I was born in Grosseto, Italy. As of February 2022, I serve the European Environment Agency (EEA) as an Expert in Environment, Human Health and Well-being. Before joining the EEA, I held research positions at the Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES) and at the Global Health Centre (GHC) of the Graduate Institute of Geneva (IHEID). In addition, I acted as an independent consultant for institutions including the Lancet & Financial Times Commission on Governing Health Futures 2030, the UN75 initiative, and the Governing Pandemics initiative, among others.

I hold a PhD in International Law from the Graduate Institute of Geneva, an MSc in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a five-year J.D. from the University of Siena, Italy, where I was recognised in October 2015 as a cultore della materia (‘expert in the field’) in Public International Law and European Union Law. Between 2017 and 2022, I was the the co-recipient and programme manager of two Erasmus+ Grants for Jean Monnet Modules, first for a teaching and research project on “European Union Law and Sustainable Development” (EULawSD) and most recently for one on “European and International Environmental Law” (EIEL). Since 2020, I am a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL), of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) and of the European Environmental Law Forum (EELF).

At the EEA, I am tasked with developing the Agency’s line of work on One Health by managing the production of assessments and other knowledge products on topics such as agrochemical pollution, nature and health linkages, and antimicrobial resistance. This task includes co-leading the EEA/Eionet Food Systems Group, which brings together the representatives of 38 member and cooperating countries in order to develop and disseminate knowledge on the sustainability of food systems in Europe. I also provide input to projects led by colleagues in areas including biodiversity, zero pollution, and integrated sustainability assessments, and act as the focal point between the EEA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

My PhD research at the Graduate Institute sought to understand how ecosystem-based approaches to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use have influenced the development of international law through the incorporation of new scientific knowledge and data about ecosystem functioning and services. However, my main research interests are much broader and include the role of science and technology-policy interfaces in sustainability governance, the use of natural capital approaches to decision-making, environmental health, global health governance, and the interplay between trade and environmental policy. In my work, I have often focused on the role of international law in addressing biodiversity loss, on multilevel governance of natural resources, and on linkages between ecological resilience and human health and wellbeing. In addition, I have extensively studied the role of market-based incentives and access and benefit-sharing schemes in promoting environmental conservation, with a particular emphasis on the REDD+ and Nagoya Protocol’s frameworks.

In recent years, I have also conducted research on the interactions between the climate change and trade regimes after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, as well as on the analysis of international governance and policy responses to health challenges including HIV/AIDS, Ebola and antimicrobial resistance.

Between 2014 and 2019, I served as Project Lead for the Youth Solutions Program of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) directed by Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, working to support innovative startups and promote inclusive innovation policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During this period, I also acted as SDSN Youth’s representative in the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. From 2012 to 2015, I directed Greening USiena, a student think tank which aimed at mobilising young people to engage with academia for sustainable development, and worked with the University of Siena on the establishment and activities of the SDSN’s Mediterranean chapter.

Over the years, I have been widely featured as a speaker, writer and consultant on sustainable development, innovation and corporate sustainability themes.

I am currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark, although I also spend significant time in Stockholm, Sweden and Siena, Italy. In my free time I enjoy music (mainly jazz, folk, alternative rock and world music), books, visual arts and the outdoors.

For a detailed list of my current and past activities, please visit my cv page.