Christine Gauthier — #2 on the Français au Cambodge — Plus forts ensemble list, Thirty years in Cambodia, and still going strong
- Editorial team
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Arriving in 1996 in a country in the midst of rebuilding, Christine Gauthier never left. Entrepreneur, artistic director, community activist: this Franco-Québécoise with a remarkable journey embodies a particular vision of commitment — quiet, consistent, and rooted in the daily lives of the people around her.
A conversation with a woman for whom mutual support is not a slogan, but a way of life.
Could you introduce yourself?
My name is Christine Gauthier. I was born in Québec and grew up in Paris, where I studied advertising and applied arts. I worked in advertising agencies for ten years. It was during that period that I started my family and gave birth to three Franco-Cambodian boys.
In 1996, I followed my partner, who wanted to return to his home country. For me, it was the beginning of a great adventure. As I stepped onto the tarmac, I didn't yet know it, but this land would become my own. Cambodia in the 1990s was not what it is today — the political and economic context was very different.
From that era, I carry with me remarkable experiences, precious memories, a few failures, unique scents, and the discovery of a pristine and lush natural world. I also discovered a great resilience. Very quickly, I felt the need to help my in-laws as well as my Cambodian, French, and international friends, because this impulse is essential to my personal well-being. Through them, I find the warm environment in which I grew up — a comfort zone within a rather eventful way of life.
Professionally, I first worked for the Institut de Technologie du Cambodge (ITC). Then, the desire to build something of my own grew stronger, driven by my creative passion. I opened the Waterlily boutique in 2002, located on Street 240 in Phnom Penh, and ran it until 2019. The space functioned as a creative laboratory and hosted training workshops for women in difficult circumstances. Although I understand the local language, I cannot say I am perfectly bilingual. Making do with what I had and using pictograms helped me communicate with these women, and our working days always unfolded with joy.
Then, unexpected demands from a landlord forced me to close the shop. I had to reinvent myself, adapt, and bounce back. One thing became clear to me: returning to France was not an option. Cambodia had definitively adopted me.
In 2019, I began working as an artistic director at a Khmer company, within a fully Cambodian young team.
Through this experience, I discovered a new side of the Cambodian community — different from the one I knew through my in-laws. It is a daily cultural learning process filled with sharing, exchange, mutual support, and solidarity.
Every day brings me something new, and I love that. My journey toward bilingualism continues to progress. I now count thirty years of life in Cambodia, but my story is far from over.
On the associative side, I joined the board of the Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA), where I served two terms between 2014 and 2019, first as an ordinary member and then as committee chair. That experience allowed us to share our journeys, promote our expertise, and advocate with the government to make our voices heard on business management challenges. It was there that I understood that mutual support is always a collective endeavor. More recently, in 2026, I joined the board of the public-interest association Français du Monde – ADFE Cambodge, as treasurer.
What does your candidacy on the Français au Cambodge – Plus forts ensemble list mean to you?
Mutual support is second nature to me. My associative journey naturally extended to this list when Florian Bohême invited me to join his team in 2020.
I have rarely seen anyone channel such energy into building initiatives, raising awareness, giving, informing, and implementing concrete projects and actions to help our fellow citizens across all walks of life. I accepted his proposal with great enthusiasm. I found my place within this collective and alongside my running mates, thanks to the close relationship we voluntarily maintain with the community.
What motivated you to run in this election? What was the turning point?
I am running for this second term with the collective in order to continue the synergy that the team has offered — and will continue to offer — to the French community. We stand for values that carry deep meaning for me: ethics, transparency, and mutual support.
To close, I have a simple message: let's mobilize!
Yes, we know — online voting has been complicated this year. That is why it is essential not to stop there. Consider submitting a proxy if you cannot make it in person, or come vote directly at the ballot box this Sunday, May 31, between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, at the French Embassy in Phnom Penh. Your vote directly shapes your daily life here.
See you soon!
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