I was born in Foggia, Italy in 1979 and received an MSc in Development Studies from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies in 2003.

I worked in business support both for the Italian Embassy in Albania and for the British Chambers of Commerce in the UK, focusing on rural businesses and business networks development. In the advocacy team of the British Network of NGOs - BOND I led collective civil society campaigning influencing European overseas policies. I managed programs overseas in Uganda and Sierra Leone.

I have spent the past few years in Sierra Leone as Country Manager of Italian NGO COOPI, where I coordinated the design and set up of the 2009-12 phase of the RUAF intervention in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown.

My main interests/ areas of expertise are:

-          Participatory policy development

-          Food systems sustainability and resilience

-          Youth employment, with a focus on green jobs

-          Gender equity and property rights

-          Business planning and development