Get to know us

Trained as a biologist, Mathieu studied at the University of Geneva. Now living under the sunny skies of Montpellier, he continues to benefit from the advantages of Swiss direct democracy, which allow him to give his opinion in countless, yet always interesting, popular votes. Co-founder of Lisode, he is the driving force behind the internal research and development activities of our cooperative, and is the principal author of the guide to public participation. Having formalized our methodology himself, he is able to adapt it to different contexts and languages. For Mathieu, participation is both a method and a life philosophy, on paper and in the field. Whether at work, in housing, or shopping, Mathieu has one guiding principle: cooperation. Rigorous yet a bit of a dreamer, he is a strong advocate for this more just and horizontal mode of organization, which, on his small scale, serves as a lever to change the world

A graduate of Centrale Lyon, Jean-Emmanuel spent several years working with cold, grey machines. Then he got tired of computers. After a career change, he returned to his homeland and moved from complex IT systems to even more complex human systems. It was during a research project on water management that he befriended Mathieu. Together, they founded their cooperative (SCOP) in 2008. A remarkable facilitator, Jean-Emmanuel demonstrates great psychological insight and is able to help a group progress, even when its members have different visions or interests. Internally, he ensures proper accounting (as the manager) and maintains a positive atmosphere, thanks to his quick wit and encyclopedic knowledge of medieval recipes. In 2023, he relocated to Japan to develop Lisode's activities in the Land of the Rising Sun.

After studying ecological engineering at Paris-Sud XI, Elsa moved to the South (the real South) and has never left. She joined Lisode in its early days, dedicating herself to supporting local authorities and specializing in companion modeling (an approach that promotes participation through the use of role-playing games), eventually becoming the General Secretary of the ComMod association. Within the cooperative, she plays a key role as manager and head of human resources. Elsa is a calm force, known for her ability to take a step back and maintain structure in all circumstances. She is also a good listener and an excellent mediator, capable of resolving interpersonal tensions within a group. Now based near Toulouse, she is closer to many of our partners and project sites in the Southwest.

A PhD in water sciences, Amar began focusing on participation during his dissertation, where he met Jean-Emmanuel and Mathieu. He quickly joined Lisode to bring his creativity and develop new collective intelligence approaches. Since then, he has supported numerous projects in the Middle East and North Africa (more or less close to his Kabyle roots) and provides invaluable support to researchers worldwide in structuring their projects and creating connections with society. Rarely tired and always ready to help, whether offering advice on a workshop or lending a hand with a move, he’s the colleague everyone can count on. With unfailing calmness and kindness, he is a stabilizing force that brings balance and harmony to any group, at Lisode and beyond.

Trained in Montpellier, Emmanuelle wouldn’t leave her region for anything in the world—except for a mission in Moselle or Charente! She joined Lisode in 2019, with a solid background in water management gained at the University of Montpellier. Her people skills and unwavering dedication quickly propelled her to the rank of partner. A versatile profile, equally comfortable in citizen consultations or multi-stakeholder processes, she shows relentless motivation in developing relevant and realistic proposals, even for calls for tenders that sometimes are not. Determined and pragmatic, Emmanuelle keeps her feet on the ground while helping participants work towards a common goal. Behind her discretion and humility lies a great facilitator, ready to defend the meticulous organization she has prepared for your workshop.

Trained as a lawyer, Lorraine is above all an upright, joyful, and wholehearted person. Dance is the other pillar of her life, which, along with her consulting missions, leads her to travel across the regions of our beautiful country. Passionate about and an expert in traditional dance, she also knows how to navigate difficult situations with grace. Her experience as a parliamentary assistant and her legal background give her a broad perspective and a keen ability to decipher stakeholder dynamics, whether involving institutions, associations, or interest group representatives. Having also lived in a collective, participation is neither an empty word nor a trendy concept for her. Since joining Lisode, she has specialized in leading multi-stakeholder consultations on high-stakes environmental issues, which challenge both our current society and future generations.

Originally from the North of France and holding a degree in Logistics and Transport, Julie began her career as an Agency Assistant in an international transport company. After 10 years of loyal service, she moved to a family-run company: an engineering consulting firm, where she took on the multifunctional role of executive assistant. In this position, she developed a remarkable ability to navigate the administrative jungle that small businesses must survive in. Julie joined the Lisode team in March 2023, and since then, she has been assisting us with all administrative, accounting, and financial tasks. Caring and organized in her work, she is also very sensitive in life in general. However, this doesn't stop her from unwinding by watching horror movies, which help balance out the 150 times she has watched Frozen with her daughter.

Native of Normandy, she gradually traded the English Channel and its pebbles for the Mediterranean sea and the pink flamingos of Montpellier. Along the way, she studied biology and realized that the human-nature dichotomy has no place in the understanding of our ecosystems. With a Master's degree in protected area management (Man And Biosphere program - UNESCO), she knows how to combine knowledge of social interactions with an understanding of ecological systems, in order to support stakeholders in their concerted efforts to manage natural resources in a sustainable way. With a wealth of experiences in setting up and evaluating projects with associative and institutional stakeholders, she relies on rigorous working methods that enable her to bounce back no matter how high the fall is, and above all to avoid useless meetings. An optimist at heart, her greatest passion is meeting the world's inhabitants, whether through her professional experiences, or by walking off the beaten track, sometimes even hitchhiking.

A true globetrotter from birth, Sophie was born and raised in the Middle Eastern countries. Curious by nature and eager to discover other cultures, she is constantly seeking ways to better understand the world around her. Disenchanted by her Bachelor's degree in economics and management, she realized that Adam Smith's invisible hand reflected a wolrdview that didn’t align with her values. Sensitive to environmental issues since she was old enough to understand that « our house is burning down and we're looking the other way », she wishes to rethink our societal models. A bit of a gourmand, the Doughnut Economics theory appealed her and led her to obtain her Master's degree in Management of Ecological Transition and Circular Economy (MOMA – University of Montpellier). Sophie is a pragmatist who knows how to transform reflections into tangible actions, and spent her two years of apprenticeship in a small local business as well as in a major public territorial administration. To her opinion, the territorial and multi-actor approach to societal issues is an essential key to transitions. Thanks to her young age, she brings to Lisode a “fresh” vision, coupled with a deep motivation to rethink the social links that drive our society forward.

Passionate about interdisciplinarity and interculturality, Marc moved to the Arab world to explore its other half after completing a degree in hydrology at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He coordinated an Arab-German master's program in integrated water resources management in Jordan, then joined German development cooperation in Morocco to advise partner institutions on decentralization and change management in the water sector. It was there that he met Lisode, and it was love at first sight. Convinced that sustainable water management relies on a participatory, people-centered approach, he has made this the mainstay of his work ever since. Today, he is developing projects with Lisode and expanding their network in Germany, without forgetting to join the team from time to time in Montpellier for a méchoui or a game of pétanque.