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Sixth Annual Global Trade & Investment Symposium in Macon
February 6, 2025 at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join Christopher N. Smith, Attorney at Law and Global Atlanta on February 6th for the Sixth Annual Statewide Global Trade and Investment Symposium in Macon, where we’ll unpack the intricate connections between the state and the global economy.
The evening discussion and reception at Wesleyan College will feature leading voices from across the state representing the countries, companies, and industries underpinning job-creating investment and keeping Georgia undeniably connected beyond the U.S.’s borders.
Now in its sixth year, the symposium regularly attracts more than 100 registrants from all over the state to enjoy a night of networking and knowledge.
See video of last year’s event here:
Opening Remarks by
Meaghan Blight,
President,
Wesleyan College
Featured Speakers
Anne-Laure Desjonquères, Consul General of France in Atlanta
Anne-Laure Desjonquères is a career diplomat who joined the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA) in 2006.
Before being appointed Consul General of France in Atlanta, she was the head of the division of
European Union law and international economic law in the Legal Affairs Department of the MEFA since 2018.
She served as head of the Press & Communication Office at the French Embassy in New Delhi (India) from 2015 to 2017, and as political advisor on domestic and African policy issues at the French Embassy in Pretoria (South Africa) from 2012 to 2015.
She was also a desk officer in the Strategic Affairs Department, in charge of nuclear disarmament
issues from 2010 to 2012, and a legal consultant in European Union law in the Legal Affairs
Department from 2006 to 2009.
A former student of the French National School of Administration (ENA) and of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (Ulm), she graduated from Sciences Po in Paris and from the University of Paris-IV Sorbonne (Master’s Degree in History of International Relations).
Anne-Laure Desjonquères is 44 years old. She is married and has 3 children.
Stephen Adams,
Executive Director,
Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority
Virginie Durr,
Enterprise Sales Manager, French Trade Advisor, French American Chamber Board Member,
Delta Air Lines
Raymond Shelton,
Vice President, Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer,
YKK AP America Inc.
Raymond Shelton is a global business leader with over two decades of experience in strategic communications, sustainability, finance and investor relations across the United States, Japan, and beyond. He currently serves as Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer at YKK AP America, headquartered in Atlanta with major manufacturing operations in Macon and Dublin, Georgia. In this role he oversees corporate communications, ESG strategy, and civic engagement to support the company’s ambitious growth and environmental goals.
Prior to joining YKK AP America, Raymond held various executive roles with The Coca-Cola Company, including as Executive Officer and Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan, where he contributed to critical transformation efforts for one of the top five Coca-Cola bottlers globally by revenue. He has represented multinational organizations at the highest levels, crafting compelling narratives and aligning stakeholders during periods of complexity and change.
Fluent in Japanese, Raymond’s global perspective is also reflected in his academic background: an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, Japanese language studies at Waseda University in Tokyo, a BA in French from Vassar College, and study abroad in Montpellier, France. He is passionate about cross-cultural collaboration and mentorship, serving as a mentor to international business students at the University of South Carolina.
Outside of his professional life, Raymond values giving back to his community. He resides in Marietta with his wife, Krista, and their three children, including one at Georgia College and State University and two at North Cobb High School.
