Born in France, Chenal graduated in Art History and History (Nancy) and Political Sciences (Paris/ Oxford). From 1975 to 1982, Chenal worked as a sociologist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris. In 1982, Chenal moved to the Netherlands as Director of the Centre Culturel Français in Rotterdam and later as Cultural Attaché at the French Embassy in The Hague. Since 1990, Chenal has worked at the European Cultural Foundation, currently as a member of the strategic team in charge of "Research & Development".