Marie Gittard

Marie Gittard, New-Caledonian born, married to Denis and has three grown children and seven grand-children, moved to Sydney in the early 1990s and, since 2010, has held many executive positions in the Australian/French community. Currently, she is President of ANMONM
(Association Nationale des Membres de l’Ordre National du Mérite), Vice-President of SMLH (Société des Membres de la Légion d’Honneur). She also is on the NSW council of the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FACCI), Director of Alliance Française de
Sydney, board member of French Assist NSW, as well as committee member of ‘The Friends of Lapérouse Museum’. 

From 2011 to 2018, she was President of the UFE (Union des Français de l’Etranger). In 2019, Marie was nominated as General Delegate for the FACS (French veterans living abroad) for Australia.

Marie is also involved in various fundraising for Australian associations including ‘The War Widow Guild’s of Australia’ ACT & NSW, ‘The Ozy Youth Choir Honouring Defence Service’ with their ‘Peace project’.

Marie is a certified International Air Transport Association (IATA) agent and started her career in the travel and tourism industry. She worked for several aviation companies in New Caledonia and then joined Aircalin and created Air Calédonie Holidays. She was actively involved in the creation of their subsidiary in Australia and moved to Sydney where she was appointed General Manager for Aircalin Australia. Soon after, she became their Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand. 

In 2009, Marie Gittard was awarded the “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite”.

In 2012,she received the Gabriel Wernlé trophy from l’UFE-monde. Marie has also been flag-bearer for l’ANMONM and SMLH since 2008.

In 2017, Marie was made “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” by H.E. Christophe Lecourtier, Ambassador of France to Australia.