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Télécom Paris strengthens alumni and academic ties across the Channel

07 July 2025
Alumni-Day-London-2
Télécom Paris travelled to London in June 2025 to reconnect with its alumni community and strengthen academic partnerships with top UK institutions. From vibrant discussions at the Alumni Day to strategic meetings at King’s and Imperial College, the visit highlighted the importance of international engagement.

Celebrating Franco-British alumni at the Institut Français

The visit began with The Alumni Day, an event celebrating graduates of French higher education who are actively shaping innovation, research and entrepreneurship – with a strong emphasis on Franco-British collaboration.

Organised by the Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, France Alumni UK, Campus France and the French Embassy in the UK, the event brought together professionals and institutions committed to international cooperation.

Representing Télécom Paris, Catherine Vazza, Deputy Head of International Relations, attended both the conference and the evening reception at the French Ambassador’s Residence in Kensington Palace Gardens.

She had the pleasure of meeting four inspiring Télécom Paris alumni who are now leading impactful careers in tech:

  • Hélène Cantet, VP SW Platform Engineering, Viasat;
  • Ghida Ibrahim, PhD (CIFRE), VP Product & Data, Sector Alarm (KKR Portco) – who also spoke during the session The role of alumni in innovation ecosystems;
  • Joël Kerleguer, Cybersecurity and Information Security Manager, and key alumni contact in the UK;
  • Céline Pasty, Director, Service Performance Analysis, Viasat.

These encounters highlighted not only the professional achievements of our alumni but also their ongoing connection to Télécom Paris and their role in fostering international links.

Academic outreach: visits to King’s College and Imperial College London

The following day, Catherine visited two of the UK’s leading academic institutions: King’s College London and Imperial College London.

France Alumni Day London, with Eleanor Salt & Jane Clarkson (King's College), and Catherine Vazza (Télécom Paris)

At King’s College London, discussions focused on academic cooperation and student exchanges with the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. King’s is already a popular destination for Télécom Paris students and we look forward to welcoming students on our campus!

Later that day, at Imperial College London, she met with representatives from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. This long-standing collaboration continues to grow, with many Télécom Paris students choosing Imperial to carry out their compulsory international mobility as part of their engineering degree.

While at Imperial, Catherine also reconnected with three Télécom Paris students:

Strengthening our international collaboration

This visit to London demonstrated the vitality of Télécom Paris’ international community — built on academic and research ties, a dynamic alumni network, and the global engagement of our students and staff.
Télécom Paris warmly thanks all its hosts at Imperial College and King’s College London. It was a pleasure to reconnect with both alumni and students during the visit.
Special thanks to the Télécom Paris Alumni Association for their continued support in nurturing our international alumni base.

We look forward to further collaborations in the UK and beyond.

Photos by Catherine Vazza