English bio

Holder of a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM, 1990), I have considerable civil society experience in the fields of  organised labour/employment, HIV/AIDS, gender inequality and development communication.

International development experience

With Nelson Mandela, Soweto, 1990

I first developed these skills during the time I spent living in Southern Africa, following Nelson Mandela’s release – who I had the chance to meet while working on a documentary series. While in Southern Africa (1990-2000), I promoted the role of community organizations and independent media in peace-building, human rights, democracy, gender equality, public health and participatory development. I worked for African organizations as a locally-employed fundraiser, manager and trainer along donors’ requirements, including result-based management approaches within a gender perspective.

Working to strengthen civil society

My specific expertise with civil society organizations (at home and abroad) is the strengthening of capacities in the areas of organizational development, program design and project management, training delivery, networking and coalition work, civil society engagement, policy dialogue, advocacy and campaigning.

Empowering public health activists

I am consulting for organizations involved in education, advocacy and campaigns on matters related to public health and social justice. I conduct research and produce various types of publications and tools.

I also work with journalists, trade unions, informal traders and workers, homeless people, community radios, women groups, CBOs, NGOs, donors and governments – providing guidance in trade and economic literacy, gender-based analysis and the upholding of universal rights.

Recent activities

Panel on civil society responses to AIDS in Aboriginal communities

Upon my return from Africa in 2000, I lived for six years in Ottawa.

In 2007, I relocated to  my dear hometown, Montreal. I work as a consultant for local or global organizations. Among recent assignments of interest,  I coordinated an event on civil society responses to health inequalities in Canadian Aboriginal communities and in South Africa, during the first Quebec Social Forum – a gathering attended by 5000 people.

I also had the great pleasure to meet President Lula and countless inspiring Brazilian citizens, as part of a Canadian civil society delegation accompanying the Governor General of Canada, Michaelle Jean, on her state visit to Brazil.

In 2008 I designed and delivered, in Calgary, a training session on Advocacy and Campaigns on women’s health and HPV for obstetricians and gyneacologists from Guatemala, Haiti, Uganda and Burkina Faso. I delivered the course in English, French and Spanish all at once!

Over time, I have taken part in the production of several documentary films, reports and publications. I recently produced a paper, a bibliography and various training materials on « Globalization and Health » for ICAD.  I also delivered web-based interactive training on globalization to participants across Canada.

Marie-Hélène Bonin (right) with some members of ICAD

Canadian labour movement and Africa

While in Ottawa, I worked in the international department of the Canadian Labour Congress – a trade union federation strong of 3,5 million members – as the Representative for Africa (2002-2007). In this capacity, I was responsible for result-based program management of several projects with African partners in numerous countries.

My efforts were focussed on women’s leadership in trade unions, workers rights in employment and in the informal economy, health standards and HIV in the workplace, and on building the capacities of unions to face Africa’s growing economic crisis.

Stephen Lewis at the first Labour Forum on AIDS, Toronto, 2006

I initiated the first global Labour Forum on AIDS, held as a satellite event of the Toronto 2006 AIDS Conference.  I have been involved in organizing a Canadian civil society summit on global health and human rights in 2003, that adopted a common platform on Global Health as a Human Right. In 2002, I organized a first meeting between the Canadian Prime Minister Chrétien and several trade union leaders from Africa,  on African workers expectations from G8 countries.

On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress, I wrote and submitted several briefs to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee of Health Canada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance of Canada and the UK Commission for Africa.

WTO and HIV/AIDS campaigns

During several years, I have been one of the Canadian leaders of a global civil society campaign on the World Trade Organization’s TRIPS agreement that led to a legislative amendment by the Parliament of Canada, for a more equitable access to affordable medicines in developing countries. In this process, as MSF Canada’s national Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, I met and discussed with former International Trade Minister, Pierre Pettigrew, and Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, prior to the Doha meeting that amended the TRIPS agreement in November 2001.

As MSF campaigner, 2001 Peoples Summit, Quebec City

A founding member of the Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) and a member of its coordinating body (2001-2007), I also served two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors of the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) and I was a member of the international Leadership Programme Committee of the Toronto 2006 AIDS Conference.