Gilles was born and raised in Grande-Digue, NB. He attended the Louis-J-Robichaud high school in Shediac and received his Bachelor`s degree in journalism at Université de Moncton.Journalism led to public relations and communications for government and the private sector and eventually into fundraising. With the desire to strengthen his knowledge of good governance, he attended the Not-for-profit Governance Essentials Program at the Rotman School of Management in Toronto. He is currently a board Member for the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy in Canada and the Institute of Corporate Directors – New Brunswick.As a social entrepreneur, at the age of 16, he was the instigator for the eventual establishment of a new Fire Department in Cocagne. He also established the Fondation Louis-J.-Robichaud in Shediac in 2002. It has since raised over $2 million for bursaries and scholarships. It is still believed to be the first alumni group in Canada for a public high school with the aim of supporting future graduating students.Prior to his appointment as CEO of the CHU Dumont Foundation in 2023, he was the CEO of the Chalmers Foundation in Fredericton from 2017-2023. During his tenure there, he led the acquisition of the Stan Cassidy Foundation, negotiated a management agreement with the Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation and led a province-wide consultation on youth mental health which resulted in the launch of the NB Integrated Youth Services network in January 2024.
