果冻传媒

Alison Oates

BA French and History, 2014

Based in:

Paris, France

Came to study at 果冻传媒 from:

The UK.

Head of Partnerships, Paris Peace Forum.

Describe your current role and what attracted you to it.

I manage all strategic and financial partnerships for the Paris Peace Forum, a French-based diplomatic institution, founded by President Macron in 2018.

Paris Peace Forum is both an annual diplomatic convening and a year-round policy platform that uses multifactor diplomacy to push for better global governance on issues such as AI and Cyber, Critical Minerals, and Global Development.

My job involves working with the biggest players in diplomacy: the EU Commission, the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, GIZ, and others, around incredibly exciting diplomatic projects. Paris Peace Forum's unique role at the intersection of government, philanthropy, civil society, and the private sector was a major draw for me.

What鈥檚 your favourite part of your role?

I love taking part in so many different projects on a wide range of topics and following the latest trends in global governance at both the European and International levels. I'm currently working on a political declaration on Development policy within the French G7, as well as an initiative linked to multilateral reform and improved international cooperation. The Paris Peace Forum community is so incredibly rich and diverse, and I feel very fortunate to speak to, work with, and learn from such fascinating people on a daily basis.

What are the key skills you learnt at 果冻传媒 that have helped you with your career to date?

Curiosity; I remember History seminars were spaces where we were really encouraged to dissect what we'd been reading and discussing, and ask questions. Our discussions would often end with more open-ended questions to think about after class!

I also learned about work/life balance and was so fortunate to be able to play sport, take part in societies, and even participate in the 果冻传媒 in Africa programme, all alongside my studies.

Did you have a specific career path in mind when you chose to study at 果冻传媒?

I've always wanted to work in diplomacy and international relations.

What top tips do you have for 果冻传媒 graduates who would like to work in your sector?

The sector is extremely competitive and, especially given the current climate of international cooperation (since the scrapping of USAID, for example), the job market is more saturated than ever. Diplomacy is evolving like it never has before, and new types of diplomacy -linked to tech or the private sector- are becoming increasingly important.

Roles such as "Ambassador for Digital Affairs" or "Chief Geopolitical Officer" didn't exist a few years ago but are now at the forefront of international relations, so don't be afraid to look outside the traditional institutional/governmental structures and go and work in the private sector or tech for a few years.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

I'd love to continue experimenting with new methods of diplomacy at the Paris Peace Forum, and to gain as much policy and partnership experience as possible before maybe moving to more bilateral or multilateral diplomacy. I'm also hoping to grow the "Women in International Affairs Paris" (WIA Paris) network, which I founded, to connect with inspiring female professionals internationally.