Lobbying and
Public Affairs
Government bodies play a key role in the ecosystem of organizations. Understanding their dynamics and potential implications, and navigating this particular landscape requires guidance and support so that your organization can achieve its objectives.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
Our Services
Lobbying
Public Relations and Media
Legislative Process
Policy Analysis
Social Media and Online Reputation
SHERPA
About Us
Sherpa is a lobbying, public affairs, and strategic consulting firm that brings together experienced and seasoned advisors who can guide and support you in strengthening the effectiveness of dealings with various government bodies.
Our firm has specialists in lobbying, government affairs, public affairs, crisis management, social media management, and online reputation. Sherpa has the skills and contacts to help each client achieve their goals in a prompt and efficient manner.
HOW?
Our Approach
We work closely with our clients to define achievable goals, develop strategic points, and design winning plans to meet the challenges and opportunities arising from legislation. The strategies put forward by Sherpa's consultants help our clients to best position themselves in the face of government actions and decisions.
Each of our clients is advised by a handpicked team of professionals with several years of experience, who guide them through the intricacies of public administration. This holistic approach ensures that they receive the highest quality of service and expertise.
OUR SHERPAS
Our Team
Dany Renauld
President
Dany Renauld holds an MBA and has been working in business, communications, and public affairs for over 25 years. He co-founded the advertising agency Brad, in 1994 and subsequently sold it. During his impressive political career, he served as a political attaché to ministers including Jean Charest and Benoit Bouchard, not to mention advised premiers, party leaders, and other political players at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. With a vast network spanning all Canadian provinces, he has the unique ability to understand the issues inherent in policy development for various government administrations. He is dedicated to applying his considerable expertise in government relations to the benefit of the firm's clients.
Claude Éric Gagné
Senior Partner
A seasoned political strategist with a vast network of contacts, Claude Éric Gagné is always on the lookout for the political agenda and directions. Respected by all parties and players, this seasoned advisor anticipates issues, societal trends and opinion movements so that elected officials, public and private decision-makers, as well as members of the media and polling firms regularly seek his advice.
Over the years, he has served at the helm of various ministerial cabinets and has contributed to the rise of several politicians in both Quebec City and Ottawa. His success as the organizer of Justin Trudeau's 2015 campaign in Quebec contributed to his appointment to the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada as Deputy Director of Operations, affording him access to those at the highest levels of power. Since 2018, he has served as a strategy advisor in government relations and public affairs on behalf of numerous clients.
Being able to rely on a partner with a cross-sectional understanding of the issues and what influences political decisions at the federal and provincial levels is an extremely rare commodity. Beyond an exclusive address book, Claude Éric Gagné's strength lies in his ability to benefit from the listening skills and credibility of the majority of players across the political spectrum.
Line Beauchamp
Senior Advisor
The Honourable Christian Paradis, P.C., LL. B.
Senior Advisor
Member of the Quebec Bar since 1997 and recognized as a results-driven figure, the Honourable Christian Paradis was Member of the Parliament of Canada for Mégantic-L’Érable from 2006 to 2015, and Cabinet Minister between 2008 and 2015 of Public Works and Government Services, Natural Resources, Industry and International Development and La Francophonie.
During his years in office, the Honourable Christian Paradis led critical files in Canada. At the global stage, he played a leadership role with his involvement in developing and pushing on blended finance for international development.
Prior to his years in government, he practiced law for 9 years with a specialization in corporate law.
The Honourable Christian Paradis did not seek a fourth mandate and he joined the multinational GardaWorld for 4 years as Senior Vice President, Strategic Development, Protective Services. He also co-founded Global Development Solutions (GDS) Canada inc., an organisation facilitating social investments in frontier and emerging markets.
He his currently senior advisor and member of boards of directors.
He graduated from the University of Sherbrooke in civil law and holds a graduate degree in corporate law from Laval University.
The Honourable Christian Paradis is member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada since 2007 and he is recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
Jacques Dupuis
Senior Advisor
First elected in 1998 as MNA of the Liberal Party of Quebec in Saint-Laurent, Jacques Dupuis has held several important ministerial positions in the government of Quebec. From 2003 to 2010, he was entrusted with the roles of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Quebec, Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Minister of Public Security.
Lawyer and member of the bar since 1974, Jacques Dupuis was a lawyer-counsel at Rochefort et associés and since 2019 has held the same position at Deveau lawyers in Laval.
Most recently, he played an important role, as special advisor, in the campaign of Mr. Bruno Marchand, the new Mayor of Quebec City.
His great strategic capacity, his extraordinary understanding of the government apparatus and his in-depth analysis of complex files are assets that he brings to the benefit of our clients.
Hélène Ménard
Senior Advisor
Recently retired from the public service, Hélène Ménard has worked, during her career, as head of legislation and chief of staff of various ministries, such as Justice, Public Security, Transport, Government Services and Labour, to name a few.
She has acquired a broad knowledge of the functioning of the government and its agencies, both political and administrative, their roles and responsibilities, and the way in which issues are dealt with and decided upon.
As part of her duties, she also acted as responsible for legislation and in this capacity as secretary-clerk of the Commission des institutions at the National Assembly of Québec. As a result, she has acquired a great understanding of the steps to be taken on the political, administrative and legislative levels leading to the adoption of a Bill. Consider appearing before a parliamentary committee, drafting briefs to be tabled and preparing to appear, which are among the steps that Hélène's expertise in doing so helps guide the firm's clients in their efforts.
Pierre Hamelin, CSA
Senior Advisor, Public Administration Expert
With a solid background in economics and finance, Pierre Hamelin has a long record of accomplishment in both the private and public sectors. He has held senior management positions with the Government of Quebec as Chief of Staff in the Ministries of Revenue, Finance, and Economic Development, and as Strategy Advisor to the President at the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) and the Société générale de financement (SGF).
Retired from the senior public service of the Government of Quebec, he was a member of the Governance Committee and Chair of the Comité permanent de planification et de reddition de compte du ministère du Conseil exécutif, from 2014 to 2018. He also represented the government on the board of directors of Hydrocarbures Anticosti S.E.C. Inc. and sat on the Governance Committee of the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) project. Pierre Hamelin is a Certified Corporate Director (CCD), a title acquired through the university certification program in corporate governance at the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés of Université Laval. He was also a director of an investment brokerage firm. His extensive knowledge of the workings and practices of the government and his sound judgment are highly valued by Sherpa's clients.
Martin Beaulieu
Senior Advisor, Government Affairs Expert
An experienced communications and public affairs strategist, Martin Beaulieu has contributed to the growth of several companies across Canada and internationally. His keen grasp of crosscutting issues and his ability to think "outside the box" help decision-makers to realize their ambitions and achieve operational success. Not only is he a team player, but he is also a leader that is espected for his sense of ethics and his ability to bring people together.
Known for capitalizing on intangible assets, he has worked for numerous organizations over the past 30 years in different areas including insurance, technology, health, education, infrastructure, law, and manufacturing. He also has extensive political experience and can draw on well-established relationships at the federal and provincial levels for the strategic advancement of his clients' government affairs files.
L. Philippe Angers
Senior Advisor
A graduate in political science and economics, Philippe Angers has more than thirty years of experience in communication, networking and fundraising. He has held various leadership positions for private, public, political and charitable organizations.
From March 2015 to March 2020, Philippe held the position of Honorary Consul of Senegal for the Montreal region. From 2010 to 2011, he acted as general manager, Quebec section, of the Liberal Party of Canada. From 2002 to 2006, he was Senior Development Consultant for AON Canada and from 1999 to 2002 as Vice President Development for Netcom Communication. From 1995 to 1999, he was special advisor to the Ministry of Economic Development of Canada. From 2010 to 2011, he acted as director of development, Quebec section of the Liberal Agency of Canada and from 2007 to 2010 as director general, Quebec section, of the Liberal Party of Canada. In 1992 he was given the position of director of development for the foundation of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Previously, he acted as director of development and interim director of the Sainte Justine Hospital Foundation (1986-1988), and assistant to the general director of operations of EQUIDEV (1985-1986).
Philipe Angers has solid experience as a director of charitable organizations. He is currently active in the following organizations: Member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Fondation du CHUM. Member of the Board of the Mira Foundation, Member of the Board of Working Without Borders since 2012. Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation since 2008. Patron of Honor of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation since 2011 and governor for life since 2014.
In the field of the arts, he was: member of the Board of Directors of I Musici de Montréal (2002 - 2005), member of the advisory committee of Jeunesses Musicales of Canada (1996 - 2000), member of the Board of the Fondation Musée d'Art Contemporain ( 1993 – 1996) Member of the Board of Directors of Maison Tresler (1990 - 1996).
Marie-Eve Doyon, PRP
Strategic partner
Marie-Eve Doyon has worked in public relations and communications for 25 years.
With a diverse professional background, she understands media imperatives, political issues and the challenges of small, medium and large businesses.
She is highly effective in emergency situations and regularly assists individuals and organizations in crisis management.
Aware of the importance of acting quickly to reduce the impact of crises on the reputation and revenues of its clients, it knows how to target its interventions and supervise the teams with which it collaborates.
Over the years, she has trained numerous elected officials, candidates, public figures and artists to help them understand the dynamics of media relations and prepare them for public speaking.
Passionate about politics, she has been a communications advisor, political attaché and press attaché in the offices of three different Quebec ministers and has taken part in all the election campaigns of the past 15 years. At the same time, she sits on various boards of directors and works closely with the general management of her family's manufacturing company.
Since 2018, she has been a columnist and political analyst for Le Journal de Québec, Le Journal de Montréal, Noovo and several radio stations. An effective communicator, her knowledge of the workings of the political apparatus and her many contacts behind the scenes of power fuel her down-to-earth yet hard-hitting observations.
Matthew Conway, LL.B
Senior Advisor
With a Law Degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) and multi-sectoral expertise in public policy, as well as being a keen navigator of the machinery of government at both federal and provincial levels, Matthew Conway is a detail-oriented professional with extensive experience as an advisor to decision-makers, notably in communications, policy development and issues management within the federal and Ontario governments. Fluently bilingual Matthew has the ability to communicate easily, orally and in writing, in both languages.
Matthew has served as advisor to several ministers, including the Caroline Mulroney, Tony Clement, James Moore, Jean-Pierre Blackburn and Senator Claude Carignan. While at Queen's Park in Toronto, Matthew led Francophone Affairs for Minister Mulroney, including securing an agreement with the Government of Canada for the joint funding of a French-language university in Toronto, helping to develop the framework for a future Francophone economic development plan, and leading preparations for the modernization of the French Language Services Act.
While in Ottawa, Matthew served as Press Secretary to Treasury Board President Tony Clement, handling day-to-day media relations and highly sensitive issues. He also served as political advisor and legal and policy researcher to the Honourable Senator Claude Carignan during his tenure as Leader of the Government in the Senate.