Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere

Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere’s Biography

Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere 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 current responsibilities on a global scale, thus 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.

As Global Account Manager at Sandvik, a leading Swedish high-tech and engineering group, Marie-Soleil currently manages Sandvik’s global business with three of the world’s largest gold miners and most strategic Sandvik customers, Newmont, Agnico Eagle and Kinross. Previous roles at Sandvik include Regional Commercial Manager for North America and Project Manager for the highly strategic, transnational integration of Newtrax Technologies into the company, following its acquisition by Sandvik.

Marie-Soleil has extensive experience leading and closing domestic,... Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere 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 current responsibilities on a global scale, thus 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.

As Global Account Manager at Sandvik, a leading Swedish high-tech and engineering group, Marie-Soleil currently manages Sandvik’s global business with three of the world’s largest gold miners and most strategic Sandvik customers, Newmont, Agnico Eagle and Kinross. Previous roles at Sandvik include Regional Commercial Manager for North America and Project Manager for the highly strategic, transnational integration of Newtrax Technologies into the company, following its acquisition by Sandvik.

Marie-Soleil has extensive experience leading and closing domestic, international and global transactions and contracts in the resource sector and managing a complex supply chain in remote Northern mining.

Innovation, 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 currently 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 and Asia. She is trilingual French, English and Spanish, and proficient in German. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere’s Newsfeed

Government of Canada

Minister Ng announces appointments to BDC Board of Directors

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the BDC, announced the appointment of Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere to the BDC’s Board of Directors, effective June 22, 2023.

Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere’s Background

Sandvik

Global Account Manager

2020 - Present

Yellowknife, CA

Sandvik is a high-tech and engineering company with 2022 revenue of US$10.4bn. As Global Account Manager Marie-Soleil manages Sandvik’s global business with Newmont, Agnico Eagle and Kinross. Her responsibility spans 14 countries over 4 continents and includes 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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Other Business Interests

Morin's Fisheries

Partner

Yellowknife, CA

Morin’s Fisheries is a new, innovative commercial fishery on Great Slave Lake whose mission is to empower Indigenous Northerners and strengthen Northern Indigenous cultural identity through fish. The business harvests and markets premium fish caught in some of the world’s most pristine waters by an operation that incorporates Traditional Knowledge.

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 audit and investment board committees where she oversees Canada's largest and most active venture capital portfolio worth several billion dollars.

Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation

Board Member; Vice-Chair of Audit Committee

2021 - Present

The BDIC is a Crown Corporation that provides credit facilities and contributions to Northwest Territories businesses in addition to venture investment. The BDIC 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.

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Previous Board Positions

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.

Media

Meet Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere, 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.

Memberships

Institute of Corporate Directors

Member

2023 - Present

Specialist Courses

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

Cambridge, MA, USA

Marie-Soleil expects to complete her certificate in finance and accounting in summer 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.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Master’s in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas

Tromsø, NO

One half of the Master’s in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas is delivered by the Arctic University of Norway; Marie-Soleil has attended several courses and field schools in Northern Norway from Bødo to Kirkenes in addition to time on campus in Tromsø.

University of Saskatchewan

Master’s in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas

2023

Saskatoon, CA

This Joint Master is a program designed to enable students in ways of emerging Indigenous People’s rights, economic development in the context of Northern resources and sustainability in the Circumpolar region. In this program Marie-Soleil specializes in Circumpolar innovation. Her thesis discusses the Social License to Automate in mining and Marie-Soleil is due to graduate in Q3 2023.

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

Mentor

Aug 2022 - Aug 2022

UNLEASH 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.