Hélène Asselbergs

Solange Strom - President

Visionary consultant, former CEO, and entrepreneur with a proven track record of growth through employee-centric strategies, Mrs. Strom has more than 20 years of experience leading international brands.

She has held several CEO positions, beginning with L’Occitane Canada from 1998 to 2009, followed by Repetto Paris in New York, where she developed and implemented their North American strategy.

By holding management positions at Boiron Pharmaceuticals, she refined her vast experience in business development, branding, and leadership.

Mrs. Strom has been a foreign trade advisor for the French government since 2010, a member of the board of directors, as well as president at the French Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. She is the recipient of France’s Ordre Nationale de Merite.

Mrs. Strom also possesses French and Canadian dual citizenship, is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and has an MBA from McGill University.

 

Pascale Cloutier

Pascale Cloutier - Vice President

Pascale Cloutier is a partner and general counsel of the law firm Miller Thomson. As general counsel, Pascale is the firm's principal legal advisor. She advises the firm on ethics, compliance and risk management. A member of the Quebec Bar and the Ontario Bar, Pascale has in-depth knowledge of both systems of Canadian law. Pascale’s expertise has been recognized several times by Best Lawyers in Canada and Lexpert.

Pascale was a member of the board of directors of a charitable organization for more than 10 years before joining the Board of Directors of the Alliance française de Toronto in 2024. Since 2021, she has volunteered with the environmental committee of the Lake of Bays Association and actively participates in lake water protection initiatives. An enthusiastic golfer, Pascale served as captain of the Grandview Golf Club Women's Committee in 2021 and 2022. Originally from Montreal, Pascale moved to Toronto in 2009.

 

Robin Ferré - Vice President

Robin Ferré is an executive search consultant at Humanis. He specializes in executive and board recruitment.

Previously, Robin worked as a consultant and then director for a major player in executive search, as well as for various organizations in Europe and Canada, in human resources and recruitment functions.

Robin Ferré holds a bachelor's degree in law and a master's degree in human resources.

Originally from France, Robin champions the benefits of bilingualism and the opportunities learning a new language can bring to your personal and professional life.

 
 

Solange Strom

Estelle Chen - Secretary

Estelle is Senior Manager & Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Canadian Personal Banking Digital Transformation and Strategy at TD Bank Group. She works closely with senior leadership to prioritize key initiatives, deliver insights, and support strategic alignment across teams. Her focus lies in connecting ideas, people, and organizations to unlock innovation and drive growth, drawing on experience across fintech partnerships, venture capital collaboration, and investment strategy.
Curious and engaged in her community, Estelle has been coaching young leaders and entrepreneurs since 2014. She actively contributes to several non-profit organizations as a board member, advisor, and speaker — notably as President of La French Tech Toronto, where she works with a dedicated team to connect France and Canada’s tech ecosystems and support startups, investors, and policymakers in scaling businesses globally.
Music has been an integral part of Estelle’s life. Introduced to classical music at an early age, she began playing the piano at four and developed a deep passion for performance. By the age of twelve, she fulfilled her concertist dream with performances of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, sharing the stage with her grandfather, a renowned conductor in China.

 

 


Arnaud Soupa

Arnaud Soupa - Treasurer 

Arnaud is an independent CFO and advisor in corporate financial management. He helps organizations navigate their growth trajectory and works with a variety of North American clients, ranging from startups to not-for-profits.

His prior professional corporate experience includes working for PwC and for the Veolia Group, a global leader in environmental services. At the Veolia Group, Arnaud held a variety of roles in the finance function for 15 years in France, the UK, and Canada. 

Arnaud holds a master's degree in finance and is a CFA Charterholder. A dual French and Canadian citizen, Arnaud has been living in Toronto since 2012. He has been a Director of the Toronto French School for the past five years and is a former Chair of its Audit and Finance Committee.

   
 

Members

 
 

Laurence Cohen

For the last 6 years, Laurence Cohen has been working for a large consulting organization first as an experienced Supply Chain consultant and since 2021, in a senior Human Resources role in which she partners with the leadership team across all aspects of talent strategy and performance management. 

Prior to this role, Laurence spent 15 years in leadership roles in Supply Chain and Operations in the Aerospace and Transport industries.

Laurence is passionate about cross-cultural experiences and has lived in 4 different countries – France, US, Singapore, and Canada. A dual French and Canadian citizen, fluent in French and English, Laurence has been calling Toronto home since 2013.

   

paul perron

Warren Downs

Warren Downs is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the corporate and hotel industry. Since 2021, Warren has served as the Workplace Operations Manager for a major consulting firm in Toronto. Prior to this Warren spent 15 years in the luxury hotel sector, holding various progressive leadership positions in both Toronto and Calgary. He previously served as Regional Director for Les Clefs d'Or Canada, an international concierge association.

Warren is a product of French immersion which he completed in Calgary, and has deep family roots in Quebec. Having called Toronto home since 2017, Warren is an enthusiastic advocate for bilingualism and the benefits it brings to the Canadian experience.

 

 

 

  

jonathan planté

Gail Lord - Life Member

As the Co-founder and President of Lord Cultural Resources Planning & Management Inc. in 1981, Gail Lord specializes in management consulting, facility planning, organizing expositions, and managing historical, museum, and heritage sites. From 1964 to 1969, she worked as an art critic and feature writer for the Toronto Star.

Between 1968 and 1970, she was a commentator for the weekly national show on CBC, Arts in Review, as well as a history professor at Ryerson University in Toronto.

She was also an instructor in multidisciplinary studies and art history at the University of Ryerson from 1970 until 1975.

From 1980 until 1981, she worked in the Information Branch of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, before establishing Lord Cultural Resources Planning and Management Inc.

She is the author of several books, such as The Manual of Museum Management and The Manual of Museum Exhibitions, as well as a collaborator for Chatelaine, Toronto Telegram, Toronto Calendar, and other publications.

Gail Lord also has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Toronto (1968-70).

 
 

jonathan planté

Paul Perron - Life Member

As the former Director of University College at the University of Toronto, a semiotics professor, and Head of the French Department at the University of Toronto, Paul Perron is also an author of some 30 books.

Paul Perron holds a Doctorate in French Studies from the University of Bordeaux, after having completed his elementary and secondary education in Manitoba and British Columbia.

He is a member of many boards of directors, such as: Alliance Française (2001-2004), the Policy and Planning Committee, the Nomination Panel, and the Council of Ontario Universities

Paul Perron was also appointed as a Knight of the French Legion of Honor and awarded the Order of Academic Palms Officer Award, in recognition for his contributions to French culture.

 

 

 

jonathan planté

Adrien Cavey

Adrien Cavey is a career diplomat whose work has largely unfolded in Asia, where he held several diplomatic and consular posts in Wuhan, Beijing, Chengdu, and Phnom Penh.

Before arriving in Toronto, Adrien Cavey served as deputy to the Deputy Director for Northeast Asia within the Asia Directorate at the Quai d'Orsay, and later as deputy to the Deputy Director for French Citizens' Affairs within the Directorate for French Nationals Abroad and Consular Administration at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

This career path, at the intersection of bilateral diplomacy and consular work, has given him deep insight into diplomatic issues and the realities facing French citizens living abroad. In Toronto, he intends to continue this hands-on, community-focused diplomacy, remaining attentive to French citizens in Ontario and Manitoba while working to strengthen ties between France and Canada.

Adrien Cavey holds a master's degree in international affairs and a master's in law, economics, and management.

 

jonathan planté

Isabelle Pietri

Isabelle is an energetic and passionate entrepreneur highly experienced in sourcing, purchasing and exporting for Hospitality Industry. She is the founder and owner of Access Euro Asia. 
Isabelle was born and grew up in Biarritz and Paris where she graduated from Pantheon Assas University (Master Degree in law) and Ecole de Formation du Barreau as a Barrister. She moved to Noumea in New Caledonia and then to Singapore, where she lived and worked as a lawyer.
The family expanded and moved to Shanghai where Isabelle, as a mother of three, reoriented her career and founded Access Euro Asia that specializes in sourcing innovative and new ground products servicing luxury hotel portfolio in South Pacific Islands and remote locations.
In 2004 Isabelle moved to Toronto where she's lived since then. Isabelle is a dual French and Canadian citizen, fluent in French and English.