Staff
Italyuntold is based on an innovative operating model. Beyond working with our own scientific committee, we are also an open platform that gathers and develops high-level contributions from well-known external experts in different sectors. Our objective is to debate and discuss the ‘untold’ qualities of Italy with those personalities who have the most in-depth knowledge of the topic.
Francesco Briganti
PRESIDENT
Elisa Fenzi
SECRETARY GENERAL
Francesco was born in 1975 and has been working as a lobbyist in Brussels for over 18 years. After working for the EU office of the Veneto region in Brussels, he moved to work for the European lobbying group for private welfare, insurances, and finance. Today Francesco is Secretary General of thE Cross Border Benefits Alliance-Europe (CBBA-Europe), a Federation founded by himself and composed of multinationals, insurance companies, finance institutions, and welfare funds, based both in the EU and US.
He has a degree in Law with a Master in International Relations and a Ph.D. in European law (2015). Francesco has worked with a wide variety of stakeholders, including Governments, lobbying groups, Universities, associations, and Think Tanks. In recent years, he has been giving lobbying lessons in different European Universities and so far has been a speaker in more than 300 conferences around the world.
Elisa born in Verona, graduated in Law with a Master degree in International Relations. She currently works as a corporate affairs manager for SSE plc, a leading energy utility in the UK. Previous to that, she worked in the external relations of a chemical multinational company, Afton Chemical. Elisa has lived for 7 years in Brussels, where she worked for European and Italian institutions, including the European Parliament and the EU office of the Veneto Region. Before moving to London, she also worked in an American Public affairs Consultancy, Burson Marsteller.
Elisa is married with three children, she is passionate about politics and strongly believes in her country that closely follows also at distance.
Elisa Fenzi
SEGRETARIO GENERALE
Elisa born in Verona, graduated in Law with a Master degree in International Relations. She currently works as a corporate affairs manager for SSE plc, a leading energy utility in the UK. Previous to that, she worked in the external relations of a chemical multinational company, afton Chemical. Elisa has lived for 7 years in Brussels, where she worked for European and Italian institutions, including the European Parliament and the EU office of the Veneto Region. Before moving to London, she also worked in an American Public affairs Consultancy, Burson Marsteller.
Elisa is married with three children, she is passionate about politics and strongly believes in her country that closely follows also at distance.
Letter from the President
Micaela Berretti
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Giovanni Roma
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Through multiple degrees and an international education, She has developed an expertise in international relations. After having been raised in Assisi, she obtained a Diploma in Interpretation and Translation, with a major in English and French, from the Scuola Superiore per Interpreti e Traduttori (SSIT) in Florence in 1990. In 1993, she graduated with a Degree in Modern Languages, with a major in English and French, from the Istituto Universitario di Lingue Moderne (IULM) in Milan. In 1995, she moved to France to obtain a Diplome Européen d’Histoire des Idées et des Doctrines Politiques at the Université de Droit, Economie et Sciences Politiques Aix en Provence-Marseille. After returning to Italy, she obtained a post-graduate Degree in Advanced Studies in International Relations at the Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale (S.I.O.I.) in Rome in 2001 and a Degree in Political Sciences, International Relations, Law and Economics from the University of Perugia in 2002.
Since 2003, she has been working as an expert in external and international relations for the Italian Senate. Prior to that, between 2002 and 2003, she was an external relations consultant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR – Branch Office Italy – External Relations and Public Information Unit). From 1998 to 1999, she worked at UNESCO in Paris as a consultant to the Division for Social Sciences, Research and Policy, collaborating in several ‘MOST’ (Management of Social Transformations) projects on multicultural and multiethnic societies in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in several Central Asian Republics.
Throughout her career, she has also regularly collaborated as a consultant in external and international relations and media relations with NGOs, international political institutes, public and private bodies, coordinating social transformation projects, organizing conferences and events in Italy and abroad, and teaching in the field of international relations.
Since 2015 she has been the President of BEAWARENOW, a non-profit association responsible for promoting and protecting human rights.
Giovanni is a legal and public relations expert who has collaborated with institutions, organizations and individuals. His diverse experiences include: serving on Italian government commissions in Rome and Brussels; Vice-President of the prestigious Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome; advising the Vice-President of the European People’s Party; and various advisory positions in the Italian Senate. He also is a published author on legal and political matters.
Giovanni has organized conferences and meetings, and has both managerial and rhetorical skills.
Giovanni was graduated Cum Laude in Constitutional Law (La Sapienza University of Rome) with a specialization in Parliamentary Studies and Research (S. Tosi of Florence) an initiative of the Italian Parliament.
As a young professional, Giovanni was a candidate for the Mayor of Rome, receiving almost twenty-thousand votes.
Frequently involved in various catholic association, Giovanni promotes the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta and as a young person was a leader of FUCI (Italian Catholic University Federation).
Giovanni currently resides in Rome and enjoys writing poetry, some of which has been published.
Giovanni Roma
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Giovanni is a legal and public relations expert who has collaborated with institutions, organizations and individuals. His diverse experiences include: serving on Italian government commissions in Rome and Brussels; Vice-President of the prestigious Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome; advising the Vice-President of the European People’s Party; and various advisory positions in the Italian Senate. He also is a published author on legal and political matters.
Giovanni has organized conferences and meetings, and has both managerial and rhetorical skills.
Giovanni was graduated Cum Laude in Constitutional Law (La Sapienza University of Rome) with a specialization in Parliamentary Studies and Research (S. Tosi of Florence) an initiative of the Italian Parliament.
As a young professional, Giovanni was a candidate for the Mayor of Rome, receiving almost twenty-thousand votes.
Frequently involved in various catholic association, Giovanni promotes the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta and as a young person was a leader of FUCI (Italian Catholic University Federation).
Giovanni currently resides in Rome and enjoys writing poetry, some of which has been published.
Laura Polverari
PRESS OFFICER
Serena Martucci
PRESS OFFICER
Laura Polverari was born in Fano in 1980, she graduated in Science of Communications at the Bologna University. She is a journalist, at present she is working as a freelance press officer & Media relations for institutions, companies, and associations. Laura offers consultancy in digital communication and writes for digital newspapers about sustainability and innovation issues. Her first job experiences and post-graduate formation were before in Tunis, where she worked in a press office for an international agency for corporations, and then in Madrid, where she attended a Master in political and institutional Communication. Politics and Latin America are her two passions. In Spain, she collaborated with communication agencies, NGOs, and was a research scholar in Ortega y Gasset Institute. Back in Rome, she brought her international work experiences to the Italian Congress, working for ten years in many communication offices for commissions and parliamentary groups. She directed a press office and she was the digital content manager for a Media relation agency with whom she is still collaborating.
Professional journalist, expert in digital strategies and media relations.
Neapolitan, she holds a degree in Communication Sciences with a thesis on “Marketing and communication of NGOs” and a Master in Business Administration (ASFOR accredited).
Today she lives in Rome and deals with video communication for the press office of Roma Capitale.
In the past she worked as a journalist for the newspaper “Il Mattino”, for local radio and TV and in 2008 she moved to Cagliari to become part of the central editorial office of the free press newspaper Epolis (eleven regional newspapers) for which she was engaged in national, economic and foreign news. She worked in the Healthcare team of Burson Marsteller, where she managed crises and media relations for some international companies and in a PR agency in Milan dealing with automotive and food. She has collaborated in the communication sector of public and private entities and institutes, including the Department of Youth Policies of the Campania Region, Promofirenze, a special company of the Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Privacy Guarantor.
Over the years, she has specialized in digital communication, working for Nutricia, a company of the Danone group, for which she has managed online and offline communication campaigns and strategies for ecommerce.
Always in search of new places and stories to tell, she has travelled for work in Europe, Japan, China, Thailand, Central America, USA and collaborates with a newspaper that deals with the promotion of national and international tourism.
Serena Martucci
PRESS OFFICER
Professional journalist, expert in digital strategies and media relations.
Neapolitan, she holds a degree in Communication Sciences with a thesis on “Marketing and communication of NGOs” and a Master in Business Administration (ASFOR accredited).
Today she lives in Rome and deals with video communication for the press office of Roma Capitale.
In the past she worked as a journalist for the newspaper “Il Mattino”, for local radio and TV and in 2008 she moved to Cagliari to become part of the central editorial office of the free press newspaper Epolis (eleven regional newspapers) for which she was engaged in national, economic and foreign news. She worked in the Healthcare team of Burson Marsteller, where she managed crises and media relations for some international companies and in a PR agency in Milan dealing with automotive and food. She has collaborated in the communication sector of public and private entities and institutes, including the Department of Youth Policies of the Campania Region, Promofirenze, a special company of the Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Privacy Guarantor.
Over the years, she has specialized in digital communication, working for Nutricia, a company of the Danone group, for which she has managed online and offline communication campaigns and strategies for ecommerce.
Always in search of new places and stories to tell, she has travelled for work in Europe, Japan, China, Thailand, Central America, USA and collaborates with a newspaper that deals with the promotion of national and international tourism.
Leonardo Lorusso
HUMAN CAPITAL
Federico Velez Bergami
ACADEMIC RESEARCHER IN CHARGE OF THE RELATIONS WITH ARGENTINA
Leonardo acquired a consistent knowledge of the European policies in the filed of Education (mainly on the lifelong learning and adult education) as responsible (attachè) for the Conference of the Italian regions at the Education Committee of the European Council. Duties were focused on the overseeing of the European policies and opportunities in the field of education, employment, youth, culture, social and sport through policy advice, capacity-building and advocacy, technical assistance.
He is also engaged in several collaborations with Academia on the education policies: Contract Professor PHD School in Economy and International Trade – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and PHD School in Education and Job Market – Università di Bergamo, Visiting Professor PHD School in Lifelong Learning – Teachers College of the Columbia University on Lifelong Education – Columbia University New York (2018). Author with Professors V.J. Marsick, K.E. Watkins, S. Spennati “Quando il lavoro cambia: investire nell’apprendimento permanente” (The future of Work: the lifelearning approach) with Preface of the President of the European Parliament, Commissioner for Education and Culture and Commissioner for Transport (2018).
Today, his main research interest lies on the provision of data analysis and intelligence on skills and labour markets for up- and re-skilling adult in lifelong learning.
Federico Velez Bergami has a Bachelor in International Relations at Catholic University of Cordoba (Argentina)
His field of study is China from a sinological perspective. He’s an international analyst who writes on newspapers and websites about this topic. In this way, some of his articles include a variety of issues like rare earth elements, sexual diversity, psychology, feng shui, Chinese mafia, the historic view from the West, international relations thought, business etiquette and so much more.
He obtained a Diploma in Business Management with People Republic of China by the Center for Advanced Studies at National University of Cordoba. Also, he’s “International Relations Expert” by Konrad Adenauer.
In the period 2017- 2018, he had a scholarship by Korea Foundation, through Nueva Leon University, to study Asian topics, particularly China, Korea and Japan.
On these years (2017-2019) he was part of an academic team with many professionals of different universities in a project created by the Argentine Air Force and called “GARRA”. It consists in an annual event where military cadets and students work together and use their knowledge to resolve a hypothetical international conflict. They assume the role of ministers in the President Cabinet and react to war threat.
On 2021, he passed with merit the Torino China Summer School with the work titled: “The Cultural Confidence on China: Xi Jinping thought and the value of the traditional political culture”.
Between 2021 and the beginning of 2022, he worked on “Canal C”, a TV channel in the city of Cordoba, covering national and international news.
On the other hand, this year -2022- he has completed the Basic Formative Path in order to be a Legal Mediator. He considers Alternative Dispute Resolution (RAD) as another key topic for a better understanding of reality.
At present, he’s part of the International Trade Observatory (OCI); which belongs to National University of Lujan (Buenos Aires) where he’s a lecturer and organizes academic activities. Also, he’s a researcher at the Legal and Social Study Center of the School of Law, National University of Cordoba.
Finally, with regard to Italy, the interest focuses on two areas: the special bonds with Argentine Republic and the essential linkage with China.
Federico Velez Bergami
Federico Velez Bergami has a Bachelor in International Relations at Catholic University of Cordoba (Argentina)
His field of study is China from a sinological perspective. He’s an international analyst who writes on newspapers and websites about this topic. In this way, some of his articles include a variety of issues like rare earth elements, sexual diversity, psychology, feng shui, Chinese mafia, the historic view from the West, international relations thought, business etiquette and so much more.
He obtained a Diploma in Business Management with People Republic of China by the Center for Advanced Studies at National University of Cordoba. Also, he’s “International Relations Expert” by Konrad Adenauer.
In the period 2017- 2018, he had a scholarship by Korea Foundation, through Nueva Leon University, to study Asian topics, particularly China, Korea and Japan.
On these years (2017-2019) he was part of an academic team with many professionals of different universities in a project created by the Argentine Air Force and called “GARRA”. It consists in an annual event where military cadets and students work together and use their knowledge to resolve a hypothetical international conflict. They assume the role of ministers in the President Cabinet and react to war threat.
On 2021, he passed with merit the Torino China Summer School with the work titled: “The Cultural Confidence on China: Xi Jinping thought and the value of the traditional political culture”.
Between 2021 and the beginning of 2022, he worked on “Canal C”, a TV channel in the city of Cordoba, covering national and international news.
On the other hand, this year -2022- he has completed the Basic Formative Path in order to be a Legal Mediator. He considers Alternative Dispute Resolution (RAD) as another key topic for a better understanding of reality.
At present, he’s part of the International Trade Observatory (OCI); which belongs to National University of Lujan (Buenos Aires) where he’s a lecturer and organizes academic activities. Also, he’s a researcher at the Legal and Social Study Center of the School of Law, National University of Cordoba.
Finally, with regard to Italy, the interest focuses on two areas: the special bonds with Argentine Republic and the essential linkage with China.
Federico Grandesso
JOURNALIST AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RELATIONS WITH ASIA
Anelise Sanchez
JOURNALIST IN CHARGE OF THE RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL
Federico Grandesso works as a correspondent for the Chinese press agency Xinhua (Brussels office) and the European weekly New Europe. For these two magazines he has regularly published interviews for years with personalities from international politics as well as with actors and directors he met during prestigious film festivals such as Venice, Cannes and Berlin; he has also written for national newspapers such as Le Soir Magazine (Belgium), Daily Mail (GB) and Together Magazine (Belgium).
Federico is currently a Board Member and contact person for the European Union and Asia of the Fellini Foundation for Cinema (Sion-Switzerland), this position has led him to organize exhibitions on Fellini in Singapore, Jakarta, Brussels, Bangkok and Calcutta.
During his career, Federico was an Academic Guest at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore and for four years he took care of communication for the Veneto Region (Brussels office), also managing exhibition and film projects; still in the field of communication and press office, he then carried out projects with Fujitsu Belgium, the Catholic University of Milan and the Ministry of Health.
Anelise Sanchez was born in São Paulo, in 1976. Before graduating, she began her professional career in Brazil, collaborating with some of the most important communication and public relations agencies in the country, dealing with international companies.
She lives in Rome since 2001, where she graduated in Social and Institutional Communication at La Sapienza University. She also holds a Master in Corporate Communication and Public Relations at the European Institute of Design, she is enrolled in the Lazio Journalists’ Order and her thesis won, from the University of Bari, the prize dedicated to the journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
In Rome she worked for “Metropoli” (weekly supplement of the newspaper la Repubblica), she wrote for “Internazionale” and collaborated with Rai News 24 and Associated Press, besides dedicating herself to European projects related to multiculturalism, such as the European news agency Migra and UNAR (National Office against Racial Discrimination). She has been a correspondent for several Brazilian newspapers and periodicals such as Forbes Brasil, Folha de São Paulo, Elle, and Caros Amigos. She has written numerous articles on travel and tourism topics for the Brazilian portal UOL Viagem of the Folha de São Paulo publishing group.
Currently, she created and manages post-italy.com, a portal in Portuguese that enhances Italian culture, traditions, customs and landscapes, which has become a reference for Brazilians traveling to Italy and is partner of Viagem e Turismo, the tourism magazine of the Abril publisher most widespread in Brazil, and is part of NEOS association – Associated Travel Journalists.
Anelise Sanchez
JOURNALIST IN CHARGE OF THE RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL
Anelise Sanchez was born in São Paulo, in 1976. Before graduating, she began her professional career in Brazil, collaborating with some of the most important communication and public relations agencies in the country, dealing with international companies.
She lives in Rome since 2001, where she graduated in Social and Institutional Communication at La Sapienza University. She also holds a Master in Corporate Communication and Public Relations at the European Institute of Design, she is enrolled in the Lazio Journalists’ Order and her thesis won, from the University of Bari, the prize dedicated to the journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
In Rome she worked for “Metropoli” (weekly supplement of the newspaper la Repubblica), she wrote for “Internazionale” and collaborated with Rai News 24 and Associated Press, besides dedicating herself to European projects related to multiculturalism, such as the European news agency Migra and UNAR (National Office against Racial Discrimination). She has been a correspondent for several Brazilian newspapers and periodicals such as Forbes Brasil, Folha de São Paulo, Elle, and Caros Amigos. She has written numerous articles on travel and tourism topics for the Brazilian portal UOL Viagem of the Folha de São Paulo publishing group.
Currently, she created and manages post-italy.com, a portal in Portuguese that enhances Italian culture, traditions, customs and landscapes, which has become a reference for Brazilians traveling to Italy and is partner of Viagem e Turismo, the tourism magazine of the Abril publisher most widespread in Brazil, and is part of NEOS association – Associated Travel Journalists.
Matteo Pederzoli
SENIOR ADVISOR FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
Anelise Sanchez
JOURNALIST IN CHARGE OF THE RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL
Matteo Pederzoli has a 20 year-plus demonstrated track record in the executive management and strategic development of multinational organizations in various sectors.
He has gained this experience on the field, via PR and government relations campaigns out of Brussels and with global reach, and the planning of major events, such as the Olympic Games and World Expos, on behalf of the European institutions and the Holy See among others.
Matteo has a degree in Intercultural Communication with a master’s in International Affairs. He spent his formative and young professional years in the United States, most of which in Washington DC, collaborating with the State Department, a global think tank and some business associations. He has a passion and penchant for creative stakeholder engagement which has resulted in award-winning film productions and public art initiatives, presented to the public in about twenty countries in both the traditional and TEDx formats.
Anelise Sanchez was born in São Paulo, in 1976. Before graduating, she began her professional career in Brazil, collaborating with some of the most important communication and public relations agencies in the country, dealing with international companies.
She lives in Rome since 2001, where she graduated in Social and Institutional Communication at La Sapienza University. She also holds a Master in Corporate Communication and Public Relations at the European Institute of Design, she is enrolled in the Lazio Journalists’ Order and her thesis won, from the University of Bari, the prize dedicated to the journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
In Rome she worked for “Metropoli” (weekly supplement of the newspaper la Repubblica), she wrote for “Internazionale” and collaborated with Rai News 24 and Associated Press, besides dedicating herself to European projects related to multiculturalism, such as the European news agency Migra and UNAR (National Office against Racial Discrimination). She has been a correspondent for several Brazilian newspapers and periodicals such as Forbes Brasil, Folha de São Paulo, Elle, and Caros Amigos. She has written numerous articles on travel and tourism topics for the Brazilian portal UOL Viagem of the Folha de São Paulo publishing group.
Currently, she created and manages post-italy.com, a portal in Portuguese that enhances Italian culture, traditions, customs and landscapes, which has become a reference for Brazilians traveling to Italy and is partner of Viagem e Turismo, the tourism magazine of the Abril publisher most widespread in Brazil, and is part of NEOS association – Associated Travel Journalists.
Mission & Identity
ItalyUntold is a Think Tank whose main purpose is to unveil the unknown excellences and primacies of Italy to both the international and domestic community, with the aim of strengthening the country’s economic, cultural and social system.
Scientific Committee
Scientific and academic experts, divided by subject, who research and write about Italy’s excellences.
Members
Members are the beating heart of the Think Tank. They are passionate about our country and willing to share different stories about an Italy of excellences which are unknown to most people.