Our Directors
Jerome Le Blanc - Head Director
Jerome Le Blanc has acquired more than thirty years of experience in management and business development in the music industry, visual communications, decorative lighting and custom jewellery sales. Jerome studied Commercial Photography at Dawson College and Political Science at Concordia University in Montréal.
His background in business, balanced with a lifelong passion for the arts, has brought him to his role as a Director. Jerome’s insight, boundless drive and dynamic direction help guide our not-for-profit organization in achieving its mission to grow and cultivate understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the Metal Arts.
Gustavo Estrada - Director
Gustavo Estrada has been working in the Metal Arts since 1994 and his creations have been showcased in galleries, museums and salons in Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, New York and China. With his teaching Gustavo is able share the fundamentals of his creative process through the art of making jewellery.
His experience and knowledge have been enriched by his twenty five years of teaching including the Visual Arts Centre of Montreal, The Saidye Bronfman Centre, Ecole des metiers du Sud-Ouest-de-Montréal, Ecole de Joaillerie de Montréal and the Nanjing Art Institute in China as well as his Bachelors Degree in Education from the l'Université de Québec à Montréal.
Since 2020, Gustavo has been involved with Atelier Artefact and the Montréal Academy of Metal Arts as Director and Head Instructor. Sharing his knowledge through teaching allows him to express his creativity while returning to the roots of his passion and love for the metal arts.
Cynthia Hawkes - Director
Cynthia Hawkes studied in a B.A. program at U. N. B. in Fredericton New Brunswick. While there, she developed a passion for dance and ultimately spent many years in Toronto, New York, and finally Ottawa, training and preforming. After settling in Montreal and having children, she switched from dance to jewellery and another passion was discovered.
Cynthia completed a specialized contemporary jewellery program at the Saidye Bronfman School of Fine Arts. For 25 years she taught Jewellery Fundamentals at the Visual Arts Centre in Westmount, Quebec, where she was also acting Head of the Jewellery Department from 2021 to 2023. A professional jeweller, she perfected her craft while also working as a jewellery buyer over many years. Cynthia is currently utilizing her skills as Program coordinator and Director for the Montréal Academy of Metal Arts / Atelier Artéfact.
François Tremblay - Director
François Tremblay holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Université du Québec and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Université Laval.
François serves on the board as a director for the Montréal Academy of Metal Arts, where he combines his academic training with many years of professional experience as a manager in the banking sector. He brings to the role a strong sense of ethics and a rigorous attention to detail.
Colette Martin - Director
Colette Martin is a Corporate Project Manager with extensive experience leading complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives within federal Crown corporations. Her work in the public sector has strengthened her commitment to accountability, community impact, and the long‑term stewardship of educational and cultural institutions.
Beyond her professional expertise, Colette is deeply passionate about craftsmanship and the applied arts. As an avid woodworker, she brings a maker’s mindset of precision, patience, and respect for materials, to her engagement with the craft community. This personal connection fuels her interest in supporting jewellery education and positions her as a valuable contributor to the board. She is dedicated to advancing the school’s mission, strengthening its operational foundations, and championing accessible, high‑quality craft education.