About the Speaker

Born in 1979 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Mr Damien SYED graduated from the University of Paris where he obtained a master in European law, and from the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris (Hindi, Urdu). After his admission to the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, he worked as head of section at the department for the French citizens abroad (2003-2005) then as
desk officer for Mali and Guinea at the Africa and Indian Ocean department (2005-2008).

From 2009 to 2012, he was desk officer for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Asia and Pacific department. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. SYED was first secretary at the embassy of France in Malaysia. From 2015 to 2018, he was consul general of France in Kolkata. From 2018 to 2019, he was deputy-director, in charge of traineeships, at the National School of Administration (ENA). From 2019 to 2022, Mr. SYED was the head of the South Asia division at the Asia and Pacific department of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Since the 31st of August 2022, he has been the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of France in India.