EXECUTIVE COMMITEE
GrandChêne Section Internationale is run by APESEB (Association des Parents d’Elèves de la Section Britannique), a non-profit organisation made up of parent volunteers. Meet the Committee members for the 2025-26 school year.
President
president@grandchene.org
Melissa Toledo is a member of the Association since 2023. Born in Peru and also an Australian citizen, she is an Industrial Engineer and holds an MBA from the University of Melbourne. Mel has lived in ten different countries throughout her life, five of these with her husband and children. With experience in marketing, brand strategy and management consulting, she initially joined the Committee as Marketing Officer. Her three children attend Primary Pasteur, Collège Pasteur and Lycée Corneille in La Celle Saint-Cloud.
Vice President
vp@grandchene.org
Elise Reboud is new to the committee this year, but has been an active member of the association since 2018. Bicultural (Anglo-French), Elise holds dual master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge and Université Paris Cité. A trained child and family clinical psychologist, she is currently taking a year off to have more time for family. She is the mother of three children enrolled in the Section Internationale at La Celle Saint-Cloud, in primary and collège.
Treasurer
treasurer@grandchene.org
With a British mum and a life shaped by different cultures, Dominique Duquennoy has always carried a broad perspective into his work and relationships. Working in tech, he is especially drawn to how the future of work is taking shape and what it means for people. He is also a proud parent to two daughters—one in college and one about to start maternelle—who constantly remind him why thoughtful progress matters. Dominique cares about honest connection, practical innovation, and building things that move us forward.
Secretary
secretary@grandchene.org
Sébastien Desharnais joined the Association in 2022 when his daughter Missaki became a CE1 student of the Section. Sébastien is a dual French and Canadian citizen who lived in Texas for six years while studying for his MS and PhD, and has also worked in Germany and India. He currently works as an electrical engineer for an American company.
Lycée Programme Rep
lyceerep@grandchene.org
Piedad Ollero is Spanish, she came to France in 2003 as an Erasmus student and never went back. She has three sons in college and lycée and one daughter in maternelle, all in the International Section. They all joined the Section after spending six years in London until 2020. She’s an engineer and works as the CFO of an affiliate of an international energy company.
Pasteur Collège Programme Rep
pasteurcollegerep@grandchene.org
South African born, Sarah Regnard joined GrandChêne in 2007 and has been an active member over the years while her three children attended the International Section at Pasteur (Maternelle, Primaire and Collège) and the Lycée Corneille. Being a bilingual family, GrandChêne has provided the best of both worlds. As a class rep and now, College Rep, she has really enjoyed the contact with the teachers, parents and the children. She is also a full-time Pilates teacher.
Primary Pasteur Programme Rep
pasteurprimaryrep@grandchene.org
Suzanne Malderez was born in Paris and has a background in international economics, studying in Paris and London. She has been working in central banking for ten years, showing strong capabilities and interest to deal with European and international institutions. She returned to France and joined GrandChêne in September 2024, after three years in Frankfurt being seconded to the European Central Bank. She has three children, two of whom are enrolled in the Integrated programme.
Noisy Primary Programme Rep
noisyprimaryrep@grandchene.org
Kaori Okabe joined the association in 2022 when her daughter Missaki became a CE1 student of the Section. She spent 16 years in Hiroshima, Japan including 10 years at the United Nations Institute, on capacity development programs in the Asia and Pacific region. She then moved to France in 2012 for her second Master’s degree at Sciences Po, Paris. As part of her Master’s program, she developed environmental education curricula based on indigenous peoples’ knowledge at UNESCO HQ.
Noisy Collège Programme Rep
noisycollegerep@grandchene.org
Wednesday Programme Rep
wednesdayrep@grandchene.org
Alexandra Billet Leroy recently joined the Association beginning of September 2025. She is a dual French American citizen and was born and raised in the US and then later moved to France after graduating from university in New York. Alexandra works in Human Resources and Recruitment and lives in Croissy sur Seine with her husband and 3 children, including her eldest son, who is currently enrolled in the Wednesday programme at Pasteur.
Newsletter Officer
newsletter@grandchene.org
Sharon Chan Comte from Kuala Lumpur has moved around the globe with her nomadic family of four, living in Sydney, Jakarta, Paris, and Dubai. She has actively volunteered in each school they have attended, contributing her time and skills in various capacities, including translation, school manuals, school committee, recycle movement, International Day, Christmas events and many more. She has a child in 2e and another in 5e this year. In addition to her commitment to school initiatives, she enjoys exploring new places, connecting with people, and learning from every environment she encounters. She looks forward to collaborating with others to enhance our school experience through the newsletter bird’s eye view.
Marketing Officer
marketing@grandchene.org
Ebru Isil
Webmaster
webmaster@grandchene.org
Justin Kavanagh
Events Officer
events@grandchene.org
Anne Chen is from Brazil and has a Veterinary degree with a public health background. She has also lived in Panama before coming to France in 2021. Anne joined the association this year and has a daughter at Lycée Corneille.