Hélène Conway Mouret

Early life

Hélène Conway-Mouret was born on September 13, 1960 in Bône, French Algeria. She graduated from the Lumière University Lyon 2, where she received a bachelor of arts degree. She received a Higher Diploma in Education and a Master of Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. She also received a degree in Management Practice from the Ulster University.

Career

Conway-Mouret served as the chair of the language department at the Dublin Institute of Technology. She was also a visiting professor at the Pantheon-Sorbonne University.

Conway-Mouret joined the Socialist Party in 1997. She was Minister for French Expatriates in Ayrault Cabinet from June 2012 to March 2014. Additionally, she has served as a member of the Senate of France since September 2011, where she represents French citizens living abroad.

Conway-Mouret has encouraged French students to take part in the Erasmus Programme and live abroad to increase their human capital. She believes that French expatriates reflect well on French diplomacy. Additionally, she has worked on making it easier for French citizens who settle back in France after they have lived abroad for several years to enroll in the French healthcare, retirement and social security systems.

Conway-Mouret supports same-sex marriage. In January 2013, months before it became the law of the land in France via Law 2013-404, she penned an opinion piece in Le Figaro arguing that same-sex marriage had been a success abroad, and that France should look beyond its borders and legalise it.

Conway-Mouret is opposed to the repeal of French citizenship for dual citizens who commit terrorist activities, arguing that it would target dual citizens over regular French citizens. She has penned an opinion piece arguing against the 2016 bill.

Conway-Mouret is a Knight of the National Order of Merit. She became a Grand Officer of the Order of Saint-Charles in 2013.