The World Affairs Council of Orange County presents:
An Exclusive Event with the French Ambassador to the United States,
Ambassador Laurent Bili
who will be discussing “France on the International Stage” covering topics like the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, Ukraine, the Middle East, France as Europe’s top investment destination, and other topics. This event is tailor-,made for business leaders, entrepreneurs, lawyers, international trade experts, scholars, policy makers, and anyone with a fervent interest in global politics.
Date & Time:
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
8:15-8:30 am: Meet-and-greet for the Founder’s Club*
*Founder’s Club are our supporters who donate $10,000 or more annually
8:30-8:45 am: French Breakfast
8:45-10:00 am: Main Program and Q&A
Location:
Serge & Mona Tomassian’s Home
North Tustin/Lemon Heights
*Address to be given upon registration
Tickets:
World Affairs Council of Orange County Premium Members, Trustees, & Founder’s Club: $60
Premium members are WACOC members who have the Consul, Diplomat, or Ambassador memberships. If you would like to attend, but do not have the premium membership, please contact our office at (949) 354-3180 or email Krista Seitz, Programs Manager at krista@worldaffairscouncil.org
Speaker Bio:
Ambassador Laurent Bili
Mr. Laurent Bili is the new Ambassador of France to the United States.
He was born on August 12, 1961 (61 years old).
A graduate of the French National School of Public Administration (ENA) (Victor Hugo Year, 1989-91), Laurent Bili joined the French Foreign Ministry’s Strategic Affairs and Disarmament Directorate (1991-93).
Seconded to the Defense Ministry as Deputy Diplomatic Adviser (1993-95), he then held several positions at the Quai d’Orsay:
First Secretary and then Second Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Ankara (1995-99),
First Secretary, Permanent Representative of France to the Western European Union (WEU) (1998-2000),
Adviser to the European Union’s interim Political and Security Committee (PSC) in Brussels (2000-02),
Head of Strategic Affairs (2002).
In 2002, he was Director of the Private Office of the Minister Delegate for European Affairs and became technical adviser at the Diplomatic Unit of the Presidency of the French Republic (2002-07).
He successively held the positions of Ambassador to Thailand (2007-09), Director of the Defense Minister’s Civilian and Military Office (2009-10), Ambassador to Turkey (2011-15) and then to Brazil (2015-17).
Laurent Bili was then Director-General for Global Affairs, Culture, Education and International Development at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and G7/G20 Sous-Sherpa (2017-2019).
Prior to his appointment in Washington, Laurent Bili was Ambassador to China since September 2019.
