Plenary - June 2026
20.08.2026
AXA EWC Plenary Session: European social dialogue and challenges of transformation
Koen Hermans, Head of Social Relations at the AXA Group, and Pascale Rauline, EWC Secretary, welcomed employee representatives from various European countries, as well as from Japan, Mexico and Switzerland.
Spanning three days, these meetings took place in a spirit of constructive dialogue and cooperation. The discussions provided an opportunity to address in depth the main challenges facing staff representatives across the Group’s various entities, whilst strengthening coordination at European level.
Preparatory work to facilitate discussions
Ahead of the plenary session, EWC members took part in several preparatory workshops. This work focused in particular on drafting questions for the Chair of the AXA European Works Council and on sharing the latest information from the various countries.
This preparatory phase, which was essential to the smooth running of the meetings, helped to ground the discussions in local realities whilst fostering a shared understanding of European issues.
Discussions with Thomas Buberl
The plenary session opened with a presentation by Thomas Buberl, Chief Executive Officer of AXA and Chair of the AXA EWC. He presented his analysis of the current geopolitical and economic context before reviewing the progress of the current strategic plan and the outlook for the next strategic cycle, the key priorities for which will be unveiled in September.
This presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session focusing in particular on the transformation challenges linked to artificial intelligence. This opportunity for direct dialogue enabled employee representatives to address the priorities and challenges facing the Group.
Artificial intelligence and changes in the world of work at the heart of the discussions
The afternoon was devoted to several forward-looking topics.
Karima Silvent, Deputy Group General Secretary, and Olga Kravchenko, Group HR Chief Operations Officer, presented the latest analyses on the impact of artificial intelligence on the evolution of roles and skills. This presentation built on the work begun during the November plenary session.
Gilles Moëc, Chief Economist of the Group, then shared his analysis of the current macroeconomic context and the major trends likely to influence business activity and employment in the coming years.
A training session on the future of work
The third day was devoted to a training session on the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work and the transformations currently underway. This session was led by Élodie Badaire, Deputy Head of Social Relations for the Group, and Jérémy Lamri, a researcher specialising in human potential and the future of work.
Participants were able to deepen their understanding of developments in the world of work, the challenges associated with automation, and the role of human skills in a constantly changing environment.
Against a backdrop of ongoing transformation, the AXA EWC thus continues its commitment to a rigorous, informed and constructive European social dialogue. The work carried out during this session helps to enhance the quality of discussions between employee representatives and Group management, for the benefit of employees across all the entities concerned.
