Speakers

Olivier Bernard (B.Pharm, M.Sc, FOPQ, M.S.M.) has been a pharmacist since 2004 and has been a Fellow of the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec since 2022. He holds a master’s degree in research in the field of pharmacogenetics (2006). Since 2012, he has been involved in science communication as an author and illustrator, both on social media and in the media as well as in books.

His work has received several distinctions, including the John Maddox Prize, awarded in London in 2019 for standing up for science in the face of adversity, as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada award for science promotion (2026). In 2024, he received the Governor General of Canada’s Meritorious Service Decoration, which recognizes Canadians who have performed exceptional actions contributing to the nation.

Since 2019, he has been the producer of the podcast Dérives, the most listened-to show on Radio-Canada OHdio. Its fourth season, Le Labyrinthe de Lyme, is a finalist for the 2025 Michener Award, the most important Canadian journalism distinction.

Élise Desaulniers is an author, consultant, and independent researcher. A well-known figure in Quebec's vegan movement, she has spent more than fifteen years writing about animal welfare, antispeciesism, and the links between these issues and other social justice concerns. Author of Je mange avec ma tête, Vache à lait, Le défi végane 21 jours, and Tables véganes, she has also headed the Montreal SPCA.

A dedicated vegan since 2016 and a passionate advocate for animal rights and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, Nathe Perrone brings a wealth of experience in grassroots organizing, political advocacy, and community empowerment to the animal liberation movement. Nathe has organized direct actions and events with several organizations, while also driving systemic change as the Animal Welfare and Security Critic for the Green Party of Canada and through municipal politics with Transition Montreal. 

In early 2024, they co-founded BESA, a grassroots nonprofit inspired by France’s L214, where they serve as General Coordinator and Spokesperson. Championing a horizontal leadership model, they work to elevate volunteer voices and manage media relations. Active with We The Free since 2022, Nathe now serves as the Regional Support Lead for the Americas.

Their unique blend of on-the-ground activism, political strategy, and empathetic leadership makes them a powerful force for inspiring lasting behavior change across diverse communities.