In the News: Our Graduates in the Spotlight

Alumni, Institute
© Roman Kraft, Unsplash

ENSTA graduates have recently been featured in the national media. They hold positions of responsibility and are pursuing exciting careers at major corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, startups, and government agencies. Discover a selection of articles highlighting the brilliant careers of ENSTA alumni.

Kumiko Kotera (ENSTA 2005), astrophysicist, director of the Paris Institute of Astrophysics

Excerpt: “I was 20 years old.” *Le Monde* interviews a prominent figure about her student years and her transition to adulthood. This month, the 43-year-old Franco-Japanese woman recounts how her dual cultural background drove her to strive for success, ultimately becoming the first woman to lead the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.

Walter Arnaud (ENSTA ’97), Interministerial Director of Digital Affairs

Excerpt: “The Council of Ministers has appointed Walter Arnaud to head the Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs (Dinum). Recently, he was tasked by the Prime Minister with working on the creation of Ariane (the national authority for digital affairs and artificial intelligence).”

Sarah Francke (ENSTA 2003), Director of Engineering at the Technicatome Group

Excerpt: “With the France-Libre aircraft carrier, Sarah Francke is looking far into the future, as TechnicAtome (TA) will be producing its nuclear propulsion systems and fuel for them by 2038. As the group’s Director of Engineering since July 2025, she is also enthusiastic about the challenges ahead in attack submarines and missile launchers, as well as in the maintenance of ships or...”

Florian Audigier (ENSTA 2015), co-founder of the startup EGIDE

Excerpt: “Good evening, Florent Audigier, co-founder of Egide. You’re currently designing a drone-killer drone that could combat the Iranian Shaed drone. Your startup has just raised 8 million euros… ”

Géraldine Naja (ENSTA ’87), Director of Space Transportation at the European Space Agency

Excerpt: “Géraldine Naja embodies both the strategic legacy and the renewed ambition of the European Space Agency (ESA). Born on May 15, 1964, in Paris, and a graduate of École Polytechnique, ENSTA, and Sciences Po Paris, she joined the ESA in 1987. She began her career in the International Space Station (ISS) Directorate, working on remote operations for the payloads of the European Columbus module"

Thibault Cheviron (ENSTA 05), Director of Nuclétudes

Excerpt: “Defense, space, deterrence: behind these highly strategic sectors, certain areas of expertise remain largely invisible. At the helm of Nuclétudes, Thibault Cheviron (ENSTA 05) works precisely on the robustness of critical systems in extreme environments. A world where technical excellence and national sovereignty go hand in hand.”

Liam Perrier (ENSTA 08), CEO of Cyclife Digital Solutions

Excerpt: An engineer in search of challenges. That’s what defines Liam Perrier, who joined EDF 18 years ago. After a decade dedicated to electricity distribution, he shifted his focus to nuclear energy within the Decommissioning and Waste Projects Division. “I wanted to explore another strategic area of the group—nuclear energy, a pillar of the low-carbon energy mix—and take on new intellectual challenges.”

Auriane Herbaut (ENSTA 2019), head of the Franco-German polar station AWIPEV

Excerpt: “Hold on to your dreams, too. They’ll come true if you fight for them! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Girls and women, you are just as capable as men. If they can go into space, to the polar regions, or underwater, so can you. Don’t hold yourself back just because there are no female role models on the path you want to follow: you can do it!”

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Training | International
Start of the 2026 Academic Year: ENSTA Welcomes International Talent from Around the World

As the 2026 academic year approaches, ENSTA once again confirms its international appeal by welcoming students from many countries to its Paris-Saclay and Brest campuses. Gradually, the first international students are arriving at the school to prepare...

Start of the 2026 Academic Year: ENSTA Welcomes International Talent from Around the World

As the 2026 academic year approaches, ENSTA once again confirms its international appeal by welcoming students from many countries to its Paris-Saclay and Brest campuses. Gradually, the first international students are arriving at the school to prepare...

Student Life
A sports challenge in wingfoiling to support medical research

Max Duez is a master’s student at ENSTA and the University of Brest (UBO). This summer, he decided to take on a sporting challenge with his friend Pol: to cover 500 kilometers by wingfoil along the coast of Brittany. It’s a human and charitable adventure...

A sports challenge in wingfoiling to support medical research

Max Duez is a master’s student at ENSTA and the University of Brest (UBO). This summer, he decided to take on a sporting challenge with his friend Pol: to cover 500 kilometers by wingfoil along the coast of Brittany. It’s a human and charitable adventure...

Institute | Training
IETA military engineering students training at ENSTA marched in the July 14 parade

About 40 IETA military students marched on July 14, 2026, on the Champs-Élysées on behalf of ENSTA and the DGA. For the past three weeks, they had been preparing together for this major event for the French armed forces, whose theme was “Europe’s...

IETA military engineering students training at ENSTA marched in the July 14 parade

About 40 IETA military students marched on July 14, 2026, on the Champs-Élysées on behalf of ENSTA and the DGA. For the past three weeks, they had been preparing together for this major event for the French armed forces, whose theme was “Europe’s...

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