Cannelle Gueguen-Teil is the laureate of the 2024 Entente Cordiale for the Climate Scholarship.
She holds an MA in International Development from Oxford University and a BA in Politics and International Studies from Exeter University. Following her studies, Cannelle worked for four years as a research and advocacy assistant on the human rights impacts of climate change. Currently a PhD student at Oxford University in the UK, Cannelle Gueguen-Teil's thesis work explores the notion of queer ‘ecology’. Through interviews and workshops in mainland France, she is studying the relationship between LGBTQIA+ people, ecology and so-called ‘natural’ spaces, as well as their inclusion in ecology movements.
Marie Mendy is the laureate of the 2024 Entente Cordiale Herbert Smith Freehills – Cercle Montesquieu scholarship.
Marie was born in Senegal. She arrived in France at the age of 8 and went to school in the Paris suburbs of Sarcelles (Val d'Oise) before studying law at Nanterre, then at Essec for a specialised master's degree. During her studies, she did a work-study Master's 2 at the French Court of Cassation, in the secretariat of AHJUCAF, the association of French-speaking high courts. She also did a work-study placement at ESSEC with L'Oréal. She is continuing her law studies with an LLM in International Financial Law at the University of King's College London for the 2024-2025 academic year, in order to deepen her knowledge of international finance. She is heading for a career as a business lawyer with a focus on the financing and development of energy and infrastructure projects in Europe and Africa. To this end, she will sit the French bar exam in September 2024.