Verne Harnish
Founder & CEO, Scaling Up | Bestselling Author: Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) | Creator of Rockefeller Habits Framework | Founder, Entrepreneurs' Organization
Emmanuelle Charpentier
2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry | Co-Inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 | Director, Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens | Co-Founder, CRISPR Therapeutics
Emmanuelle Charpentier co-invented CRISPR-Cas9 — the gene-editing breakthrough that earned her the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the first ever awarded to an all-female science team. As founder of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens and co-founder of CRISPR Therapeutics, she moves audiences from awe at the science to urgency about its implications.
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Emmanuelle Charpentier biography
Emmanuelle Charpentier is a 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and one of the most consequential scientists of the twenty-first century. A French microbiologist, geneticist, and biochemist, she is the Founding, Scientific and Managing Director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin — an independent research institute she established in 2018 — and an Honorary Professor at Humboldt University, Berlin. Her career has spanned leading research institutions across France, the United States, Austria, Sweden, and Germany, making her one of the most internationally mobile and globally recognized scientists of her generation.
Nobel Prize speaker Emmanuelle Charpentier is best known for co-developing the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology alongside Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley — a discovery that has been described as giving science a pair of “molecular scissors” capable of rewriting the genetic code of any living organism with extraordinary precision. Their landmark 2012 paper in Science demonstrated that the CRISPR-Cas9 system could be reprogrammed to cut any desired DNA sequence, opening the door to targeted therapies for previously incurable genetic diseases. The technology is now used by researchers worldwide across medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
Charpentier translated her scientific breakthrough directly into real-world impact as a founder. Together with Rodger Novak and Shaun Foy, she co-founded CRISPR Therapeutics and ERS Genomics to bring the technology to patients and to license it responsibly across the global research community. CRISPR Therapeutics went on to co-develop Casgevy — the first approved CRISPR-based therapy — for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, a milestone that validated decades of foundational research. ERS Genomics now holds a portfolio of over 130 patents worldwide and has issued nearly 150 licenses to companies and institutions globally.
Recognition Across Science, Society, and Leadership
The range and volume of recognition Charpentier has received is extraordinary. Beyond the Nobel Prize — the first in a science category ever awarded to an all-female team — she has been inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame, received the Légion d’Honneur, the German Order Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, and the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, among dozens of other national and international distinctions. She has been recognized repeatedly by Forbes, TIME, and OOOM among the world’s most influential people, and in 2023 she received the American Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award. She is an elected member of multiple national academies of science across three continents.
As a speaker, Emmanuelle Charpentier brings rare authority to audiences grappling with the future of biotechnology, healthcare innovation, and the ethics of genetic intervention. She speaks with the clarity of a scientist who has lived the full journey from bench discovery to Nobel recognition to real-world therapeutic approval — and who understands the responsibilities that come with it. Senior audiences gain not only a grounded understanding of where gene editing is headed, but also a compelling perspective on what it means to conduct fundamental research in an age when science, policy, and society must move together.
Emmanuelle Charpentier Speaking Videos
Emmanuelle Charpentier founder of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology
Emmanuelle Charpentier - 21st Century Genetics: Genes at Work
Emmanuelle Charpentier Keynote Topics
Few scientific tools in history have arrived with the transformative potential of CRISPR-Cas9. In this keynote, Charpentier traces the discovery's origins in bacterial immune systems, explains how it works in accessible terms, and explores where gene editing is taking medicine, agriculture, and our understanding of life itself. Audiences leave with a grounded, expert perspective on one of the defining technologies of the coming decades — and what it will demand of leaders, regulators, and society at large.
Charpentier offers a candid, firsthand account of what it takes to translate fundamental scientific research into a real-world medical breakthrough. Drawing on her own journey from a 2012 academic paper to co-founding CRISPR Therapeutics to the approval of the first CRISPR-based therapy, she examines the roles of persistence, collaboration, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and ethical responsibility in bringing innovation to scale. This is a keynote for leaders who need to understand why foundational research is not a luxury — it is the engine of everything that follows.
Gene editing raises some of the most consequential ethical questions of our time: What should we be allowed to change, and what should we leave alone? Who decides? In this thought-provoking session, Charpentier engages senior audiences in a frank, balanced discussion of the moral dimensions of CRISPR technology — from somatic therapies to germline editing to the societal implications of designer biology. She brings the scientist's lens and the policymaker's awareness to a conversation that organizations across healthcare, pharma, and public affairs cannot afford to skip.
Charpentier reflects on her own unconventional path — moving across nine countries, building labs from scratch, working in relative obscurity for years before achieving global recognition — and what it taught her about resilience, intellectual independence, and the importance of following fundamental questions rather than fashionable ones. A powerful keynote for organizations committed to diversity in STEM, scientific leadership, and the kind of long-term thinking that creates transformative breakthroughs.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Emmanuelle Charpentier
Why Emmanuelle Charpentier?
Booking Emmanuelle Charpentier for your event is a rare opportunity to bring one of the most transformative scientific minds of our era to your audience. As the co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 and a 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, she speaks with extraordinary authority on gene editing, biotechnology, healthcare innovation, and the responsibilities of scientific leadership. She doesn't just describe the future of medicine — she helped build it. Her talks resonate deeply with executive audiences in life sciences, healthcare, pharma, technology, and policy, offering both intellectual depth and genuine inspiration. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check availability and secure her for your next event.
What is CRISPR-Cas9 and why does it matter?
CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing technology that allows scientists to cut and modify DNA sequences with precision — essentially a programmable tool for rewriting the genetic code. Co-developed by Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna and first described in a landmark 2012 paper, it has since revolutionized biology, medicine, and agriculture. CRISPR is now being used to develop treatments for genetic diseases including sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, and several cancers. Its approval pathway was validated with Casgevy, the first CRISPR-based therapy approved by the FDA and EMA, co-developed by the company Charpentier co-founded, CRISPR Therapeutics.
Was Emmanuelle Charpentier the first to win a Nobel Prize alongside another woman?
Yes. When Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna jointly received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, it marked the first time in history that the Nobel Prize in a science category was awarded exclusively to two women. It was only the seventh and eighth time a woman had won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The recognition was widely seen as a landmark moment for women in science globally.
What topics does speaker Emmanuelle Charpentier cover at events?
As a keynote speaker, Emmanuelle Charpentier addresses some of the most pressing questions at the intersection of science, innovation, and society. Her talks cover the science and future of CRISPR and gene editing, the ethics of genetic intervention, the role of fundamental research in driving technological breakthroughs, leadership in science, and the journey from academic discovery to real-world impact. She is particularly compelling for audiences in life sciences, healthcare, pharma, biotech, and public policy. Reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau to explore how her keynote can be tailored to your event's theme and audience.
How to book Emmanuelle Charpentier as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Emmanuelle Charpentier as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Emmanuelle Charpentier's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Emmanuelle Charpentier or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Emmanuelle Charpentier speaking fee?
Emmanuelle Charpentier speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Emmanuelle Charpentier to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Emmanuelle Charpentier.
How can I contact Emmanuelle Charpentier?
We only work with Emmanuelle Charpentier on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Emmanuelle Charpentier and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Emmanuelle Charpentier speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Emmanuelle Charpentier for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Emmanuelle Charpentier for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Emmanuelle Charpentier is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Emmanuelle Charpentier for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
