Louis Germain
Master's degree in water science (1991)
Special advisor, TACT
“You have to choose a line of research you're passionate about and devote yourself to it seriously. INRS offers an exceptional environment, but you have to be ready to commit yourself fully.”
When he began his master's degree at INRS, Louis Germain was already passionate about environmental sciences. After completing a bachelor's degree in physical geography at Université Laval, he turned to our Institute to pursue his studies. “I wanted more applied and specialized training in water sciences, and INRS was just what I was looking for,” he recalls.
As soon as he arrived, he was faced with a demanding program. “I almost gave up after the first session”, he admits. But thanks to his determination and the guidance offered by the Institute, he persevered. He particularly remembers a demanding year-long mathematics course that tested his ability to adapt. “It strengthened my rigor and resilience,” he explains today.
His time at INRS also enabled him to forge links with international researchers. In particular, he collaborated with an American researcher from Colgate University, New York, involved in studies for NASA on the cold environments of Mars. He also completed an internship at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Grenoble, where he was immersed in an advanced research environment on polar ecosystems. “It was a decisive experience that opened up new perspectives for me,” he confides.
After graduating from INRS, Louis Germain began his career as a consultant in the private sector, working on climate change issues. He was soon recruited by the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, where he helped monitor water quality in the main river basins of the St. Lawrence plain. He soon became an executive with this organization and began studying economics, with the aim of combining environment and economics in his practice.
His career then took him to the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, where he held a number of strategic positions as Director General, before moving on to the Ministère du Développement économique, where he took charge of Politiques économiques et des sociétés d'État. He then pursued his career at the Ministry of Finance, before joining the ranks of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources as manager responsible for renewable energy development and energy regulation. In this capacity, he worked on the development of Quebec's energy policy.
He was subsequently recruited by the Quebec Forest Industry Council to support the industry in its energy transition. He was there for over three years.
Today, Louis Germain is a strategic advisor with TACT, a public and government relations firm. His expertise in energy and the environment enables him to support companies wishing to establish themselves in Quebec, and to ensure effective dialogue with public authorities.
Although his career has taken him into many different fields, Louis Germain retains a strong sense of belonging to INRS. “I come from a background where higher education was not a given. My time at INRS was a real achievement,” he says proudly.
Today, he encourages students to persevere in their studies and to invest themselves fully in their course. “You have to choose a line of research that you're passionate about, and devote yourself to it seriously. INRS offers an exceptional environment, but you have to be prepared to invest yourself fully,” he advises.
After a career spanning more than 35 years, he can now measure the impact of the network and expertise he has built up over the years. “With experience, as a manager, you learn to listen more, to be more open, to analyze situations from different angles and to attach great importance to the people with whom you are called upon to collaborate. These are essential qualities in a career that you acquire over time,” he concludes.
An inspiring career that shows that, with determination and openness, the possibilities are endless.
[Interviewed in March 2025.]