Judges
Jo Hawley
Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and Country Director for France at the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Paris
Jo has worked for the British government for more than 20 years. She began as Country Director of the Department for Business and Trade team at the British Embassy in Paris and Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe in August 2023. Jo's previous position was as British Consul-General Guangzhou since July 2019. She led the British Government’s engagement in the provinces of South China: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan and Jiangxi. From 2014-2017, she was Director of International Trade and Investment at the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. She has previously served as Private Secretary to a Minister of State and completed two postings at the UK Representation to the European Union. In addition to working for the Foreign Office and Department for International Trade, she has worked at the Cabinet Office and Department for Education in roles focused on improving and modernising public services. Jo graduated from Durham University with a degree in Modern European Languages.
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.
Francoise Rausch
OBE, President of the Franco-British Chamber
With more than 40 years' experience as a manager in leading Anglo-Saxon industrial companies in the global construction and agricultural machinery markets, such as the British JCB group and the American Case group, Francoise Rausch has acquired an outstanding knowledge and expertise in international business relations at both a European and global level. After having been Chief Executive Officer of JCB SAS for 15 years, she joined the Case group as Vice President in charge of EAME. At the end of 2000, she returned to JCB headquarters to ensure the development of global sales as Managing Director of JCB Sales and a member of the World Executive Committee.
In 2012, she was appointed Officer of the British Empire for services to British industry. Member of the board since 2015, she is President of the Franco-British Chamber since July 2023. Françoise is also Vice-President - Treasurer of the FICIME and Honorary Judicial Expert approved by the Court of Cassation
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. Projects to which will be added include numerous innovations in event typology, the development of new digital media and the Brexit challenge since 2016, which led to the creation in 2019 of the Think Tank, Cross-Channel Institute. The Franco-British Chamber is today one of the most dynamic chambers of commerce in the United Kingdom on European soil, and has been awarded numerous prizes (Events, Membership and Digital communication...). 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 is constantly 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 150 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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