What an unforgettable evening it was! The 2024 French-Australian Excellence Awards, hosted for the very first time by the Embassy of France and organised by Le Courrier Australien, brought together extraordinary talent, passion, and community spirit.
On 27 November 2024, the Residence de France in Canberra transformed into a vibrant hub of celebration, where over 150 guests — including esteemed dignitaries, influential community leaders, and enthusiastic supporters — came together to honour the remarkable achievements of French and/or Australian finalists making a significant impact in various fields.
The atmosphere was electric as the evening began with heartfelt speeches and inspiring stories from His Excellency Mr Pierre-Andre Imbert, Ambassador of France to Australia, Ms Zoe McKenzie MP, Federal Member for Flinders, and Mr Jerome Laxale MP, Federal Member for Bennelong, both Co-Chairs of the Australia France Parliamentary Friends Group. Their messages highlighted the community’s dedication to excellence and the importance of the Awards in strengthening the relationship between the two countries celebrating outstanding talent.
“Le Courrier Australien has been the backbone of our communities, playing a crucial role in shaping where we stand today. Le Courrier Australien, being the oldest foreign newspaper in Australia, has provided a source of connection, information, and support, helping to unite all of us in our shared journey. However, for true immersion to take place in 2025 and beyond, Le Courrier Australien needs to be the steadfast vehicle for the motivation, passion, and inspiration that drives our efforts forward.
We were thrilled to see the enthusiasm generated during the competition. I am proud to confirm that the French-Australian Excellence Awards are now firmly established in the Franco-Australian landscape. This fourth edition has set new records with 12 categories, over 150 nominations and more than 16,000 public votes. Together, let’s celebrate these remarkable talents and continue to strengthen the ties between our two nations!“, said François Vantomme, Co-Owner and Director of Le Courrier Australien as well as the Founder of the French-Australian Excellence Awards.
The public and our esteemed jury members played a pivotal role in selecting the winners, and we extend our deepest gratitude to each individual for their commitment.
As the night progressed, the excitement reached its peak with the announcement of the winners – a testament to the incredible talent within our community and the profound impact these individuals have made.
Among the distinguished guests were Paule Ignatio, the new Consul General of France in Melbourne, a delegation from Team France, representatives from Austrade, and this year’s sponsors. Their presence added a special touch to an already extraordinary evening.
Celebrating Excellence
“The finalists and the winner we honour tonight have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields. Their remarkable talent, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and dedication have profoundly enriched the French-Australian community this year. I’ve seen these qualities firsthand.” said His Excellency Mr Pierre-Andre Imbert, Ambassador of France to Australia
2024 Award Winners
- Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Events (sponsored by Yves Hernot): Oliver Vojetta
- Culinary & Gastronomy (sponsored by Accor): Quentin Zerr
- Design, Fashion & Styling (sponsored by Renault): Charlotte Vergnolle
- Entrepreneurship (sponsored by Bilateral Solutions): Dominique Gill
- Health & Wellbeing (sponsored by Servier): Professor David Thomas
- Diversity, Inclusion & Gender Equality (sponsored by Menard): Jean Capdevielle
- High Impact Business & Leadership: Jessica Fox
- Research & Innovation (sponsored by Ponant): Professor Dedee Murrell
- Tech Startup (sponsored by La French Tech): Jason Macey
- Solidarity, Community & Volunteerism (sponsored by Alstom): Anne Mangeant
- Sports (sponsored by Decathlon): Noemie Fox
- Environmental & Sustainability (sponsored by Engie): David Clement
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to our patrons, partners and supporters for making this event a success! Your contributions have made a lasting impact, and we look forward to seeing you all next year for the 2025 French-Australian Excellence Awards.
Thank you to our 2024 Jury:
- Adrian Williams, Accor, COO PME-Pacific
(Sponsor of the Culinary & Gastronomy category); - Jerome Laxale MP, France-Australia Friendship Parliamentary Group, Co-Chair, Member for Bennelong;
- Lorraine Nicolas, La French Tech, National Project Manager
(Sponsor of the Tech Startup category); - Martine Joly, Bilateral Solutions, Founder & Managing Director
(Sponsor of the Entrepreneurship category); - Maxime Farrenq, Ponant, Chief Operating Officer APAC
(Sponsor of the Research & Innovation category); - Melanie Chamaux, Servier, General Manager ANZ
(Sponsor of the Health & Wellbeing category); - Michelle Royer, Le Courrier Australien Friends Inc., President & Department University of Sydney, Chair;
- Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie, French-Australian Cultural Exchange Foundation (FACEF), Chair;
- Pascal Dupond, Alstom, Managing Director ANZ
(Sponsor of the Solidarity, Community & Volunteerism category); - Philippe Vincent, Menard, Managing Director Oceania
(Sponsor of the Diversity, Inclusion & Gender Equality category); - Rik De Buyserie, Engie, CEO ANZ
(Sponsor of the Environmental & Sustainability category); - Romain Gravigny, Decathlon, CEO Australia
(Sponsor of the Sport category); - Sebastien Bureau, Renault, Business Development Manager
(Sponsor of the Design, Fashion & Styling category); - Yves Hernot, Mécène, Patron of the Arts, Académicien FRSN
(Sponsor of the Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Events category); and - Zoe McKenzie MP, France-Australia Friendship Parliamentary Group, Co-Chair, Member for Flinders
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