Hélène Desmarais is a graduate in finance of HEC Montréal and Founder Chairman and CEO
of the Centre d’entreprises et d’innovation de Montréal (CEIM). Under her leadership, the CEIM
has supported start-ups of more than 350 enterprises and has become the largest and one of
Canada’s most successful technology incubators. The CEIM, as an integrated component of the
sciences and technology ecosystem in Canada, has made significant contributions, in the last
21 years, in concert with others to translate innovation into application across key sectors of the
Canadian economy to address sector-based challenges and opportunities. The CEIM has
catalyzed the development of many thriving Canadian enterprises and also world-class
enterprises.

In the field of artificial intelligence, Ms. Desmarais is Co-chair of the Board of SCALE AI,
Canada’s supercluster for intelligent supply chains, and founder and executive chairman of
IVADO Labs, a leading provider of AI-driven supply chain solutions.
Ms. Desmarais has been Independent Director of Christian Dior SE since 2012 and President of
the company’s Nominating and Compensation Committee. Christian Dior SE is the world’s
largest luxury holding and is the first shareholder of LVMH. Ms. Desmarais is Director of Garda
World Security Corporation, since 2006. Ms. Desmarais was appointed first female President of
HEC's Board (in 2003), for which she is a member (since 1999).

Recipient of the Order of Merit, Université de Montréal in 2007; Medal of Honour, Faculty of
Medicine of the Université de Montréal in 2009; Doctor of Laws honoris causa, St. Francis
Xavier University in 2009; Doctor honoris causa, Université de Lyon in France in 2009; Order of
Canada in 2009; Prix entrepreneurship of Conseil du Patronat du Québec in; Officer of the
National Order of Québec in 2013; and, Commander of the Ordre de Montréal in 2016.