
Renaud Brossard
Vice President, Communications
Renaud’s specialty is popularization. On a daily basis, he helps make the work of the Institute’s research staff accessible to the general public. This involves editing opinion pieces for clarity, helping to write press releases, and ensuring the language used in publications and media interventions remains accurate, while being understandable without an advanced economics degree.
He also handles the Institute’s communications strategy, bringing together new, legacy, and social media plans in order for its publications to reach the largest possible audiences.
Renaud holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the École des sciences de la gestion at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Throughout his career, he has worked in communications and media relations for large non-partisan advocacy organizations.
When he’s not working, Renaud is an avid cook, a cinephile, and a whisky afficionado, with a marked preference for the peaty stuff coming from the Isle of Islay (Scotland).

Diego Cocchiararo
Administrative Assistant
Born into a family of musicians, Diego Cocchiararo studied sound design and developed an expertise as a sound engineer before turning to a corporate career as an administrative analyst in the group insurance sector. With a passion for languages, geography, psychological literature, finance, and science fiction, he combines curiosity with rigour in all aspects of his life.
He also likes to escape to Japan, seduced by its rich culture, its magnificent landscapes, and its refined cuisine.

Samantha Dagres
Manager, Communications
As communications manager, Samantha helps the MEI tell Canada’s story through the analysis of its public policies and policy changes. She contributes to the crafting of narratives, writes editorials, and keeps the team abreast of breaking news. She completed a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from McGill University, followed by Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Montreal, an educational path that combined theoretical principles with practical application.
Passionate about policy writing and analysis, she was a senior editor for several McGill public policy journals. She also has experience working on Parliament Hill. Samantha first joined the MEI team as an intern in January 2023.

Bradley Doucet
Editor and Translator
Bradley translates our publications from French to English, making sure the language we use is clear and precise, and the text is well-structured. He also works with the development team on the preparation of a range of proposals and reports. He likes using his language and logic skills to make our written work as good as it can be, helping us contribute to the public debate and to the adoption of better public policies.
Bradley holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University, with a major in philosophy and a minor in economics. Prior to joining the MEI team in April 2014, he worked as a freelance translator and editor, and before that, he spent several years as a tutor of high school math and science. In his spare time, Bradley likes to sing and play guitar, read science fiction, and shoot hoops. He also enjoys travelling the world, and appreciates fine wines and smoky scotches.

Daniel Dufort
President and CEO
Daniel Dufort is a seasoned public policy professional. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Laval University, and has worked in federal politics in the office of the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada as a speechwriter, issues manager, and stakeholder relations and strategic planification advisor. He has also been the Director of Issues Management and a policy advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure and the Prime Minister’s political lieutenant for Quebec. He has worked for major Canadian public relations firms, where he focused on government relations, crisis management, and the public positioning of corporations. He joined the MEI first as Senior Director of External Relations, Communications and Development, from June 2018 to October 2020, and then served as Vice President of Operations from July 2022 to April 2023.
Passionate about public policy and proudly dedicated to advancing the cause of freedom in Quebec and across Canada, his writings have appeared in publications such as The Globe and Mail, the Financial Post, La Presse+, and Le Journal de Montréal.

Conrad Eder
Public Policy Analyst
Conrad Eder holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Laurentian University and a Graduate Diploma in Economic Policy from Carleton University. He is passionate about articulating the impact of government policies for Canadians and has a knack for explaining complex ideas to general audiences.
Prior to joining the MEI team in 2024, Conrad worked as a policy analyst and researcher, writing and speaking on Canadian health and fiscal policy issues. During his time with the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, his research focused on the negative consequences of COVID-era policies that impeded the ability of cancer patients to access timely care. While an intern at the Fraser Institute, he co-authored articles quantifying the burden of rising government debt on Canadian families and published a research paper assessing the fiscal performance of Canada’s premiers.
A committed volunteer, Conrad is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the Laurentian University Student Association and contribute to the programming of Fighting Blindness Canada and Canadian Blind Hockey. He is an avid sports fan and a classical music lover, and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and their dog.

Nathalie Elgrably-Lévy
Senior Economist
Nathalie Elgrably-Lévy has taught economics at HEC Montréal since 1992. She also taught economics for several years at the University of Montreal and at UQAM. She is the author of La face cachée des politiques publiques, published in 2006 by Les Éditions Logiques, and she produced a Quebec adaptation of the 6th edition of Microeconomics, by Pyndick and Rubinfeld. Nathalie Elgrably-Lévy is also a columnist with Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec. She worked during part of 2008 as a senior economist with the Fraser Institute. She holds a master’s degree in management from HEC Montréal, with a specialization in applied economics and a thesis on the federal budget deficit. Her research interests focus on assessing public policy.

Emmanuelle B. Faubert
Economist
Emmanuelle holds a master’s degree in applied economics from HEC Montréal. In her thesis, she evaluated the impact of air pollution on the productivity of office workers. She received several bursaries and prizes throughout her university career for academic excellence.
During her studies and her professional career, Emmanuelle has worked on public policy topics such as the impact of Quebec’s electric vehicle purchase subsidy on consumers in the province, and the impact of the Quebec parental insurance plan on the decisions of fathers to take parental leave or not. Among her hobbies, she loves playing board games with family or friends. She joined the MEI team in September 2022.

Carole Fiset
Development and Administrative Coordinator
Carole coordinates our fundraising activities and office management. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Laval University, with a major in public communications and a minor in administration. Until April 2009, she was a marketing assistant with Force Financière Excel. She has also worked as coordinator at the ticket office of the Colisée Pepsi and Centre de Foires de Québec, Executive Assistant to the President and Marketing & Events Coordinator with the Vandewinkel Financial Group, and administrative assistant with Genivar. Carole joined the MEI team in April 2009.
Carole has also raised funds for the Quebec Cancer Foundation and done volunteer work for Centraide Quebec. A lover of literature, she paints and makes charcoal portraits in her free time. When she’s on vacation, Carole recharges her batteries by travelling the world to attend rock music festivals.

Vincent Geloso
Senior Economist
Vincent Geloso is an Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University. He held prior appointments at Texas Tech University, Bates College and King’s University College. Mr Geloso holds a PhD in economic history from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a master’s degree in economic history from the same institution. He has published more than 70 scientific articles in journals such as Economic Journal, Research Policy, European Journal of Political Economy, Public Choice, Economics & Human Biology, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Contemporary Economic Policy, and the British Medical Journal: Global Health. He is also associate editor at Structural Change and Economic Dynamics and Essays in Economic and Business History.

Gabriel Giguère
Senior Policy Analyst
Gabriel holds a master’s degree in applied policy studies with a focus on public policy and international politics from the University of Sherbrooke, and he has a passion for both provincial and federal policy issues. This passion was confirmed and amplified following his experience on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. His final master’s project looked at the level of priority assigned to job creation or to environmental protection by the Canadian population. Gabriel also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He joined the MEI team in December 2021.

Michel Kelly-Gagnon
Founding President
Michel was one of the cofounders of the Amis de la Liberté (Friends of Liberty) in the mid-1990s, and helped relaunch the MEI as of 1997, notably thanks to his skills as a fundraiser. After having been head of the MEI from 1999 to 2006, Michel was president of the Quebec Employers Council from March 2006 to December 2008, and came back at the helm of the MEI from January 2009 to April 2023. Early in his career, he practised law and then became an entrepreneur in the field of specialized business training. He served on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Quebec Workers Compensation Board (CSST) from 2006 to 2009. He was one of six Quebecers honoured in Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ 2008 awards. The winners were chosen from among 1,100 nominees.
Over the years, he has served on several boards of directors, including that of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, which disburses several hundred million dollars a year in order to finance Canada’s scientific research infrastructure. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Atlas Network, as well as at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and, finally, a Trustee of The John Dobson Foundation, which supports the teaching of entrepreneurial and free enterprise thinking to the general public. Michel’s title at the MEI is Founding President since April 2023.
These two press releases (here and here) summarize the transition of management that took place at the MEI in 2023.

Gerard Lucyshyn
Senior Economist
Gerard is a chartered economist, author, and lecturer. Gerard has lectured on microeconomics, macroeconomics, globalization, and engineering economics over the last two decades at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Gerard has a varied educational background and an even richer life experience, both professionally and personally. He holds college diplomas in Masonry and Paralegal Studies (specializing in litigation and commercial law). He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Carleton University in Ottawa.
Over the last 30 years, Gerard has also worked in business and economic consulting, litigation, public policy research, and academia. He has served in several capacities for various volunteer committees and boards in western Canada.
Gerard has extensive involvement in municipal, provincial, and federal politics within Alberta, and has earned the respect of those he worked with on several constituency associations and electoral districts associations. Gerard has volunteered for several community-based organizations including Prospect Human Services, Boy Scouts Canada, Rotary Club of Chestermere (founding member), and Langdon Chamber of Commerce (founding member).
As an author, Gerard has published numerous papers, commentaries, infographics, and videos regarding various municipal, provincial, economics and policy issues in Canada. Gerard has presented his research at conferences in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Rio De Janeiro. He consults regularly on these topics and provides media interviews. Gerard has been involved in the publication of several books as either a co-author, author, researcher, or publisher.
Gerard is passionate about education and believes in life-long learning. He believes in the necessity of educating the next generation of policy makers in Canada. Gerard has made contributions to think tanks in Canada and internationally. His previous engagement was the rejuvenation of a defunct Winnipeg-based think tank, where he reinvigorated, developed, and implemented a streamlined research program and a comprehensive internship program. Gerard is also the President/Executive Director of The Regulatory Research Institute of Canada.

Kate Marland
Manager, Liberty + Leadership Program
Prior to joining the MEI, Kate worked as a lawyer in Ottawa practising commercial litigation. While practising as a lawyer, Kate was also the Senior Fellow and Project Manager of the Canada Strong and Free Network’s Conservative Values Tomorrow mentorship program, where she developed a passion for identifying, organizing, and empowering young people to promote responsible government and individual freedom.
Kate earned her JD, cum laude, from the University of Ottawa, with a specialization in Law and Technology. Prior to attending law school, she earned a Master of Arts degree in Fashion Studies from Ryerson University, where she was an associate of the Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre. She completed her undergraduate studies at McGill University, graduating with outstanding achievement in Orchestral Performance. Kate was called to the bar in Ontario in 2023.

Shal Marriott
Research Associate
Shal holds an honours bachelor of arts degree in political science and history from Carleton University, and a master’s degree in political science from McGill University. Her research has included projects on the Scottish and French Enlightenment as well as work on the intersection of literature and liberalism in the 20th century. She is currently a PhD student in political science at McGill University, where she is specializing in political theory.
Over the course of her studies, Shal has presented academic papers at a variety of conferences including the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought, and the Adam Smith Society, and she published a paper on Michael Oakeshott in Cosmos + Taxis. Shal joined the MEI team in September 2024 after serving as a research intern during the summer of that year.

Valentin Petkantchin
Vice President, Research
Valentin Petkantchin is an economist with more than 20 years of European and North American experience in academic research and in the applied analysis of public policies and regulation. He holds a PhD in economics and a master’s degree in finance from the Université Paul-Cézanne – Aix-Marseille III (France). He also has a degree in economic journalism and media from this same university.
Valentin has been Director of Research and Associate Researcher for several research institutes, including the MEI from 2004 to 2006. A specialist in health economics, tobacco harm reduction, and innovative nicotine products, he acquired experience in this field in the corporate world from 2014 to 2021.
Valentin has also been invited as a speaker to present his knowledge and expertise at national and international seminars and conferences. He has a wealth of media experience as well, commenting on economic and financial news and on public policies.
Valentin is the author of numerous scientific studies, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and opinion pieces on a wide variety of topics, from the economic analysis of Formula 1 racing to retail alcohol monopolies, and from pharmaceutical and health care innovation to competition in telecom markets. His opinion pieces have appeared in both English and French media and on both sides of the Atlantic, including among others the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Post, the San Francisco Gate, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Le Temps and L’Agefi in Switzerland, Le Soir and L’Écho in Belgium, and Les Échos and La Tribune in France.
Finally, he is the author of a 1996 book entitled Les sentiments moraux font la richesse des nations, which examines the thought of the “founding father of economics,” Adam Smith.

Krystle Wittevrongel
Director of Research
Krystle holds a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Science from the University of Calgary, where she earned multiple academic scholarships for her exceptional graduate work, in addition to completing two undergraduate degrees. Known for her strong analytical skills and deep commitment to sound public policy, Krystle became an Associate Researcher with the MEI in 2019 and officially joined the team in February 2021.
Prior to this, she worked at the School of Public Policy in Calgary, where she specialized in health policy research and published articles in several specialized academic journals. Throughout her career, Krystle has established herself as a dedicated policy professional, leveraging her expertise to influence meaningful policy development and analysis.