December 03, 2019

Hilal Elver is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Right to Food since June 2014. She is an international law professor and Global Distinguished Fellow at the UCLA Law School Resnick Food Law and Policy Center; as well as the Co-director of the Climate Change, Human Security and Democracy project at the Orfalea Center, UC Santa Barbara, where she has been Distinguished Visiting Professor between 2002-2012. Previously she was the UNEP Chair on Environmental Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta; and taught at the University of Ankara, Faculty of Law. She served also to Turkish government as the founding legal advisor of the Ministry of Environment, and General Director of the Women Status at office of the Prime Minister. Until very recently She was also a member of the Turkish team at the Climate Change negotiations. Her publications focus on environmental law, climate change, food security, human rights and women rights. Her book on Peaceful Uses of International Rivers; The Euphrates and Tigris Transboundary River Basins published in 2002; Headscarf Controversy: Secularism and Freedom of Religion published by Oxford University in 2012; Her most recent co-edited book with Paul Wapner is Reimagining Climate Change published in 2016 by Routledge Press.

Jessica Fanzo, PhD serves as the Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. While at the UN, Jessica is taking a two-year leave of absence from her Bloomberg Distinguished Associate Professorship of Global Food and Agriculture Policy and Ethics at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at the Johns Hopkins University. She also serves as the Director of the Global Food Ethics and Policy Program at Hopkins. She is the Co-Chair of the Global Nutrition Report and was the team leader for the UN High Level Panel of Experts report on Food Systems and Nutrition.  Before joining Johns Hopkins, Jessica was an Assistant Professor of Nutrition in the Institute of Human Nutrition and Department of Pediatrics and as the Senior Advisor of Nutrition Policy at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Prior to her academic career, Jessica held positions in the UN World Food Programme, Bioversity International, and the Millennium Development Goal Centre at the World Agroforestry Center in Kenya. Jessica has a PhD in nutrition from University of Arizona.

Angelo Riccaboni is Full Professor of “Management Control Systems” at the Richard Goodwin School of Economics and Management of the University of Siena. Riccaboni is a member of the Leadership Council of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Chair of the Regional Centre of the SDSN for the Mediterranean since 2012. Since 2017 Professor Riccaboni is also chair of PRIMA Foundation, an agency located in Barcelona with the mission of developing a 10-year research and innovation programme on food systems and water resources, with a budget of 500 million euros largely funded by the European Commission. 

Professor Riccaboni’s research focuses on Governance and Control issues and the role of organizations and universities to promote the implementation of Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Andrea Renda is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and the Digital Economy at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). From September 2017, he holds the “Google Chair” for Digital Innovation at the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium) where he has also leading the course “Regulatory Impact Assessment for Business” since 2007.

Over the past two decades, he has provided academic advice to several institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the OECD, the World Bank and several national governments around the world.

An expert in technology policy and better regulation and disruptive digital innovation, he is a member of the ESIR (Economic and Social Impacts of Research) expert group of the European Commission. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the international peer-reviewed journals “Telecommunication Policy” (Elsevier) and of the European Journal of Risk Regulation (Lexxion); a member of the Scientific Board of the International Telecommunications Society (ITS) and Chair of the Scientific Board of European Communications Policy Research (EuroCPR).

He holds a Ph.D. degree in Law and Economics awarded by the Erasmus University of Rotterdam.

Ilaria Capua is full professor and the Director of the One Health Center of Excellence at the University of Florida. Her vision for One Health has expanded into the broader concept of Circular Health which aims at co-advancing the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment.  This systematic approach to health requires new processes of understanding and novel methodologies which must engage with other disciplines including the social sciences and the liberal arts.  Research at the One Health Center of Excellence at the University of Florida focuses on developing novel interdisciplinary strategies to address the health challenges of the future in a sustainable manner.

Ilaria Capua  trained as a veterinarian and became  a virologist, she dedicated most of her professional life to viral infections of animals that can be transmitted to humans, and that cause poverty and food security issues. Prior to joining UF, she was elected as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. She served for two and a half years (2013-2016) as Vice President of the Science, Culture, and Education Commission. 

Ilaria Capua is the recipient of many prestigious awards, and of a PhD hc from her Alma Mater, the University of Perugia, and has authored over 220 publications in peer reviewed journals. She is active in the field of science communication and in promoting female leadership in the scientific arena. She has published 8 books, five of which for the general public. She regularly contributes editorials and commentaries to Italian mainstream press. She was knighted by the Italian President of the Italian Republic in 2012.

Mattia Prayer Galletti is lead technical specialist on Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Issues for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). For more than 20 years, he worked as program manager in the Asia and Pacific Division, running programs for Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Iran, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Bologna, and master’s degree in Economics of Agro-Food Systems and Development Studies from the University of Geneva. He also lectures at UC Berkeley, Roma Tre and Lugano University.

Luca Tesauro started his professional career as PR manager of a national tourism company. In 2004 he started working at Giffoni Film Festival, one of the most famous events for kids and families in the world. As Communication Manager, he developed many different projects focusing on social innovation, creating new media strategies for the GFF.

In 2015 he founded Giffoni Innovation Hub, where he is Chairman and CEO. He created the Giffoni Dream Team, a workshop of open innovation for students aged 18-28 years with the aim to invent new products. He developed different training programs for kids in coding, videogames, artificial intelligence and a proper use of new technologies.

He’s pledger of the DSJC of the European Commission. He received the Sos Telefono Azzurro award. He collaborates with universities, governments, foundations and companies creating digital projects and connecting young talents with startups and big corporates. In 2019 he founded the association Giffoni for Kids.

Ilaria Capua is full professor and the Director of the One Health Center of Excellence at the University of Florida. Her vision for One Health has expanded into the broader concept of Circular Health which aims at co-advancing the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment.  This systematic approach to health requires new processes of understanding and novel methodologies which must engage with other disciplines including the social sciences and the liberal arts.  Research at the One Health Center of Excellence at the University of Florida focuses on developing novel interdisciplinary strategies to address the health challenges of the future in a sustainable manner.

Ilaria Capua  trained as a veterinarian and became  a virologist, she dedicated most of her professional life to viral infections of animals that can be transmitted to humans, and that cause poverty and food security issues. Prior to joining UF, she was elected as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. She served for two and a half years (2013-2016) as Vice President of the Science, Culture, and Education Commission. 

Ilaria Capua is the recipient of many prestigious awards, and of a PhD hc from her Alma Mater, the University of Perugia, and has authored over 220 publications in peer reviewed journals. She is active in the field of science communication and in promoting female leadership in the scientific arena. She has published 8 books, five of which for the general public. She regularly contributes editorials and commentaries to Italian mainstream press. She was knighted by the Italian President of the Italian Republic in 2012.

Lucio Caracciolo (Rome, February 7 1954) is the editor-in-chief of the Italian Geopolitical Review, Limes, (www.limesonline.com) and Head of Geopolitics at Macrogeo.

He teaches Strategic Studies at the LUISS University in Rome and Geopolitics at Università San Raffaele, Milan.

He regularly writes columns for the Italian newspaper “la Repubblica” and for the magazine “l’Espresso”. He published articles in various reviews, in Italy and abroad. He taught Geopolitics at the University of Rome 3 from 2004-2007. He wrote some essays and books, including “Alba di guerra fredda” (“Cold War Dawn”), Rome 1986, “La democrazia in Europa” (“Democracy in Europe”, a conversation with Ralf Dahrendorf, François Furet, Bronislaw Geremek), Rome 1991, “Euro no, non morire per Maastricht” (“Euro no, don’t die for Maastricht”) Rome 1996, “Terra incognita”, Rome 2002; “America vs. America, perché gli Stati Uniti sono in guerra con se stessi” (Why the U.S. is at war with itself), Rome 2011, “Storia contemporanea” (Contemporary History), Milan 2017. 

Zachary Tofias serves as the Director of the Food, Water and Waste Programme at C40. His work supports C40 cities transition towards regenerative resource management and reduce emissions through more sustainable consumption.The Programme is helping cities accelerate a worldwide transition to more effective urban water and municipal solid waste management, and the implementation of comprehensive solutions that reduce carbon emissions and increase resiliency throughout the urban food system. Zach has been with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group since 2007 in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative. Over the course of this time he has been City Director in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, created and led the Climate Positive Development Program, and most recently was the head of Urban Planning and Development. For over 10 years, Zach has been working around the world with leading cities and the private sector on developing locally relevant solutions for replicable models for sustainable city growth. Zach has an Master’s of Business Administration from Cornell University, and a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College.

Katarzyna collaborates with the BCFN Foundation on research and education projects since 2014.

She has worked as a dietitian in several clinics and therapy centers in Florence, specializing in weight loss and chronic disease management programs for adults and children. Katarzyna has experience in the field of nutrition education, from holding workshops to promote fruit consumption in schools in Tuscany, to lecturing bachelor students of the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign in Rome.

She holds a B.Sc. in Dietetics and in M.Sc. in Food Science, both earned cum laude at the University of Florence, and is now based in Rome.

Francesca Recanati collaborates with BCFN Foundation since 2015 on education and research programs, with a focus on sustainable agriculture.
After the BSc (2011) and the MSc (2013) in Environmental Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, she received a PhD in Information Technology and Bioengineering in early 2018 at the same university with the thesis “Sustainable design and management of agroecosystems - Integrating ecological models and optimization techniques to support decision-making”.
She was formerly visiting researcher at Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Avignone, France) and visiting student at Technische Universität München (Munich, Germany). Since the MSc thesis, her research deals with the sustainability assessment of agri-food systems, with a focus on the environmental sphere and the agricultural phase. She explores and applies different methods, such as Life Cycle Assessment, optimization techniques and ecological models, to understand the environmental impacts of food production and the possible synergies and trade-offs with the economic and the social spheres. 
She is author of scientific publications in peer-reviewed international journals, reports and position papers on food sustainability.

Mattia Prayer Galletti is lead technical specialist on Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Issues for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). For more than 20 years, he worked as program manager in the Asia and Pacific Division, running programs for Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Iran, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Bologna, and master’s degree in Economics of Agro-Food Systems and Development Studies from the University of Geneva. He also lectures at UC Berkeley, Roma Tre and Lugano University.

After obtaining a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, she was a research fellow at the same university from 1993 to 1997. 

Today, she is Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” and Scientific Manager of the SU-Eatable LIFE project for the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation. She deals with ecosystem services and sustainability, climate and global change, sustainable processes in agriculture, and carbon and nitrogen footprint.

She has coordinated research activities in more than 20 national and international projects within EU framework programs and bilateral agreements with the USA, Russia and Venezuela.

She is Scientific Advisor to ISMEA (Institute of Services for the Agricultural and Food Market), the Rural Network of the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of the Environment and WWF.

Aisling Hayes is a Senior Project Manager at the Sustainable Restaurant Association. She has a broad background in food, including food production and supply chain, having previously worked for Bord Bia – the Irish Food Board, Anglo Beef Processors and a leading London bakery. Building upon her knowledge of sustainability in the commercial food chain, she transitioned into the sustainability sector following her MSc in Food Policy at City University.

At the Sustainable Restaurant Association Aisling has led projects for a wide range of partners addressing several key sustainability issues, with food waste, packaging and sustainable sourcing significant focus areas. Having worked closely with landlords and other partners on several sustainability initiatives, she has a clear understanding of not only the challenges but the exciting opportunities present in projects such as these, being able to see both the bigger picture as well as appreciating the needs of the people or businesses on the ground.

Paul Newnham currently heads up the SDG 2 Advocacy Hub, an initiative bringing together NGOs, advocacy groups, civil society, the private sector and UN agencies to coordinate global campaigning and advocacy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2. To this end, the Hub has worked with a community of 150+ chefs from 38 countries to create a Chefs’ Manifesto- a framework outlining how chefs can contribute to the SDGs. 

Paul has over 20 years’ experience in National and Global roles with a focus on Campaigning, Youth Mobilisation, Advocacy, Marketing and Communication. As a dynamic and strategic innovator, Paul brings teams together to achieve planned objectives. Through inspirational and evocative leadership, Paul is able to enthuse and motivate others, achieving goals beyond expectation. 

Since 2009 she is involved in food educational projects implemented in primary schools of the Parma area. 

She is member of SINU (Italian Society of Human Nutrition), Senior Collaborator of The Need for Nutrition Education/Innovation Programme (NNEdPro, Cambridge Foundation, Cambridge, UK) and member of the scientific committee of the Parma UNESCO City of Gastronomy Foundation. 

Moreover, she is co-founder and Scientific Coordinator of Madegus, a spin off of University of Parma focused on developing specific strategies and educational tools to improve nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and lifestyle. 

She is involved in various EU Horizon 2020 projects and is working on “Pappa di Parma” project, consisting in optimization of several recipes developed according to food availability, nutritional needs, technological accessibility and sensory acceptance, in countries where chronic malnutrition is the main cause of death among children.

Conor is the Culinary Director with FoodSpace, an Irish Catering company that are committed to changing our broken food system and being fully sustainable. With over 28 years cooking in professional kitchens, he has always championed Irish ingredients and works very closely with farmers & growers throughout the country. To date FoodSpace are the only catering company in Ireland that have been awarded the maximum 3 stars for sustainability for the Sustainable Restaurant Association, in 2018 they were also presented with a “loyal to local” award for all their work with Irish food. They were announced as being listed in the top 20 sustainable companies out of 10,000 members and shortlisted for “Chef of the year 2019” and “Opening Right” for INK their total zero waste café in Dublin. The awards are on in London on the 5th November. Conor is committed to sharing his work on zero waste and plastic free kitchens that also have a low carbon footprint that people can introduce to their homes as well as professional kitchens. He is also part of the global Chefs Manifesto. They have launched the Irish Hub in the fantastic Grow HQ in Waterford. Here chefs can meet and be part of workshops and discussions on the United Nations sustainable development goals and implement change into their kitchens with the aim of achieving these goals by 2030. Conor also spends a lot of his time traveling and teaching people as well as being part of discussions with policy makers on introducing a better and more planet friendly food system.