Valérie is also a visiting anthropologist at the South Australian Museum, Adelaide; a Visiting fellow, Cross Cultural Research Centre, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; and an Honorary research fellow, Centre for research and documentation on Oceania (CREDO), University of Provence, Marseille, France.

Valérie has an academic background in art, anthropology and zoology. After studying at the University of Strasbourg and Paris (France), she started post-doctorate research at the South Australian Museum in July 2000.

Between 2001 and 2005, she worked on a project called 'The distribution and ethnozoology of frogs (and toads) in North East Arnhem Land – Phase 1 + 2'. This research focused on the cultural relationship between Dhalwangu people and the frog, Garkman, in North-East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The aim of this research was to record traditional Aboriginal knowledge about frogs as viewed by Dhalwangu, a Yolngu clan. Particular emphasis was placed on amphibian traditions and beliefs, local nomenclature, and natural history as conceived by the Dhalwangu. Data and art works were collected during two research periods, August to December 2002 and February to June 2005, at Gängan, Gapuwiyak, Yirrkala (community and Buku-Larrnggay Art Centre) and Nhulunbuy.

In 2006 – 2007, Valérie developed and curated an exhibition called 'Following Garkman. The frogs in N.E. Arnhem Land'. This journey, following Garkman, the totemic frog, took visitors through Dhalwangu (Yirritja) country, traditions and beliefs, allowing outsiders to learn about Dhalwangu sophisticated systems of living, their philosophy and an encyclopaedia of the environment, combining the ancient time, the present and the future. The exhibition represented a tremendous opportunity to bridge the gaps between natural and social sciences, jointly presenting cultural and zoological knowledge as an educational exhibition supported by significant artworks.

Valérie is now focusing on a new 1 year project on traditional ecological knowledge called 'Caring for country. Managing indigenous and scientific environmental knowledge in North- East Arnhem Land', funded by the Christensen Foundation and AIATSIS. Traditional and local Aboriginal knowledge systems are dynamic expressions of perceiving and understanding the world. As such, they can make a valuable contribution to science and technology, and there is an urgent need to preserve, protect, research and promote this cultural and empirical knowledge.Valérie has been adopted into the Dhalwangu clan.