Judges
Ilaria Regondi
Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and Country Director for France at the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris
Ilaria Regondi joined the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris as His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and Country Director for France in September 2019. She heads up the trade and investment teams covering Europe South (Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Portugal and Spain). Her previous roles include the Department for International Trade's (DIT) Deputy Director for the International Strategy Directorate, responsible for DIT’s Europe, Middle East and Central Asia desks. Ilaria is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, holding the position of Inclusivity Champion at the British Embassy in Paris. She has held numerous senior positions across UK Government, including ministerial Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer to Healthcare UK. She has worked globally throughout her career, notably as a member of the World Bank’s East Asia team based in Washington, the World Health Organisation in Geneva and the Overseas Development Institute in South Africa. She studied European Social and Political Studies at UCL, followed by a Masters in Health Policy and Economics at Johns Hopkins University. Ilaria is an avid traveller and keen cyclist, and lives with her husband and their child.
Scott Ruby
Chief Operating Officer at the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris
Scott Ruby took up the role of Chief Operating Officer at the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris in October 2022. He has broad experience of the public and private sectors having started his career in management consultancy at PwC and then undertaking various Civil Service roles in London. At PwC, Scott led finance and operational improvement projects with public and private sector clients in the UK and overseas. Since joining the UK Civil Service in 2016, Scott has worked in several government departments, including the Department for Transport where he was Head of Financial Planning. Scott is an outdoors enthusiast and worked as a caddie while studying Physics at the University of St Andrews.
Thierry Drilhon
President of the Franco-British Chamber
Thierry Drilhon has 35 years of experience in the technology, digital and innovation sphere, acquired as a member of the World Executive Committee and an international manager of major companies such as Microsoft and Cisco Corp, based in Paris and San Francisco, of which he became Senior Vice President in 2007. In 2012, he joined Euro Media Group in Paris as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, which he would go on to transform into a European media leader, present in 8 European countries. Profoundly attached to the Franco-British relationship, Thierry was elected President of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry in June 2018, putting his international experience at the service of the attractiveness of Franco-British business relations. Very committed to health and the heart, since 2002, as President of Cisco France, he has accompanied Professor Christian Cabrol in favour of organ donation, participating in La Course du Coeur for 10 years. In January 2019, he became the Managing Director of the French Federation of Cardiology, from which he went on to co-found the Endowment Fund, Agir pour le Coeur des Femmes - Women's Cardiovascular Healthcare Foundation, with Professor Claire Mounier-Vehier. Recepient of the Ordre National du Mérite, he is a graduate of EAD Paris and Stanford University
Catherine Le Yaounac
General Manager of the Franco-British Chamber
Catherine has been the General Manager of the Franco-British Chamber since 1993, when she accepted the challenge of the Chamber's financial recovery, the creation of new services and the development of membership. Catherine has played a central role in creating more innovative events, developing new digital media outreach for the Chamber and establishing the Cross-Channel Institute, a Franco-British economic think tank. The Franco-British Chamber is one of the most dynamic chambers of commerce in the United Kingdom on European soil, and has been awarded numerous prizes (Events, Membership, Digital communication etc.). For her 20 years in the Chamber in 2013, her European peers awarded her The Howard Rosen Special Award for Excellence. The number of memberships keep growing with a high attractiveness factor for all types of members – President’s Forum, Corporate and Entrepreneurs. Catherine previously held positions in a Special Products Export Department of the Elf Atochem-Ceca group. She is also a board member for the Fondation Franco-Britannique de la Colony de Sillery.
Partners
BDO
BDO is the world’s 5th-largest audit and advisory network. The global network has more than 1,500 offices in 167 countries and more than 90,000 people providing advisory services throughout the world. Whether you are part of a multinational looking for some non-audit work to be undertaken, or a mid-market or entrepreneurial firm seeking a complete service offering, BDO offer award-winning services in auditing, tax and advisory services with proven results.
Two brands. Two distinct personalities.
Both connected by the elements of quality and sustainability that underpin Jaguar Land Rover’s future of modern luxury by design. Jaguar has a long tradition of creating beautiful fast cars. They are a manifestation of our passion. Performance that cannot be measured, only felt. Land Rover models propose unprecedented versatility and strength. That unique DNA is still at the heart of everything we do. Pushing every conceivable boundary, each generation of Land Rover exceeds the one before in excitement, performance, sustainability and sheer driving pleasure. We have a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines. Jaguar and Land Rover will offer pure electric power, nameplate by nameplate, by 2030. It is our aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions across our supply chain, products and operations by 2039. We have all the ingredients to define what modern luxury means in the world of tomorrow.
Eurostar is the only high speed train that directly links the UK to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel. They take their travellers from city centre to city centre, and have been since 1994.
Since then, Eurostar has carried over 150 million passengers. They take thousands of people a day to Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Paris and more, and run seasonal trains to the South of France in summer and the French and Swiss Alps for skiing in the winter. Over the years, Eurostar has helped build connections that could never have flourished before – business to business, friend to friend, amour to amour… And now the connections reach even farther, with links to over 100 destinations across Europe.
About the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris
The Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris supports and assists UK companies exporting to France and helps French manufacturers, sales agents, distributors and importers who wish to support UK companies with their export ambitions. The Embassy's Commercial teams are the link between business and government; they bring together policy, promotion and financial expertise to remove barriers to trade and investment, and help businesses succeed.
The Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris also has investment specialists who provide assistance to French companies wishing to set up and expand their business in the UK. The range of specialist services is tailored to the needs of each company to maximise their success across the Channel. The team provides companies with tailored information, free advice and practical support.
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About the Franco-British Chamber
Created in 1873, the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry is the oldest international chamber of commerce in France and Europe. Established for more than 148 years in Paris, then in the French regions, we offer our members – companies of all sizes, multi-sector and international – a wide range of tailor-made services to help them in their cross-Channel development.
The Franco-British Chamber is the premier Franco-British business network in France. You will find in the Chamber a solid interactive network of private and public partners in France and the United Kingdom.
Today, the Franco-British Chamber supports companies and brings together managers and independents – from entrepreneurs to Executives and CEOs of groups listed on the CAC 40 or FTSE 100 – to meet their business and relational expectations in the short, medium and long term.
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