SOLD OUT – The Critical Corridor: From the Ring of Fire to Ontario’s Mining Future

Roundtable Luncheon with Ashley Larose, Paul Lefebvre and Priya Tandon

C.D. Howe Institute events and webinars are open to members and their guests.

Please follow this link or contact events@cdhowe.org to register.

Ashley Larose, Chief Executive Officer, Science North

Ashley Larose is the CEO of Science North, one of Canada’s most respected science centres and a key driver of tourism and science engagement in Northern Ontario. With over 18 years of leadership experience, Ashley’s career highlights include spearheading international sales, strategic development, and community-focused fundraising efforts. As a trained scientist with a Master’s of Science from Laurentian University, her research in marine biology brought her to labs across North America, where she studied cutting-edge genomic techniques. Ashley’s commitment to equitable access to science education is central to her leadership, ensuring STEM programs are inclusive and accessible to diverse audiences. Recognized by Blooloop’s Top 50 Museum Influencers and Sudbury’s Top 40 Under 40, she is a sought-after speaker and panelist, contributing her expertise to national and international conversations about science engagement and innovation. Ashley also serves on several advisory boards, including the Association of Science and Technology Centres, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and locally at Kivi Park. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her family, cheering on her son’s hockey team and deepening her learning about wine. Her leadership embodies collaboration, innovation, and a drive to make science accessible to all.

Paul Lefebvre, Mayor of Greater Sudbury

Paul Lefebvre was elected Mayor of Greater Sudbury on October 24, 2022, and assumed office on November 15, 2022. He serves as a member of the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board as well as the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation.

Paul was elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Sudbury in 2015 and served for six years, until 2021. During his time with the federal government, he sat on the Public Accounts and Official Languages Committees before being appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

He is an accomplished tax lawyer, and dedicated time as counsel to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He also taught international tax law at the University of Ottawa. He served as past chair of the Sudbury Community Foundation, and the 2011 Canadian Francophone games, and as past Vice-President of l’Association de la presse francophone, and past president of Centre de Santé Communautaire. He has served as the past president of the Sudbury District Law Association and United Way. A music and Theatre enthusiast, he is a founder, as well as past chair of the Jazz Sudbury Festival, and the past president of Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario.

A local business owner, hockey coach and outdoor enthusiast, he is married to Dr. Lyne Giroux, a dermatologist, and together they have three children.

Priya Tandon, President, Ontario Mining Association

Priya leads all Ontario Mining Association (OMA) advocacy activities and represents the association publicly. She is a member of OMA's Board of Directors and its Executive Committee and provides broad policy guidance to the OMA Chair. Priya joined the OMA following a distinguished career in the public sector. She embarked on public service in 2009 as a legislative assistant in the Minister's Office at the former Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and soon became Chief of Staff to the Ministers of Natural Resources and Northern Development and Mines. She joined the Ontario Public Service as the Director of the Corporate Policy Secretariat at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in 2015 and became Director of the Strategic and Indigenous Policy Branch at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in 2020. Priya brings a background in engineering and public policy to the organization.

In addition to her professional achievements, Priya has dedicated much of the last two decades to volunteering as a board member with various charities that offer essential services to her local community, including a focus on marginalized communities. Notable organizations she has supported in governance include Interval House of Hamilton and Casey House. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for her children’s daycare, reflecting her commitment to supporting family-friendly initiatives. Priya lives in Mississauga with her husband and two children.