Italy's Role in a
Shifting Global Order

Giuseppe Pastorelli

Consul General of Italy

A career diplomat since 1997, he has served in Turkey and Hungary and later held Consul General roles in Boston and Toronto before returning to New York in 2026. He also spent several years in Rome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where he worked on promoting Italy abroad. His career combines diplomatic, consular, and institutional experience across Europe and North America, making him well placed to discuss Italy’s international positioning and the evolving global context in which Italian institutions operate.

Gabrio Santoni

Vice President, Santoni

Gabrio Santoni serves as Vice President of Santoni, the Italian luxury footwear house known for its craftsmanship and global brand presence. At the symposium, he brings a senior business perspective from one of Italy's best-known heritage brands. His participation is especially relevant to a discussion on Italy's global economic position, as luxury remains one of the country's most visible and competitive international sectors. He offers insight into how Italian companies balance tradition, premium positioning, and international growth while navigating a rapidly changing global marketplace.

Gherardo Guarducci

Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, SA Hospitality Group

Gherardo Guarducci is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of SA Hospitality Group, the company behind Sant Ambroeus and other Italian hospitality concepts in the United States. His work has helped bring Italian hospitality, food culture, and brand identity to major global cities, especially New York. Through that experience, he offers a practical perspective on international growth, brand building, and the global appeal of Italian excellence. His role on the panel speaks directly to how hospitality functions not only as a business sector, but also as a vehicle for Italy's broader economic and cultural influence abroad.

Filippo Gori

Co-Head of Global Banking, J.P. Morgan

Filippo Gori is Co-Head of Global Banking at J.P. Morgan and a member of the firm’s Commercial & Investment Bank management team. He joined the firm in 1999 and previously served in senior roles across Europe and Asia Pacific, including as CEO for Asia Pacific and head of Banking for the region. His career spans global client coverage, investment banking, and leadership in major international markets. With experience across regions and economic cycles, he brings a strong perspective on capital flows, market conditions, and the changing structure of global economic power.

Silvia Pezzini

Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia SIPA

Silvia Pezzini is an Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia SIPA and a financial stability expert with roughly two decades of experience at major central banks and regulators in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Before joining Columbia, she served as Head of the Financial Stability Surveillance Division at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, where she led multidisciplinary work on systemic risk and promoted the use of advanced analytics and AI. Her background combines policy, regulation, and macro-financial analysis, giving her a valuable perspective on financial resilience, global volatility, and economic risk.

Francisco Milone

Managing Partner and Head of North America Corporate & Traded Credit, Värde Partners

Francisco Milone is Managing Partner and Head of North America Corporate & Traded Credit at Värde Partners and serves on the firm’s investment committee. Based in New York, he joined Värde in 2008 and was named Partner in 2018. His work focuses on credit markets, capital allocation, and investment strategy across complex and evolving market environments. With experience in global credit and corporate finance, he contributes an investor’s perspective to discussions about market volatility, financial conditions, and the ways economic fragmentation is reshaping risk and opportunity across regions.

Marco Margheri

Head of Eni’s US Relations; Chairman, Eni US Petroleum Inc.

Marco Margheri is Head of Eni’s US Relations and Chairman of Eni US Petroleum Inc. and Eni New Energies US Inc. He oversees relations with U.S. authorities, U.S.-based international financial institutions, and multilateral processes relevant to the company. He also serves on the Atlantic Council and chairs the Italian committee of the World Energy Council. Before joining Eni, he held senior sustainability, institutions, and regulation roles at Edison. His experience sits at the intersection of energy, policy, and international affairs, making him a strong voice on markets, geopolitics, and the energy transition.

Francesco Corvaro

Italian Special Envoy for Climate Change

Francesco Corvaro serves as Italy’s Special Envoy for Climate Change. In this capacity, he works at the intersection of environmental diplomacy, international negotiation, and long-term energy transition strategy. His role is especially relevant to debates around how countries align climate goals with economic competitiveness, security concerns, and the realities of global markets. At the symposium, he brings a public-policy and diplomatic perspective to the discussion of energy transition, helping connect Italy's national priorities with the broader international agenda on climate, resilience, and strategic cooperation.

Andrea Calcagno

CEO and Co-Founder, Cloud4Wi

Andrea Calcagno is President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Cloud4Wi. With a background spanning retail, technology, and telecom-media, he has spent more than two decades building data-driven products and commercial relationships at global scale. Earlier in his career, he worked at Telecom Italia Labs on mobile access network research and contributed to patented technology. At Cloud4Wi, he leads a company focused on customer engagement and location-based digital solutions for enterprise clients. His perspective connects entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and the practical realities of scaling an Italian-founded technology business internationally.

Eugenio Donati

Co-Founder, AeroVect

Eugenio Donati is Co-Founder of AeroVect, a Silicon Valley company developing autonomous driving systems for airport ground-support equipment. He co-founded the business in 2020 shortly after university and has helped build technology aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and labor productivity in aviation logistics. Public profiles of the company note deployments and partnerships with major airport and ground-handling operators. Donati's work sits at the intersection of robotics, applied AI, and industrial operations, giving him a strong founder's perspective on innovation, global scaling, and the opportunities available to Italian entrepreneurs building in the United States.

Francesco Piccoli

Co-Founder and CEO, Almanax

Francesco Piccoli is Co-Founder and CEO of Almanax, a company building AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities. Public profiles describe him as an Italian founder with experience across security, software, and emerging technologies, and note his work on using AI to detect and address vulnerabilities in code and blockchain applications. He has also been recognized in entrepreneurial and technology communities in both Italy and the United States. At the symposium, he brings a practical perspective on building globally competitive tech companies, navigating fast-moving innovation cycles, and translating technical expertise into products that operate at international scale.

Marco Leona

Director of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Marco Leona leads the Department of Scientific Research at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he founded the museum’s scientific laboratory. Trained in chemistry and crystallography in Italy, he previously worked at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and at LACMA. He is widely recognized for pioneering the use of advanced analytical techniques, including Surface Enhanced Raman spectroscopy, to study dyes and materials in works of art. His career reflects a powerful combination of science, conservation, and cultural stewardship, making him an ideal contributor to a conversation about culture, identity, and Italy’s soft power.

Daniele Castellani

Director, Education Office, Consulate General of Italy in New York

Daniele Castellani is the Director of the Education Office at the Consulate General of Italy in New York. In this role, he oversees educational and cultural diplomacy initiatives tied to the promotion of Italian language, school partnerships, and academic collaboration in the United States. His work supports a broader institutional effort to strengthen Italy’s presence abroad through education and cultural exchange. At the symposium, he contributes a public-sector perspective on how cultural and educational institutions help shape international perception, build lasting relationships, and reinforce Italy’s role in global dialogue.

Claudio Pagliara

Director, Italian Cultural Institute of New York

Claudio Pagliara is Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York. Before taking up this role in 2025, he built a long career as a journalist and foreign correspondent for RAI, reporting from major international capitals including Paris, Jerusalem, Beijing, and New York. Public profiles describe him as a multilingual journalist, author, and longtime interpreter of global affairs. At the Institute, he now focuses on promoting Italian culture and deepening cultural dialogue in the United States. His background makes him especially well placed to reflect on identity, international perception, and the strategic role of culture in public diplomacy.