Forum CCE North America 2026
Program & Speakers
Three days of high-level conferences, roundtables and networking in Houston.
Full program
Three days, one program
CCE Working Afternoon & Welcome Cocktail
Working Afternoon — Reserved for CCE members
A private session for CCE members: strategic discussions, internal exchanges and preparation for the Forum's main program.
CCE MembersWelcome Cocktail
Open to all participants. An elegant evening to welcome delegates, speakers and partners — the ideal opportunity to reconnect before the Forum's full program begins.
All participantsConference Day & Gala Dinner
Opening Panel
Official opening of the Forum CCE North America 2026 with welcome remarks from CCE leadership and institutional partners.
Open to allDeveloping the world's most effective life sciences ecosystem
William McKeon, President & CEO of the Texas Medical Center, on Houston's position as a global hub for medical innovation and opportunities for international collaboration.
Open to allMedical Innovation & Advanced Therapies
Dr. William Cohn, Chief Medical Officer of BiVACOR Inc., on the latest advances in life sciences and the future of medical technologies.
Open to allProgram to be announced
Conference session — topic and speakers to be confirmed.
Open to allProgram to be announced
Afternoon conference session — topic and speakers to be confirmed.
Open to allGala Dinner
An exceptional gala dinner to celebrate the Forum CCE North America 2026. Venue kept secret — an outstanding Texan setting to be revealed closer to the event.
GalaClosing Day
Program to be announced
Morning conference sessions — topics and speakers to be confirmed.
Open to allThe Venue
The Ismaili Centre, Houston
An exceptional space in the heart of Houston
The Forum will be held at the Ismaili Centre Houston — a contemporary architectural landmark near downtown Houston. Designed by Farshid Moussavi Architecture, this remarkable building combines light, geometry and cultural depth to create one of the most striking venues in North America.
Confirmed Speakers
They will be on stage
Xavier Gesnouin
Master of Ceremonies · Representative for International Affairs, Carexpat
He will host the Forum as Master of Ceremonies.
William McKeon
President & CEO, Texas Medical Center
Keynote speaker on healthcare innovation. William McKeon leads the world's largest medical complex.
Sophie Adenot
Astronaut, ESA
French astronaut of the European Space Agency. TBC.
Anne-Laure Chassanite
CEO North America, ENGIE
Head of ENGIE in North America, she promotes French-American energy partnerships.
Luc Rémont
EDF, Honorary Chairman
Former CEO of EDF, a leading figure of France's energy transition.
Khori Dastoor
General Director and CEO, Houston Grand Opera
She leads one of the largest opera companies in the United States and embodies Houston's cultural influence.
Debra Dunn
President and Executive Director, French American Cultural Foundation
She works to strengthen cultural and educational ties between France and the United States.
Denis Deschamps
Editor, Décryptage géopolitique pour dirigeants
Tala Goudarzi
Partner, The Torridon Group
Brian Korgel
Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Frédéric Rossi
Director North America (USA & Canada), Business France
Practical Information
Everything you need to know
Venue
The Ismaili Centre — Near downtown Houston, Texas. A contemporary architectural landmark combining light, culture and geometry.
Dates
October 21–23, 2026. Wednesday afternoon (CCE members) · Thursday full day · Friday morning. Cocktail Wednesday evening, Gala dinner Thursday evening.
Contact
For any questions about the program, speakers or partnership opportunities.
cc********@***il.com