Two business leaders recently joined the Board of Directors of the INRS Foundation. Nadia Mattei of PSP Investments and Karl Théard of RBCx bring their expertise to further our mission of increasing the contribution of the scientific, student and alumni communities of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) to Quebec society.
Nadia Mattei, Managing Director, Business and Financial Planning at the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), brings extensive expertise in accounting and risk management that will support the Foundation as it continues to build toward long-term sustainability.
"I am honoured to join the Board of Directors of the INRS Foundation and to have the opportunity to put my financial expertise to work in support of an essential mission: advancing research excellence and supporting the next generation of scientists in Quebec."
– Nadia Mattei, Managing Director, Business and Financial Planning, PSP Investments
Ms. Mattei will also contribute directly to the work of the Foundation’s Audit and Finance Committee, which she has chaired since September 8. In this role, she will assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, particularly with respect to financial reporting, internal controls, risk management and audit processes.
"We are delighted to welcome Nadia Mattei. With twenty years of accounting experience at a major institutional investor, she brings expertise that is particularly valuable to our governance," said Caroline Montminy, Chair of the Board and Vice-President and Investment Counsellor at Burgundy Asset Management.
Karl Théard, Chief Executive Officer of RBCx, brings expertise in finance, technology and entrepreneurship that will help advance the Foundation’s development and strengthen its partnerships.
"Joining the Board of Directors of the INRS Foundation is an opportunity for me to help forge stronger strategic ties between scientific research and technological innovation. I am convinced that greater synergy between academia and the entrepreneurial community can propel our ecosystem to new heights."
– Karl Théard, Chief Executive Officer, RBCx
Mr. Théard has also joined the Foundation’s Development and Outreach Committee, where he will provide advice on the Foundation’s strategic plan and directions in philanthropy, alumni relations and outreach, as well as on fostering a culture of philanthropy within INRS and its community.
"Karl Théard is a recognized leader in technology financing and brings valuable connections to Quebec’s innovation ecosystem. We are delighted to see him devote his expertise and energy to our organization," added Ms. Montminy.
Karl Théard is a recognized leader in technology financing and brings valuable connections to Quebec’s innovation ecosystem. We are delighted to see him devote his expertise and energy to our organization,” added Ms. Montminy.
About Nadia Mattei
Nadia Mattei is Managing Director, Business and Financial Planning at the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments). She oversees organization-wide planning, budgeting and forecasting to support informed, data-driven decision-making across PSP. She also contributes to organizational governance through mentoring, her role on the Data Governance Committee and various leadership development initiatives. She is bilingual in English and French.
Since joining PSP 20 years ago, Nadia has held several leadership positions across the Investment Finance, Valuation, Real Estate Investments and Operational Due Diligence teams, as well as the Office of the President and CEO. She draws on extensive experience leading operational improvements, governance initiatives and technological innovation across PSP. She has led the optimization of operational processes and governance frameworks, implemented portfolio analytics tools and contributed to numerous organization-wide initiatives.
Before joining PSP, Nadia worked as a Chartered Accountant in external audit before moving into a series of corporate controller roles in the investment and finance sectors.
Nadia is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Graduate Diploma in Public Accountancy from Concordia University.
About Karl Théard
Karl Théard is a financial leader with more than a decade of experience spanning the technology, finance and entrepreneurship sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of RBCx, he drives strategic growth across Quebec and Atlantic Canada, drawing on the expertise he developed through previous roles at BDC, Desjardins Capital, Silicon Valley Bank and Roynat Capital.
His leadership is rooted in empathy, collaboration and adaptability, values shaped and strengthened by defining experiences throughout his career. Karl champions authenticity and cultural alignment, placing mentorship and a thriving ecosystem at the heart of his priorities to empower innovators. Committed to accelerating innovation across Canada, he brings this leadership approach to RBCx’s strategic expansion.
About the INRS Foundation
Established in 2020, the INRS Foundation supports the advancement of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). It actively promotes the impact of INRS as a whole, engages the business and philanthropic communities around its mission and projects, and supports the work of its scientific, student and alumni communities.
With an endowment of more than $10 million, nearly $2 million raised to date, and a network of close to 4,500 alumni, the Foundation is a welcoming, agile and bold gateway for donors and partners who aspire to change the world through research.