CHAIR - SIMON MARLOW
Simon joined the Lib Dems in France in March 2021 when he retired to France after a global career as a CEO/COO for marketing and professional services organisations. He has been a member of the Executive since early 2022 and of the Lib Dems Abroad Steering Committee, for whom he chairs their Future’s Working Group.
Simon is also a member of the Federal Party's Audit and Scrutiny Committee.
VICE CHAIR - VACANT
This position is vacant but the Executive can co-opt a member to serve for 2025.
If you would like more information about what’s involved or to put your name forward, please contact us via info@libdemsinfrance.org in the first instance. Thank you.
SECRETARY - MARK BRAINE
Having joined the LibDems three years ago, Mark was first elected as Secretary in 2020 , working with both the Executive and the Campaigns Committee to record and distribute its minutes. He is looking forward to contributing further to building the strength, membership and influence of LibDems in France.
TREASURER - CAROL FRASER
Newly elected as Treasurer, Carol was educated at Pitman's College where she studied Shorthand, Typing, Booking, Commerce and kept up her French. This education mapped out her life, which has been mostly in business, including roles as a works manager and customer services manager.
For the final 11 years she was an Independent Financial Adviser, retiring to France in 2004 with her late husband, who after Brexit encouraged her apply for French citizenship, which was awarded in 2018.
DATA OFFICER - NIGEL WILKIE
Nigel joined the LibDems in 2017 but has been in France since 1994 , making his home in Vernon, Normandy. He previously worked for the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) based in Paris, as a Digital Solutions Analyst. He is serving his fourth year in this role and will to continue to contribute to both the politics and the data management for LibDems in France.
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OFFICER - JENNY SHORTEN
Jenny is our new Membership Development Officer, having served 3 years previously as Chair and as a member of the Lib Dems Abroad Steering Committee.
With many year’s experience as a campaign organiser, election agent and trainer for the Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties in the UK, she took a break from political life on retiring to France in 2014 but rejoined in time for the 2019 election.
She is especially keen to work to improve the profile of issues that affect overseas electors and their representation in Parliament.
EXECUTIVE MEMBER - THOMAS DAFFERN
Thomas has joined the Executive for the first time this year and is a philosopher, historian and educator, who founded the Liberal Democrats Philosophy Forum in Wales 2000-2009. He has co-chaired over 30 meetings in the House of Lords on Policy, Ethics and Peace. He has taught at the Universities of Oxford and London and has a PhD in intellectual history. He has also served 10 years as a Philosophy & Religious Studies teacher in UK secondary schools. He has written over 60 books on peace studies, philosophy, literature, history and politics. He organised a special symposium on the educational implications of 9/11 at St Deiniols Library in Wales after 9/11. He has served on numerous committees to do with education, peace, policy and good global governance. He has travelled to over 35 countries worldwide, was born in Montreal, and moved to France in 2016.
EXECUTIVE MEMBER - JULIA MARSHALL
Julia has lived in France since 2009 and is a fluent French speaker, using those skills both as a translator and estate agent, selling French property to the Brits. Although she had been a lifelong supporter of the Liberal Party, she only joined the LibDems officially after the Brexit vote. As a resident of the Limousin region, she took on the role of Area Coordinator for Nouvelle Aquitaine in 2019 until Covid struck. She rejoined the committee in 2023 in the role of Treasurer and is now participating as an ordinary member
EXECUTIVE MEMBER - CHRIS PLATTS
Chris has been living in France since 2019 and this is his fourth year serving as a member of the Executive. He has also been involved in the LibDems Abroad Future’s Working Group.
Chris has been involved in politics most of his life, mainly on the left and centre left. He was active in the anti-Nazis league groups in the 70s and attended many demonstrations during this period.
During his working life Chris took a step back from politics, but as a Probation officer he worked to improve people's lives. Now retired, he joined the Lib Dems in 2019 and is keen to be active in politics and to achieve the same objective.
Chris has volunteered to act in the role of Diversity Officer, pending the formalisation of the role at the next AGM.
EXECUTIVE MEMBER - SONIA YAZIDI
Sonia has lived in Paris for over seven years where she works as a public affairs consultant. Since volunteering at the LibDem HQ in London during the 2019 general election, she has been active in the LibDems for several years. Notably, she was Vice Chair for two years at the LibDems in France (2020-2022).”