Board of Directors
Marie-Maude GROULX, President
Originally from Quebec, Marie-Maude Groulx moved to Vancouver nearly ten years ago.
Her professional journey has led her to explore the contrasting realms of B2C and B2B, within both large corporations and nonprofit organizations. Her ability to navigate with ease between the specific dynamics of these different sectors, along with her commitment to the francophone community, inspired her to launch her bilingual business development and marketing agency, Pacific Québec.
The mission of her company, Pacific Québec, is to facilitate access to interprovincial and international trade. Through her team of bilingual specialists, Marie-Maude supports francophone businesses in expanding into English-speaking markets, and conversely, helps English-speaking clients overcome linguistic and cultural barriers in Quebec.
With the goal of actively contributing to the growth and vitality of the francophone business community in British Columbia, she joined the board of directors of the Francophone Chamber of Commerce of Vancouver.
AZOOL JAFFER JERAJ, Vice-President
Azool Jaffer-Jeraj holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria. He is a partner at the law firm Dohm, Jaffer & Jeraj in Vancouver, where he practices in the areas of victims’ rights law, family law, wills, and estates. With 19 years of professional experience and training, Azool has successfully represented clients before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Azool is an active member of the legal profession. He has served on the boards of several legal associations and volunteers within the community and with Access Pro Bono. He previously served as President of the Trial Lawyers Association of BC and currently sits on its Board of Governors. He is also a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars.
When not in trial, Azool utilizes mediation to resolve his clients’ disputes. He is an accredited mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (UK) and the Law Society of British Columbia. He is also actively involved in cases before the Ismaili Conciliation and Arbitration Board for British Columbia.
Azool is fluent in four languages: French, English, Spanish, and Kaachi.
Louise TURGEON, Treasurer
A landscape architect by trade, Louise moved to Vancouver in 1979. After a visit to the Granville Island Market, Louise and her partner opened a Boucherie Française, followed by “La Baguette & l’Échalote”, Boulangerie et Pâtisserie Française, and Catering Services; a restaurant “Le Soufflé” followed in 1983 and a wholesale manufacturing plant supplying restaurants, hotels, cafés and delicatessens. Louise sells her business in 2017.
Now retired, Louise is dedicated to helping business owners by bringing them together to work on their challenges and providing them with the tools to find practical and real solutions. All key areas of activity are covered: leadership, management, marketing, finance, operations and sales.
Marielle DE VASSOIGNE, Administrator
Originally from Martinique in the French Caribbean, Marielle de Vassoigne moved to Vancouver in January of 2021 after spending half her life in Montréal.
Organizational Change Management Specialist, Marielle counts more than twenty years of experience working on transformational projects.
Marielle is a graduate from the Business School of University of Montréal – École des HEC in 1996, in Management and International Business, a certified Coach with UBC, a Prosci® certified Change Practitioner and a Lean Six-Sigma Green Belt.
Driven by her core belief—that a rich life is filled with kindness, curiosity, and exploration—as well as values of diversity and inclusion, she became a published author following her creative thinking and curious nature.
