MARIE–HÉLÈNE CUSSAC 8 rue françois mouthon . 75 015 paris . france . tel : +33 672 67 52 57 . email : mh@cussac.eu . french . 17 october 1978
CURRICULUM VITAE WORK EXPERIENCE 2012 onwards
2007 – 2010 Brussels, B
Generation Europe Foundation Communication Manager Editor of the Europa Diary 2009-2010, 3.5 M copies in EU 27 (15-18 year olds), 23 languages, 29 editions, 96 A4 pages of editorial content. Management of editorial team + daily correspondence with 14 DGs of the European Commission (57 texts) www.europa-diary.eu Editor of GE Vibes, monthly (19-29 year olds) now called Buzz Web editor www.generation-europe.eu Initiated & ran various international surveys on youth health & youth employment
2005 – 2007 Brugge, B
College of Europe Project Manager Conception and running of training courses in EU affairs (seminars, workshops, summer schools) + Project management (marketing, communication, financial planning, budget management, contractual relations, etc.) www.coleurope.eu/training Conferences and big-scale events organisation (EU-wide), Public Relations, ex of recent event I entirely designed: www.coleurop.be/do10 Business development - Development of a strong network of contacts with key decision-makers for project development (e.g. in the Southern Caucasus) Editor and writer of the EUROPE DIRECT monthly newsletter (Service Contract with DG COMM of the European Commission) http://ec.europa.eu/europedirect/visit_us/newsletter/index_en.htm
2005 – 2006 Brussels, B Salzburg, AT
European Economic and Social Committee (with the Austrian Presidency of the EU) Part-time consultant Conference: “The Sound of Europe”, Salzburg, 27-28 January 2006 (http://www.eu2006.at/en/) Managing of minutes taking (team of 5 people) Responsible for drafting: Verbatim of all conference proceedings (ISBN 92-830-0611-9) + Conclusions of the conference in the EECS Special Reviews (catalogue number: EESC – C2006-05-EN) http://www.eesc.europa.eu/documents/publications/pdf/pamphlets/EESC-C-200605-EN.pdf
2004 – 2008 Brussels, B
European Union Youth Orchestra Part-time Consultant 2005 onwards: EUYO Communication + organisation of the EUYO national auditions in Belgium 2004 – 2005: Survey: “The Status of the Private Sponsoring in the Arts” • Questionnaire writing + analysis of collected data (over 80 companies consulted) • Research and communication skills with the corporate and non-EU sectors
2004 – 2005 Brussels, B
Palmer/Rae Associates Project Assistant Developped project proposals (cultural policies and conflict prevention) + Coordination of projects + Funding schemes Office management + Website management
2003 Brussels, B
EIPAL - European Institute for Public Affairs and Lobbying Communications Manager Restructure EIPAL communication strategy : website – advertising – press contacts
2002 – 2003 Brussels, B
Freelance communications consultant Teaching / conferences / seminars in France (i.e. ESCP Europe) & Belgium on intercultural communication and intercultural management
Ambassade de France en Belgique - Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle Trainee Encourage the participation of French cultural institutes abroad to the framework programmes of the European Commission: Surveys + Organisation of a « Culture 2000 » workshop for the Foreign Service network days) Assisted France Coopération Internationale (networked French Foreign Service and Commission officials)
2002 Brussels, B
European Commission – Education And Culture Directorate General Policy and Framework Programmes Unit (« Culture 2000 ») Trainee Research and editing of dossiers concerning cultural industries + initiated contact with music and book industries: Knowledge of cultural networks/interest groups Reporting (English/French): Inter-institutional relations (cultural committee meetings at the Council and European Parliament) Web Communication: Updating + Drafting for the Newsletter Elected Member of the Committee of Trainees Vice-treasurer (overall budget : €75,000) – charity fundraising (€50,000) – conference officer
2000 – 2001
Florida Atlantic University, College of Arts and Letters, Department of Languages and Linguistics
Boca Raton, USA
Graduate Teaching Assistant French teacher to 1st to 4th year students: Communicative Approach Teaching methods IT-Assistant for the Foreign Languages and Media Center of FAU
2001 Boca Raton, USA
Florida Atlantic University, College of Arts and Letters, Department of Vocal Studies Piano Accompanist
1997, 98, 2001 Dublin, et al., IRL
Euro Languages College, Eire (Clongowes Wood College - Ennis College) French teacher (to young teenagers)
EDUCATION 2003 – 2004 Bruges, B
College of Europe MA in European Political and Administrative Studies – Mention Bien Thesis: European Security and European Neighbourhood Policy in the Southern Caucasus Mention Très Bien/First Class Honours Specific courses: Transatlantic relations - Interest Representation - Media & communication
2001 – 2002 Belfast, UK
Queen’s University Belfast - Dept. of Anthropology PhD in Ethnomusicology, 1st year – (Arts and Humanities Research Board Award) Focus : Ethnic Identity Issues - Intercultural Communication - Culture and Politics PhD claim: Music as Rhetoric: In subaltern communities, musical practices constitute a rhetorical tool to achieve power in the public discourse. Subsequent to professional experiences in Brussels in 2002, I reconsidered the focus of my doctoral research.
2000 – 2001 Boca Raton, USA
Florida Atlantic University - College of Arts and Letters MA, 1stt year (Graduate Teaching Assistant one-year contract) Communication (Rhetoric - Intercultural Communication) and Musical studies
1996 – 2000 Durham, UK Clermont-Fd, F
Université B. Pascal, F - University of Durham, GB Maîtrise d’Anglais LLCE (MA) – Mention Très Bien/First Class Honours English and American literature - history - linguistics - critical theory - translation Special course : Teaching of French as a Foreign Language MA dissertation : Cajun culture and identity
1994 – 2000 Clermont-Fd, F
Conservatoire National de Musique, France Diplôme de Fin d’Etudes en Formation Musicale – Mention Bien
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS Awards 2007
2006
2003 2002
NISA Award: award from the NATO International School of Azerbaijan (to attend a one-week seminar on security issues in the Caucasus and the Caspian region) Compagnia di San Paolo, the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the Volkswagen Stiftung – 3-day conference: Young Faces Conference - “ESDP Seven Years On: Back to the Future", part of the European Foreign and Security Policy Studies research and training programme (Turin) Stiftung Genshagen scholarship to attend a one-week seminar: "The European Union and its neighbours: designing a European neighbourhood policy. The possibilities of cooperation between the European institutions, the member states and non-governmental organisations" (Berlin) EIPAL Certificate awarded by the European Institute for Public Affairs & Lobbying (Brussels) European Forum Alpbach Grant - scholarship to attend the two-week forum in Alpbach, Austria AHRB Award UK Arts and Humanities Research Board (declined after reconsideration of research focus)
Achievements 2007
2004 onwards 2003 onwards 2003 2002
At 18
EastWest Institute & Madariaga Foundation - Expert meeting: “An energy community for the South Caspian region – New benefits for regional actors” Creation of a non-for-profit organisation, « Forum Alpbach France », Secretary General (Paris) « Alpbach Team Europe » , Vice President, in charge of the Grant Scheme (Brussels) Set up of the College of Europe Vocal Ensemble Elected National Delegate of Generation Europe for France – Youth Summit 2002 on CSR (Brussels) Spokesperson, Anthropology Department students to the Faculty, Queen’s University Belfast Creation of a non-for-profit organisation « Field Hollers », Gospel songs and Negro spirituals ensemble
LANGUAGES & I.T. SKILLS French English German Dutch, Spanish, Italian Russian I.T. skills
Mother tongue Fluent Good Read-Understood Beginner’s level Microsoft Office – Dreamweaver – FTP(Web CEO) – InDesign – Adobe Acrobat – Joomla/Drupal/Wordpress
ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS
Fieldwork for cultural studies: e.g. by myself and on my own initiative: Haiti - the Dominican Republic (2001) and Thailand (2007) Rowing (1999-2000, 2001-2002) Music: Piano – Clarinet – Choral/Soloist singing (Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles)