2006 and is proficient in German.

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Advisory Roles

Destination Canada

Member, International Leisure Committee

2026 - Present

Destination Canada is Canada's national tourism marketing organization, responsible for promoting Canada as a premier travel destination in key global markets. As a member of Destination Canada's International Leisure Committee, Marie-Soleil provides strategic insights and counsel to the organization's management and board, with a focus on US and overseas markets.

Other Business Interests

North of 60 Commercial Excellence

Principal

North of 60 Commercial Excellence is a Yellowknife-based consultancy specializing in Northern and Indigenous policy, operational, and commercial matters. The firm advises government, Indigenous, and private sector clients on issues affecting Northern Canada, with expertise in navigating the region’s unique regulatory, economic, and stakeholder environments. Clients have included the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Current Board Positions

BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)

Board Director

Jun 2023 - Present

Montreal, CA

BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) is a financial institution that supports Canadian entrepreneurs by providing capital, advisory services, and resources to help them grow and succeed in their businesses. Marie-Soleil is a member of the Human Resources Committee.

Previous Board Positions

Prosper NWT

Chairperson of the Board

2021 - 2026

Yellowknife, CA

Prosper NWT provides credit facilities and contributions to Northwest Territories businesses in addition to venture investment. The organization is a key engine of economic development that also owns and manages several companies. Its credit facilities portfolio exceeds $40M. Marie-Soleil was appointed by the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Fort McPherson Tent & Canvas

Board Director

2022 - 2026

Fort McPherson, CA

Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas is an iconic Northern company established over fifty years ago that creates and manufactures canvas products for domestic and global markets. Production takes place entirely in Fort McPherson, a Northwest Territories community above the Arctic circle. Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas is an important contributor to manufacturing in Canada's North.

Dene Fur Clouds Ltd

Board Director

Jan 2022 - 2026

Fort Providence, CA

Based in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories and established in 1997, Dene Fur Clouds produces luxurious knit fur garments exclusively made of furs sustainably harvested in Canada's North

Acho Dene Native Crafts

Board Director

Fort Liard, CA

Acho Dene Native Crafts is a company that retails and wholesales Northern arts and crafts mainly produced using locally harvested materials

NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines

Board Director

2021 - 2023

Since 1967 the Northwest Territories & Nunavut Chamber of Mines has lobbied on behalf of Northern mining, promoting the industry and the north to the world.

Canadian Parents for French

Board Member

2014 - 2019

Yellowknife, CA

Canadian Parents for French is a non-profit organization actively promoting the inclusion of French in institutions of learning in Canada. The group is responsible for extracurricular programs of learning and in-school activities which advocate for linguistic duality in Canada.

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Philanthropy

Inuit Art Foundation

Board Director (Volunteer)

2026 - Present

The Inuit Art Foundation is a Canadian non-profit that supports Inuit artists through funding, advocacy, and publishing. As a long-time collector of Inuit art, Marie-Soleil is honoured to champion Inuit self-determination through artistic pursuits.

Media

Meet Marie-Soleil Lacoursière, Global Customer Manager

Podcast interviewee

Nov 2021

Marie-Soleil talks about her role as Global Customer Manager at Sandvik, and suggests more women should consider a career in mining.

Accreditation

Corporate Directors International / ACE LLC

Board Certification

Jun 2021

Denver, CO, USA

Marie-Soleil is a qualified and certified Board Director that has been tested on the aspects of the rules and responsibilities of public board directors in the areas of board governance, committee member roles, conflicts of interest and financial acumen, establishing her efficiency in all operations related to board operations.

Publications

Mineral Economics: The social license to automate* in the mining industry

Author

Feb 2025

Mineral Economics is an international, multidisciplinary journal that explores the economic, social, environmental, and political dimensions of the minerals, metals, and mining industries. It provides a platform for academics, industry professionals, and policymakers to examine topics such as market analysis, resource development, sustainability, and policy. *Social License to Automate is a trademark of Marie-Soleil Lacoursière.

Memberships

WomenExecs on Boards (WEoB)

Member

Aug 2026 - Present

WomenExecs on Boards (WEoB) is an influential global network of senior women leaders advancing excellence and diversity in the C-suite and corporate boardroom. Its members, all graduates of qualifying Harvard Business School board governance programmes, include experienced C-level executives and directors across public, private and nonprofit organisations.

Institute of Corporate Directors

Member

2023 - Present

Specialist Courses

Harvard Business School

Corporate Director Certificate | Executive Education

Jul 2026

Cambridge, MA, USA

Harvard Business School's Corporate Director Certificate is designed for experienced board directors. The programme combines three executive education courses covering board leadership, financial oversight and executive compensation, culminating in a recognised credential in corporate governance.

Harvard Business School

Compensation Committees: New Challenges, New Solutions

Nov 2025

Cambridge, MA, USA

The course 'Compensation Committees: New Challenges, New Solutions' at Harvard Business School explores best practices and emerging trends in executive compensation, including evolving regulation and market dynamics, and shows how compensation committees can align executive pay with corporate strategy, build the right organisational culture and drive sustainable company performance.

Human Resources & Compensation Committee Effectiveness (HRCCE)

Oct 2025

Toronto, CA

This course helps board directors build a better understanding of human capital issues, including executive compensation, talent management, and CEO performance and succession planning.

Harvard University

Audit Committees in a New Era of Governance | Executive Education

Dec 2024

Cambridge, MA, USA

This course explores the essential responsibilities of audit committees, particularly in relation to risk management. Students look at ways to enhance internal control systems and guide companies towards strategic financial reporting that effectively mitigates risk.

Leading Across Borders and Cultures | INSEAD

2024

Fontainebleau, FR

Delivered by world-renowned cross-cultural expert Erin Meyer, this program enables executives in global roles to improve their global leadership skills, including that of leading virtual teams and their cross-cultural effectiveness.

Harvard University

Certificate in Finance & Accounting

Sep 2024

Cambridge, MA, USA

Marie-Soleil completed her certificate in finance and accounting in 2024.

ESG Designation Program

Oct 2023

Competent Board’s ESG Designation Program enables board members, executives, investors, and their advisors to identify and act upon the most material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects of their businesses. Marie-Soleil is due to complete the course in October 2023.

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme

Sep 2021

Oxford, UK

The Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme aims to equip corporate leaders with the ability to drive sustainability and shift the traditional methods of value creation towards the concept of the triple bottom line.

Queen's University

Certificate in Mining Technologies

Kingston, CA

Marie-Soleil is on track to receive her certification in December 2024.

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Speaking Engagements

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum

Speaker

Canadian Higher-Educational Institutions

Regular Speaker

Marie-Soleil is a regular speaker at Canadian higher-educational institutions from coast to coast to coast (Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic). She speaks on topics related to Northern affairs, sustainability, mining technology, and Indigenous relations.

Community Engagement

IserveU

Volunteer

Yellowknife, CA

Marie-Soleil was a volunteer at IserveU in 2015. IserveU is an organisation promoting open source collaborative decision-making and e-democracy to help governments engage and involve those they serve, and demonstrate accountability and transparency in the decision-making process.

Mentoring

UNLEASH Greenland

Mentor

Aug 2022 - Aug 2022

UNLEASH Greenland is an initiative that brings together young leaders, entrepreneurs and experts to find solutions to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Marie-Soleil participated as an expert to provide insights, targeted knowledge, and mentorship in the areas of renewable energy, resource extraction, Indigenous relations, Indigenous self-governance and entrepreneurship in the circumpolar context.

The International Women in Mining Mentoring Programme

Mar 2022 - Present

As a mentor on the International Women in Resources Mentoring Programme Marie-Soleil acts as a role model for women in mining, and uses her experience as a senior professional in the industry to inspire and support her mentees.