Event report
Franco-British Business Conference (2026)
The second Franco-British Business Conference took place on 10 June 2026 in London, welcoming over 250 senior business leaders and experts.
The second edition of the Franco-British Business Conference took place on 10 June 2026 in London, bringing together over 250 senior business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts from the UK and France. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, this year's Conference once again provided a powerful platform to strengthen collaboration, exchange bold ideas, and explore the full potential of cross-border opportunity.
A High-Level Opening 🌟
The Conference opened with a warm welcome from Sébastien Joly, Managing Director of the French Chamber of Great Britain, followed by addresses from Emmanuelle Bury-Lucas, President of the French Chamber of Great Britain, and the host venue's representative. Guests were then honoured to hear keynote speeches from Her Excellency Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the UK, and Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State for Trade Policy — setting an inspiring tone for a day centred on collaboration, innovation, and the future of Franco-British business.
Building on these opening remarks, the Conference moved into a compelling In-Conversation session that brought the room to life.
Panel Discussions 🔍
The heart of the day unfolded across three rich panel discussions, each tackling some of the most pressing issues facing UK and French business today:
🌱 Energy & Climate Transition — Accelerating the shift to renewable energy, advancing sustainability commitments, and securing long-term energy resilience on both sides of the Channel.
🛡️ Defence & Economic Security — Strengthening bilateral supply chains and deepening industrial collaboration between two of Europe's most strategically aligned nations.
🤖 Technology, AI & Digital Collaboration — From responsible AI and regulatory trust-building to the challenges facing SMEs and the promise of sustainable, frugal innovation.
Followed by a fire-side chat beautifully moderated by Kamal Ahmed, Fortune with excellent experts sharing their views on current challenges, and upcoming opportunities in an ever-evolving economic landscape.
Our Sincere Thanks
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our speakers, moderators, panellists, and our sponsors and partners — Thales UK, Pinsent Masons, Dassault Systèmes, OVH and Fortune — whose commitment to the Franco-British business relationship makes this Conference what it is.
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