Joseph François graduated with a BSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Sheffield (UK) in 1998. He subsequently joined the Seychelles Ministry of Environment, holding positions including Research Officer, Senior Conservation Officer, Environment Coordinator for Inner Islands, and Director of National Parks and Forestry. In these roles, he contributed to monitoring programmes for rare and threatened species such as the Seychelles White-eye and Aldabra Drongo, and received specialised training in bird ringing at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, and statistics at CEFE/CNRS, Montpellier.

In 2007, Joseph entered community leadership after being elected Member of the National Assembly for the district of Anse Aux Pins, serving one mandate. In 2012, he completed a Master’s degree at the Institute of Public Administration, Dublin, and in 2014 received a Young Leader Award from President James Michel. He then pursued a career in diplomacy with the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving for three years as Director General for Protocol, Treaties, and Consular Affairs while undertaking a second Master’s degree in International Diplomacy.

Joseph subsequently held senior administrative roles, including Principal Secretary for Lands Use and Housing and CEO of the Planning Authority. He also contributed to Environmental Impact Assessments for major hotel developments and represented Seychelles in international environmental frameworks such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Biosafety Clearing House mechanism, and CITES. He has served on numerous national boards, including the Seychelles Energy Commission, Public Utilities Corporation, Planning Authority Board, and National Disaster Board.

In 2021, Joseph resumed his career in environmental management by joining the Island Biodiversity & Conservation (IBC) Centre, where he manages biodiversity conservation projects with partners including the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (Rescuing the Seychelles White-eye), Sisters Ltd, Frégate Island, North Island, the Seychelles Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (Endangered Species Monitoring Project), and the UNDP-GEF Ridge to Reef Project (GEF6).