Portraits
Gilles Périnet Appointed Headmaster of Lycée Français Jules Verne
Originally from Charente-Maritime, France, Gilles Périnet began his career as a Physical Education teacher before moving into school leadership in 2006. He has since held several headmaster positions in France and abroad, including five years at the Lycée Français René Descartes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Now based in Johannesburg, Mr. Périnet leads the Lycée Français Jules Verne, a member of the global network of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). The school provides a French curriculum to students from diverse backgrounds and plays an important role in promoting international education in South Africa.
Mr Périnet sees his position as both an educational and cultural mission. Beyond overseeing the school’s academic programmes, he represents French education and values within the local community. His work aligns with the objectives of the Équipe France network, which brings together the French Embassy, the Consulate General, the Institut Français, the Alliance Française, and various associations supporting the French presence in South Africa.
Through his leadership, the Lycée Français Jules Verne continues to strengthen ties between France and South Africa, preparing students to engage confidently in a global environment.
