France Desmarais
Partner, Head of Brunswick Arts Gulf
France advises leaders and institutions navigating periods of growth, transformation and complexity.
Drawing on more than 25 years of international experience across culture, heritage, philanthropy and public-interest organisations, she helps clients build institutions, strengthen stakeholder relationships, manage change and advance ambitious missions. She is particularly recognised for helping organisations establish new institutions and initiatives, navigate moments of transition and crisis, and position themselves for long-term impact.
Before joining Brunswick, she led the creation of new museums and cultural institutions and spearheaded a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prior to that, she helped establish the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), a public-private foundation. France was also a Director at the International Council of Museums (ICOM), where she established an International Observatory, contributed to advancing professional standards, spoke at conferences worldwide and published extensively on heritage and ethical practice.
An experienced board and scientific committee member, France has worked across the public, private and non-profit sectors. Her professional journey has taken her to live in Canada, Lebanon, Cameroon, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where she is currently based.