Marie Le Sourd

Marie Le Sourd has been Secretary General of On the Move, the international information network for cultural mobility, since 2012. With over 25 years of experience in international cultural cooperation, Marie has built a career devoted to enhancing the mobility of artists and cultural professionals, advocating for fairer conditions, and ensuring access to knowledge and funding across borders. Prior to her role at On the Move, she directed the French Cultural Centre in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2006–2011), and worked at the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in Singapore for nearly a decade, including as Acting Director of the Culture Department. These experiences not only grounded her in the complexities of intercultural dialogue and institutional partnerships, but also nurtured her deep understanding of diverse regional and geopolitical contexts. At On the Move, she has been instrumental in transforming the organisation’s business model and consolidating its position as a reference point for mobility-related data, advocacy, and capacity-building within the cultural sector. She has fostered a wide network that spans from small grassroots initiatives to foundations, ministries, and international institutions, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, Africa, the SWANA region, and the United States. Marie is a member of the Editorial Board for the upcoming 2026 UNESCO Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity Report, and her contributions are oen centred around structural issues in cultural mobility such as environmental sustainability, accessibility, mental health, and working conditions.