Speakers 2026

Christine Neau-Leduc holds a Master’s degree in private law from the University of Montpellier and a PhD from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas; in 2003, she obtained her agrégation in private law and criminal sciences. Since 2012, she has been a professor of private law at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and a member of the Sorbonne Institute for Legal Research (IRJS).Specialising in employment law, collective bargaining, collective representation and corporate social responsibility (CSR), she is also a member of the Employment Policy Council (COE), an advisory body attached to the Prime Minister’s Office. Between 2016 and 2019, she was elected First Vice-President for Institutional Affairs on the Board of Governors of the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, before becoming its new President in 2021; she began her second term as head of the institution in April 2025.

Alexander Neef is the Director of the Paris National Opera since 2020, appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron. Trained in Latin philology and modern history, he began his career at the Salzburg Festival and Ruhrtriennale before leading the Canadian Opera Company (2008–2020). At the Paris Opera, he relaunched the lyric troupe, created the Junior Ballet, and expanded audiences through interdisciplinary collaborations. His mandate was renewed until 2032.

François Pachet is a French scientist, composer, and pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence to music. Trained as an engineer at École des ponts ParisTech and holding a PhD in computer science, he also studied classical guitar and jazz in Boston. He led the Sony Computer Science Laboratory in Paris for nearly twenty years, where he developed groundbreaking technologies in automated musical improvisation, audio feature extraction, and human-machine interaction. In 2017, he joined Spotify to head the Creator Technology Research Lab, exploring how AI can enhance musical creativity. Founder of Ynosound and the Imagine All The People association, he advocates for universal access to musical creation through digital tools. Author of several books, including "Histoire d’une oreille" (2018), he is also known for creating the first AI-assisted album, "Hello World", and for his research on musical style modeling. His work, at the intersection of art and science, aims to democratize and redefine musical creation in the digital age.

Gilles Pécout is a French historian, academic, and senior civil servant, renowned for his expertise in contemporary Italy and 19th-century Mediterranean Europe. A graduate of the École normale supérieure and a qualified history teacher, he has taught at ENS, EHESS, and various international universities. He led the ENS History Department from 2009 to 2014 and served as Rector of the Nancy-Metz Academy, then of the Paris Academy and the Île-de-France region. Appointed French Ambassador to Austria in 2020, he has been President of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) since April 2024, overseeing the preservation and promotion of France’s written and cultural heritage. Author of numerous books and articles, he also sits on several boards, including Sciences Po, the Musée de l’Armée, and the Franco-German University. Gilles Pécout combines academic excellence with institutional commitment to culture and education.

Richard Peduzzi is a renowned French scenographer, painter, designer, and furniture creator. A major figure in contemporary theater and opera, he is best known for his iconic collaboration with director Patrice Chéreau, designing sets for numerous plays, operas, and films since 1968, including "La Reine Margot" (1994)and "Ceux qui m’aiment prendront le train" (1998). His work is distinguished by powerful, often unfinished or ruin-like architectural elements, rejecting naturalistic illusion in favor of bold, symbolic aesthetics. Notable creations include "The Ring of the Nibelung at Bayreuth", "Heiner Müller’s Quartett", "Hamlet", "Phèdre", and "Elektra". Beyond his scenographic work, Peduzzi served as director of the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs (ENSAD) from 1990 to 2002 and later as director of the Académie de France at the Villa Medici in Rome from 2002 to 2008. He is also the author of several books, such as "Là-bas, c’est dehors" (2014) and "Je l’ai déjà joué demain" (2021), where he reflects on art and theater.

Vanessa Perrée holds a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in General Private Law and a Certificate in Criminal Sciences from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University. She joined the École Nationale de la Magistrature in 1997 and graduated from the Institut national des hautes études de la sécurité et de la justice in 2019. Upon graduating from the ENM, Vanessa Perrée served as Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Lille Judicial Court. In 2003, she was appointed to the central administration of the French Ministry of Justice within the Directorate of Criminal Affairs and Pardons. In 2006, she returned to judicial duties as Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Paris Judicial Court’s anti-terrorism division. In 2011, she became counsellor at the Court of Appeal of Fort-de-France, responsible for presiding over the Assize Court. In 2014, she was appointed Deputy Prosecutor General at the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence, before becoming Justice Inspector in 2018. In September 2020, she joined the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office as Deputy Public Prosecutor. She oversaw the office’s 4th division, covering public health, labour, environmental matters, and mass casualty incidents, before taking charge of the 3rd JIRS/JUNALCO division (Interregional Specialized Jurisdiction / National Jurisdiction for the Fight against Organized Crime), which brought together three sections dedicated to major organized crime, financial crime, and cybercrime. In June 2022, she became Justice Adviser and Head of the Justice Division in the office of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne. On January 1, 2024, she joined Agence de gestion et de recouvrement des avoirs saisis et confisqués (AGRASC) as Chief Executive Officer. On February 15, 2026, Vanessa Perrée was appointed Public Prosecutor for Organized Crime.

Anne Pointet is a senior French civil servant and executive, graduated from Sciences Po Grenoble and ENA (class of 2003). She began her career at the Ministry of Defense as head of the international public law office, then joined the Ministry of Economy and Finance as financial advisor for the Middle East. In 2007, she joined BNP Paribas, where she initially managed the group’s subsidiaries in the Middle East and later the overseas network from 2009. In 2020, she was appointed Deputy CEO of BNP Paribas Wealth Management, overseeing wealth management activities for domestic markets and international retail banking. Since July 2024, Anne Pointet has served as Head of Company Engagement at BNP Paribas and is a member of the group’s Executive Committee, where she leads the CSR strategy and the integration of social and environmental issues into the bank’s activitiesgroup.

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 1994 and to the New York Bar two years later, she advises and litigates on issues related to information technology, digital, e-commerce and media. A specialist in digital transformation, she mainly assists players in the technology, luxury, retail and new economy sectors (Next 40). She is a member of the technology working group of the think-tank "Le Club des Juristes" and regularly publishes analyses in an attempt to influence the public debate.

Rudy Ricciotti is a prominent French architect and engineer, renowned for his unique blend of technical mastery and narrative power in contemporary architecture. Born into an Italian family that moved from Algeria to Camargue, he initially trained as an engineer in Switzerland before earning his architecture degree in Marseille. His work is celebrated for its bold use of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete, a material that has become his signature, and for iconic projects such as the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre, the MuCEM in Marseille, and the Mémorial du Camp des Milles. Awarded the Grand Prix National d’Architecture in 2006 and the Gold Medal of the Academy of Architecture, Ricciotti combines structural innovation with a deep commitment to storytelling and social connection. Beyond his architectural practice, he leads the publishing house Al Dante and is the author of several essays, including "Insoumission" (2025), where he reaffirms his dedication to free thought and an uncompromising fight against

Constance Rivière is a senior civil servant and author. A graduate of the ENS and ENA, she has long been involved in public policy and fundamental rights. She worked at the Ministry of Culture and later at the Presidency of the Republic as an advisor on culture and citizenship. In 2020, she became Secretary General of the Défenseur des droits (Defender of Rights), where she advanced equality and combated discrimination. Alongside her administrative career, she pursues literary work. Her debut novel "Une fille sans histoire" (2022) explores sexual violence and collective memory, earning widespread critical and public acclaim. In 2025, she published "L’Incendiaire" , continuing her focus on memory, justice, and social violence.

In the 1990s, Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi, a graduate of HEC and the Institut des Hautes Études de Protection Sociale, discovered the concept of company crèches whilst in the United States. He was fascinated by this social innovation, which helps to improve female employment rates and working conditions within companies. ‘Les Petits Chaperons Rouges’ was then founded in 2000. A French pioneer in private nurseries, the Grandir Group’s mission is to contribute, step by step, to the development of future generations. With nearly 800 centres and 8,000 employees in France, the Group looks after more than 22,500 children every day. Internationally, the Grandir Group is now expanding into Germany, England, Canada and the United States.

Augustin de Romanet is a French senior civil servant and business executive, a graduate of Sciences Po and the ENA (Diderot class). He held key positions in several ministerial cabinets before leading the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations from 2007 to 2012 and chairing the French Strategic Investment Fund. From November 2012 to January 2025, he served as CEO of Groupe ADP (Paris Airports), where he modernized infrastructure and prepared Parisian airports for the 2024 Olympic Games. Since 2025, he has been advising the management of Eight Advisory and serves on several boards. He is widely respected for his expertise in public management and economic strategy.

Pierre Rosanvallon, a graduate of HEC Paris, began his career in union activism as an economic advisor to the CFDT and later became editor-in-chief of CFDT-Aujourd’hui (1973–1977). Closely associated with Michel Rocard’s political movement, he emerged as a leading theorist of the "second left," notably with his influential work "Pour une nouvelle culture politique" (1977). As a research director at Université Paris-Dauphine and later at EHESS (1989), he led the Raymond Aron Center for Political Research (1992–2005). In 2001, he was elected Professor at the Collège de France to the Chair "Modern and Contemporary Political History", where he has explored the historical and theoretical transformations of contemporary democracy. He is the author of "Les Épreuves de la vie: Comprendre autrement les Français" (2021). In his latest book, "Les Institutions invisibles" (2024), Pierre Rosanvallon argues that democracy relies not only on formal institutions but also on informal mechanisms of trust, citizen oversight, and collective judgment.

A graduate of the École des Psychologues Praticiens in Paris, Stéphane Roussel began his career at Xerox in 1985 before joining Carrefour in 1997 as HR Director for hypermarkets in France. He then held key international human resources positions and later became HR Director for the Carrefour Group. He subsequently joined SFR, where he was appointed CEO in 2012.
Since 2022, Stéphane Roussel has served as President of the Board of Governors of the American Hospital of Paris, President of the Les Entreprises pour la Cité (LEPC) network, and President of the WeTechCare association. Since January 2025, he has been President of the Canal+ Foundation. He is also an ambassador for the Diversity Charter and remains actively involved in social innovation and corporate governance.

Mory Sacko is a French chef of Malian and Senegalese descent, who has become a leading figure in contemporary gastronomy thanks to his unique fusion of African, Japanese, and French culinary influences. He rose to fame after participating in the eleventh season of "Top Chef" in 2020, and later that year, he opened his restaurant MoSuke in Paris, which earned a Michelin star in 2021 despite the challenges of the pandemic. His bold and creative approach is showcased in dishes like beef fillet marinated in shea butter or Breton lobster with tomato miso, blending his cultural heritage with modern techniques. In addition to his fine dining success, he has launched street food concepts, MoSugo, and collaborated with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton.

Frédéric Sanchez has been an independent director at Orange since 2020 and is chair of the telecommunications group’s Strategy and Technology Committee. A graduate of HEC Paris, Sciences Po, and holder of a postgraduate degree in economics from Paris-Dauphine University, he joined Fives in 1990. He held various positions before becoming CFO, then CEO, and finally Chairman. Under his leadership, Fives expanded its international footprint and diversified its portfolio through acquisitions and new regional offices in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In 2026, he was appointed Chairman of Orange’s Board of Directors, having served as an independent director and Chair of the Strategy and Technology Committee since 2020. His career reflects recognized expertise in industrial management and strategic transformation.

Olivier Scalabre has been Office Leader of BCG France since November 2022. He is also the Global leader of BCG’s engineered products sector for aeronautics, defense, mobility and energy & heads up the Greentech sector (CCUs, Hydrogen, Long storage batteries). As an industry specialist and expert on green technologies, Olivier Scalabre assists major industrial transformations in the fields of digital manufacturing (Industry 4.0), operational improvement transformation, advanced analytics, and supply chain. By accelerating the rollout of green technologies at scale he helps clients face the magnitude of the climate change challenge. Prior to being appointed CEO of BCG France, Olivier led the firm’s Industrial Goods practice in Western Europe, Africa and South America. Previously, he built BCG’s Operations Centers in Europe and created BCG’s network of Innovation Centers for Operations (ICO) worldwide. These ICOs - or Industry 4.0 - aim to accelerate digital transformation and strengthen the competitiveness of major manufacturers.

A graduate of Sciences Po and ENA, with a master's degree in corporate finance, Marc Schwartz began his career at the Cour des Comptes before joining the Treasury Department in 1992. Economic adviser for South-East Asia at the French Embassy in Singapore, he was then appointed adviser to the Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry and to the Secretary of State for the Budget (1997-2000). After serving as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Managing Director of France Télévisions, he joined Mazars as a partner with worldwide responsibility for the public sector. He joined the French Culture Minister's cabinet in 2017. He has been Chairman and CEO of La Monnaie de Paris since 2018.

Pierre Sellal, a graduate of the Ecole Nationale de l'Administration, is a French diplomat. He has devoted a large part of his career to European affairs, holding several successive posts in Brussels and for more than ten years serving as Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the European Union (until the end of 2017). He was elevated to the rank of French Ambassador in 2008, following France's presidency of the European Union. He also held the two most important positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, each for 5 years (Director of the Minister's Cabinet, then Secretary General of the Ministry). Since 2017, he has chaired the Fondation de France (France's largest philanthropic organization).

Jean-Dominique Senard is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupe Renault. Prior to joining Renault, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Michelin (2012-2019), a group he initially joined in 2005. He started his career with various financial and operational responsibilities at Total (1979-1987) and Saint-Gobain (1987-1996). Senard was the financial director of Pechiney and member of the executive committee of the group (1996-2001) and joined the group’s directorate of the primary aluminum sector (until 2004). As a member of the executive committee of the Alcan group, he oversaw the integration of Pechiney and became president of Pechiney SA. Senard is a graduate of HEC Paris and holds a master’s degree in Law.