Marlène Dbouk
Secretary General of Renaissance Français de l'étranger - Outgoing consular delegate
I have lived in London for 25 years with my husband, and together we raised our two children, now aged 25 and 22. Originally from Franche-Comté, I remain deeply attached to my French roots while feeling fully at home in British society.
A psychologist by training, specialising in environmental issues, I have always been keenly aware of questions of adaptation and responsibility in the face of the challenges we must confront.
Commitment beyond words
My commitment to French citizens living abroad grew first from a very personal experience: that of a mother wanting to preserve the French language for her children. By volunteering at their British school and then co-founding the French Programme, I wanted to offer French families educating their children within the British system a practical solution tailored to their situation.
Since 2021, as a consular delegate, I have continued that commitment with the same conviction: to listen and to stay close to the realities experienced by our fellow citizens in the United Kingdom.
I know only too well that living abroad can be enormously enriching, but also genuinely challenging. Some French people are deeply involved in their local community; others can feel quite removed from it.
Build, unite, protect
The ambition I share with all the members of our list is to keep rebuilding connections, restoring trust, and ensuring that every voice is heard.
At a time when mistrust is growing and public discourse is sometimes fragile, I believe deeply in the power of dialogue, collective effort, and sincere commitment.
When faced with the anxiety-inducing news that confronts us every day, or the difficulties I encounter in my own work, I need to find ways to maintain a sense of balance.
I took up rowing a few months ago. Out on the water, I love the focus, the rhythm, the coordination with others. Nothing works in isolation — and that idea resonates with me deeply.
My husband and I also spend time tending to our olive trees and savouring the patient work of harvesting olives through to the oil we then share with those close to us. These simple moments bring me back to myself and remind me that what truly matters is connection, consistency, and the meaning we give to what we do.