Mr. Francois Lafond

President Blue Networks and Opportunities & Associate Professor Sciences Po Paris

Francois Lafond is President of Blue Networks and Opportunities think tank, senior member of the Institute of European Democrats (Brussels) and associate professor in Sciences Po Paris (Euro-American campus). Previously, he was the executive director of EuropaNova (2013-2016), secretary general of the French Aspen Institute (2012-13), and director of the Paris office of The German Marshall Fund of the US (2008-2011). Before, François Lafond was a special adviser of the Italian Minister for Regional Affairs (2007-8), of the Italian undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs (2006-7) in Rome. Former deputy director of Policy Network in London (2003-6), researcher of the think tank Notre Europe with Jacques Delors in Paris (1999-2003), research associate at the European University Institute’s Robert Schuman Centre in Florence (1995-9). He is also currently member of the agenda working group Halifax International Security Forum (Washington), International consultant for Navigator Shipping Consultants Ltd (Athens), editorial member of the Italian think tank Volta (Milan), and a regular collaborator of European media (France 24, Challenges, Rai3 Mondo) and has a column in France Forum on European affairs. He has recently translated from Italian to French the book from Sandro Gozi, Génération ERASMUS: ils sont déjà au pouvoir (Plon, May 2016). He has been honoured “Ufficiale dell’ordine della Stella d’Italia” in September 2014.