Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons (France) is a legal expert, lecturer, and internationally respected advocate for landscape, cultural heritage, sustainable development, and human rights. Holding a Doctorate in Law, she has dedicated her professional life to promoting the integration of environmental, cultural, and social values into public policy and international cooperation.

Following a period as a practising lawyer and university lecturer between 1978 and 1987, Maguelonne joined the Council of Europe, where she pursued a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. During this time, she held a wide range of responsibilities relating to environmental protection, sustainable development, cultural heritage, regional planning, and human rights. Her work included positions within the European Court of Human Rights, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, and several Council of Europe directorates responsible for environmental and territorial issues.

Maguelonne played a leading role in many flagship Council of Europe initiatives, serving as Secretary of the Steering Committee on Culture, Heritage and Landscape, coordinating the European Heritage Days, and acting as Secretary to the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional/Spatial Planning. She also contributed to numerous programmes addressing biodiversity, protected areas, major environmental risks, and sustainable territorial development throughout Europe.

One of her most significant achievements was her long-standing involvement in the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, the landmark international treaty that has transformed the understanding and management of landscapes across Europe. From 2020 until July 2022, she served as Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, helping to strengthen its implementation and international visibility and further promoting the role of landscape in enhancing quality of life, democracy, cultural identity, and sustainable development.

A prolific author and researcher, Maguelonne has published extensively on landscape policy, sustainable development, natural and cultural heritage, human rights, and environmental law. Her publications include influential work on the relationship between human rights and the environment, as well as on the governance of coastal and marine areas, reflecting her multidisciplinary approach to contemporary environmental challenges.

Throughout her career, Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons has been a strong advocate for cooperation between governments, international organisations, professionals, researchers, and civil society. Her leadership, intellectual contributions, and commitment to the values of the European Landscape Convention have had a profound impact on landscape policy and practice throughout Europe and beyond.

In recognition of her exceptional contribution to the promotion of landscape, heritage, sustainable development, and international cooperation, Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons was awarded Honorary Membership of IFLA Europe. Her work has left a lasting legacy for the landscape architecture profession and for all those committed to the protection and enhancement of landscapes as a common good.