Speakers & Moderators

Mayor of Bourg Saint Maurice – Les Arcs (Savoie) since 2020, Guillaume Desrues, together with his team, is driving a new direction for his territory: more engaged, dynamic, participatory, responsible, and innovative! With nearly 8,000 residents and 40,000 tourist beds, the municipality ranks as the second largest mountain resort in France.
Born in Normandy, Guillaume developed a passion for the mountains at a young age and decided to settle there as an adult. After studying in Chambéry, he joined Bourg Saint Maurice – Les Arcs in 2005 as a physics and chemistry teacher at the high school. Deeply involved in local associations and concerned about environmental issues, he became politically active to play a role in shaping his territory. Together with his team, they were the first to adopt a moratorium on new tourist developments, a key measure symbolizing the new balance needed in the mountains.
His term has been marked by initiatives supporting energy and ecological transition, mobility, and housing, while rethinking mountain development to address current challenges and adapt to planetary boundaries. Guillaume Desrues continues to work daily for sustainable development and a bold vision for the future of the valley. ©BSM