Jean-Louis Roy holds a PhD in history from McGill University and is a member of several boards of directors, including the Ordre du Québec. He succeeds Dr. Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, as Honorary President. He also held the positions of Director of the daily Le Devoir, Delegate General of Quebec in Paris, Secretary General of the Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie, President of the Canadian organization Rights and Democracy, and President and CEO of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.