The Forum
Overview
The public event aims to brings together leaders, decision-makers, entrepreneurs, scholars and intellectuals to discuss pressing issues of the MEM region. Topics range from new geopolitical configurations to migration dynamics, through security in the Mediterranean health and food systems, endangered cultural heritage, to Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, and municipalities in the region. Young change-makers have a unique opportunity for exchanging views with senior representatives and experts, and presenting ideas and project-proposals elaborated before the Forum.
This year due to the Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, the Summit cannot be held as planned. The circumstances have understandably imposed a review of the format of the MEM Summer Summit 2020. The Forum has been transferred online. You can watch the online edition of the Forum below.
The Forum online
Watch the Forum
MEM Summer Summit Forum 2020
Forum 2020 Programme
Download the full Forum programme here: MEM Summer Summit 2020 Online Edition – Forum Programme
Language
English and French, with Italian subtitles.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Lebanon gave an account of the current critical situation in Lebanon, a country overcome by a complexity of issues: catastrophic economic conditions, deep political crisis, the COVID-19 emergency, and now the horrendous blast that has devastated the capital. The Ambassador reported on support initiatives and projects promoted by Switzerland.
The French President Emmanuel Macron, in a video message, spoke about the importance of the region and its political balance, focusing on the conflicts in Syria and Libya and the crisis in Lebanon. The analysis of the French President – invoking for collective responsibility to find shared solutions – is structured around four pillars: religion, demographics, energy and politics.
In recent years, and in recent months, the Middle East Mediterranean region has been torn apart by civil wars and uprisings affecting all its nations. As protest movements (manifestations of the populations’ unrest) intensified, the Western powers’ interest in, and concern for, the region seems to have gradually weakened and died out. The retreat of the West – a concept summed up in a new coinage, “Westlessness” – has produced new pacts and new equilibria. This complex issue was at the heart of a discussion by politicians, scholars and researchers from areas where these new lines of understandings are emerging and taking shape.
Maha El-Adawy provided an overview of the COVID-19 health emergency in the Middle East Mediterranean region. As the area is so extensive and heterogeneous, Dr El-Adawy spoke about countries with rather diverse situations, such as Iran and Yemen to mention but two. She also highlighted the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic for the most vulnerable classes of the population – the poor and women in particular.
The COVID-19 health emergency and the containment measures put in place by the various countries worldwide have brought about, as is well known, a collapse in oil prices. This had a knock-on effect on the economy, as well as on politics and society. Some will argue that the sun may be about to set on the undisputed power of Middle Eastern petromonarchies. In this context, Libya, ripped apart by internal tribal divisions and very much the focus of international interests, provides fertile ground and matter for reflecting on the present and future of oil producing countries. The panel is made up of speakers from the oil industry and shipbuilding. They all contributed, from their expertise, to outlining the current situation and possible future scenarios.
Pio Wennubst talked about “Bites of Transfoodmation”, an initiative launched and run by the Permanent Representation of Switzerland to the FAO, IFAD, and WFP. The event will take place in Rome on 20—24 October and bring together highly motivated and innovative young people to reflect on the future of food systems. The Middle East Mediterranean region, where food and its production play an extraordinary cultural and socio-economic role, is badly affected by climate change, by growing urbanisation, and escalating primary goods prices.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, underlined, in her video message, the importance of art, culture and education to fight inequalities as well as youth and women’s unemployment in the Middle East Mediterranean region. She spoke about the initiatives promoted by UNESCO during the pandemic.
This panel reflected on the challenges and opportunities faced by art and culture in the Middle East Mediterranean region. The presence on the Panel of a plurality and diversity of voices and artists, and of UNESCO’s cultural director, mirrors the complex, fragile and powerful nature of the region’s artistic and cultural production. The ‘prognosis’ formulated by Ahmed Mater for Saudi Arabia stems from an analysis where personal experience and history of the region converge at a time of momentous change. With his Jardin d’Afrique, Rachid Koraïchi creates a hallowed space where migrants who met their death in the Mediterranean may be remembered; a sacred space in which to review relations between Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, for his part, through the Resiliart programme, speaks on behalf of the authorities of a major cultural institution and on the debate initiated during the pandemic on the resilience of art. The panel discussion was be chaired by Diana Segantini, who in 2019 held the position of Chief Heritage and Culture Officer at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Saudi Arabia.
The MEM Summer Summit Alumni and young change-makers have contributed in several ways to the organisation of the MEM Summer Summit Forum 2020.
Some of them sat on panels as representatives and spokespersons for the whole group; some prepared video-testimonials, and others still participated actively in the panel debates, live by video-link, from their home countries across the Middle East Mediterranean region. Nour Nasreldin has devised and directed Muted city, a short film on the lockdown in Cairo, due to be premiered during the Forum.
Speakers
IGNAZIO CASSIS
Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland
IGNAZIO CASSIS
HE Ignazio Cassis graduated from the University of Zurich in 1988 with a degree in human medicine. He then worked as a doctor from 1988 to 1996. Thereafter, in 1996, he became cantonal physician for the Canton of Ticino and in the same year he obtained a master’s degree in public health (MPH) from the University of Geneva. He also graduated in 1998, specialising in internal medicine as well as in prevention and public health.
Cassis’ political career began in 2004 with his election to the legislative authority of the Ticino municipality of Collina d’Oro. From 2008 to 2012, Cassis held the office of Vice-President of the Swiss Medical Association. From 2015, he chaired the National Council’s Social Security and Health Committee, and has also been vice-chairman or chairman of various parliamentary groups.
During the two years prior to his election to the Federal Council, Cassis was president of the parliamentary group of the FDP.The Liberals, of which he became a member since his election to the National Council in 2007.
Since 2001, he has lectured at various universities in Switzerland. He has also been a member of numerous foundations and associations. He was the head of the CURAVIVA association (care homes and institutions in Switzerland) and Curafutura, a health insurance association.
Cassis was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 20 September 2017, where he took up his post as Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on 1 November 2017.
EMMANUEL MACRON
President of the French Republic, France
EMMANUEL MACRON
Emmanuel Macron is the eighth President of the Fifth Republic of France.
He launched the movement « En Marche ! », founded on April, 6 2016, and was its leader until his victory in the presidential election on May, 7 2017.
Emmanuel Macron was born in December 1977 in Amiens, in the Somme department. He studied philosophy, and later attended the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) where he graduated in 2004.
Emmanuel Macron then joined the Inspectorate General of Finance where he worked for four years before entering the banking sector.
In 2012, he became Deputy General Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic. He left office in July 2014 and served as the Minister for Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs from August 2014 to August 2016.
AUDREY AZOULAY
Director-General of UNESCO, France
AUDREY AZOULAY
Audrey Azoulay was elected by the 39th session of UNESCO’s General Conference as Director-General of UNESCO.
A graduate of France’s Ecole Nationale d’Administration and of the Paris Institut d’Etudes Politiques, she holds a diploma in Business Administration from the University of Lancaster (UK).
Having worked in the sector of culture since the start of her professional career, Audrey Azoulay has notably focused on the funding of French public broadcasting and on the reform and modernisation of France’s film support system. She has also served the European Commission providing her expertise on issues concerning culture and communication.
In 2014, as an advisor on culture to the President of the French Republic, she notably initiated the development of a protection plan for heritage in danger, which she was able to implement in 2016 as Minister of Culture and Communication. She has also prioritised improving children’s access to culture with the launch of artistic and cultural education school programmes “Création en cours” and created innovative cultural outreach programmes for people in remote and vulnerable areas “Microfolies”.
With a longstanding commitment in favour of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue to advance education for all and the dissemination of scientific and cultural knowledge, she is determined to maintain this commitment as the head of UNESCO.
She will spare no effort in ensuring that UNESCO fulfils its universal mandate fully in promoting values of humanism and openness and serving as a driving force in the United Nations system. The Organization is to achieve this by serving as an intellectual forum for the world of tomorrow, and as a standard-setter that will help society advance, as well as serving as an expert agency contributing to the dissemination of knowledge to the greatest number of people worldwide.
MONIKA SCHMUTZ KIRGÖZ
Swiss Ambassador in Beirut, Switzerland
MONIKA SCHMUTZ KIRGÖZ
The Ambassador of Switzerland, Monika Schmutz Kirgöz entered the diplomatic service in 1996, after working for many years in the field of development aid. She was first posted in Rome and then appointed Spokesperson of the Swiss Foreign Ministry. In the year 2000 she was transferred to Turkey, where she was responsible for political, cultural and press affairs at the Swiss Embassy in Ankara. From 2004 to 2007 she was heading the economic section of the Swiss Embassy in Rome and has been appointed to Israel in September 2007.
She worked as Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland in Israel until August 2011 and took over her function as Consul General of Switzerland in Istanbul at the beginning of September the same year. After serving nearly 6 years in Istanbul, she has been appointed as Ambassador to Lebanon and has taken her functions on July 1st, 2017.
PIO WENNUBST
Vice Director General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland
PIO WENNUBST
Ambassador Pio Wennubst is assistant director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and head of the Global Cooperation Department.
He is a visionary who has worked successfully in promoting sustainable and fair globalisation. Having trained as an agricultural economist, his work involves developing viable solutions for implementing political agreements. After working as managing director of a Swiss chemical company, he moved to the public sector, joining the SDC in 1995. On the strength of many years’ experience in international development diplomacy, in his current position he is successfully mobilising both private companies and individuals to take part in building the ‘new economy’.
BOAS EREZ
Rector, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland
BOAS EREZ
Professor Boas Erez graduated in 1981 from the Liceo Cantonale (scientific lyceum) in Lugano, and continued his studies at the University of Geneva where he obtained a degree in mathematics in 1985 and, in 1987, a Ph.D. in mathematics. From 1985 to 1990, he was an assistant at the same university, before moving to Harvard University where he was Benjamin Peirce Assistant Professor from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, he was appointed Full professor of mathematics at the University of Bordeaux, where he held several executive positions at the level of institute, faculty, commissions, programmes, doctoral committees and international scientific projects. Erez was time and again a Board member of the University of Bordeaux 1, and was also vice-president of the university from 2005 to 2008. Erez is the author of numerous quality scientific publications and has regularly organized international activities in his subject field. He has great experience in the coordination of joint international projects in higher education. As of September 1st, 2016, Boas Erez is Rector of the Università della Svizzera italiana.
MAHA EL-ADAWY
MD and Director, Health Protection and Promotion, WHO Office Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt
MAHA EL-ADAWY
Dr El-Adawy holds a bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt, as well as a master’s degree in Public Health from the same university. She received a master’s degree in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, and a PhD in Public Health from Cairo University. She has been the director of the Division of Health Protection and Promotion at the World Health Organization since July 2016.
From August 2015 to July 2016 she worked as the representative of UNFPA in Iran. From January 2009 to August 2015 she held the position of program and technical regional advisor for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights at the UNFPA regional office in Cairo. El-Adawy was also the policy adviser for health at the UNDP office in New York, USA, from June 2007 to December 2008.
El-Adawy held the position of senior Regional Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights Program officer at the Ford Foundation, New York, from March 2000 to June 2007. She has held other senior health positions at the European Commission Delegation in Cairo, as well as at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
She holds the Eisenhower fellowship for leadership development and also received a Takemi fellowship from the Harvard School of Public Health. She has also worked as a consultant for UNICEF, the World Bank and the American University in Beirut.
YASMIN EL HABAK
Young change-maker
YASMIN EL HABAK
Yasmin El Habak is currently a doctoral student in Political Sciences, in Paris. Yasmin first graduated in International Cooperation and Development at Cattolica University, Milan, where she went on to do a degree in Linguistic sciences for International Relations. As a Sciences Po student in Paris, she obtained a Master’s degree in International Security. In addition, she is a co-founder of SWAP (Share With All People), an association that promotes intercultural and interreligious dialogue between the shores of the Mediterranean.
LAZARE ELOUNDOU ASSOMO
Director, Culture and Emergencies, UNESCO, France
LAZARE ELOUNDOU ASSOMO
Lazare Eloundou Assomo has been director for Culture and Emergencies at UNESCO since November 2018. He is an architect conservator and town-planner who specialises in earthen architecture and cultural heritage.
He was deputy director of the Division for Heritage and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre from 2016 to 2018. The entity for which he is responsible takes care of all matters regarding museums, restitution and the fight against illicit traffic, protection of cultural heritage in conflict situations, and underwater cultural heritage.
Before October 2016, he was UNESCO head of office and representative in Mali. His main responsibilities involved coordinating UNESCO’s actions to rehabilitate Mali’s cultural heritage and ancient manuscripts. It is in this capacity that he successfully coordinated the rapid reconstruction of the destroyed mausoleums in Timbuktu in close cooperation with MINUSMA, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali.
Prior to being posted in Mali, Assomo was the chief of unit for Africa at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, where he was in charge of coordinating cooperation between UNESCO and African member states for all issues related to world heritage.
He is the author of the book ‘African World Heritage, a remarkable diversity’, which was recently published by UNESCO.
NASSIF HITTI
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Lebanon
NASSIF HITTI
Nassif Youssef Hitti is a Lebanese diplomat, academic, professor and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.
Nassif Hitti joined the Arab League in 1981 in Tunis. From 1985 to 1990, he was posted in Ottawa at the Office of the League of Arab States to Canada. Between 1991 and 1999, Dr. Hitti served as diplomatic adviser to the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, in Cairo. From 1992 to 1999, Dr. Hitti was a part-time professor of International Relations and Middle Eastern Affairs at the American University in Cairo and a member of the editorial board of the Arab League’s Arab Affairs magazine.
Dr. Hitti served as Ambassador of the Arab League to France and UNESCO (2000–2013), spokesperson of the Arab League (2013–2014) and Arab League Ambassador to Italy and the Holy See (2014–2015).
Dr. Hitti was the Director of the Higher Institute of Political and Administrative Sciences at the School of Law and Political Sciences of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (2016–2019).
Nassif Hitti has been a frequent lecturer at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta and also at various Universities in Europe and the Arab World, as well as research centers. Nassif Hitti was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon by Prime Minister Hassan Diab on January 21, 2020. He resigned a few months later on August 3, stating that the country risked becoming a “failed state”.
GILLES KEPEL
Professor and Scientific Director of the Middle East Mediterranean Freethinking Platform, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland; PSL Paris Sciences et Lettres-École Normale Supérieure, France
GILLES KEPEL
Professor Gilles Kepel is a French Political Scientist and Arabist, has specialised in the contemporary Middle East and Muslims in the West. He is the Director of the Middle East and Mediterranean Chair at PSL Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, based at École Normale Supérieure. Kepel holds degrees in Arabic, English, and Philosophy, a PhD in Sociology and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) in Political Science.
He has specialised in contemporary islamist movements since his 1983 PhD. He has been a Visiting Professor at New York University and Columbia University and was elected as a Senior Fellow at the Institut Universitaire de France from 2010 to 2015.
Professor Kepel created and was general editor of the series ‘Proche Orient’ at Presses Universitaires de France, which was comprised of 23 volumes between 2004 and 2017. His books, such as ‘The Revenge of God’ and ‘Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam’, have been translated in a dozen languages. Recently he has published ‘Terror in France: The Rise of Jihad in the West’ (Princeton U. Press, 2017).
RACHID KORAICHI
Artist, Algeria
RACHID KORAICHI
Rachid Koraichi was born in Algeria and lives in France. He received his early art education at the École des Beaux-Arts in Algeria, where he studied calligraphy. Later, he attended the École des Arts Décoratifs and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Koraichi’s sculptural explorations extend across an impressive range of different media, with his installations including ceramics, textiles, various metals and painted work on silk, paper or canvas. His work is influenced by an abiding fascination with signs of all kinds, both real and imaginary.
Koraichi was included in the international touring exhibition, Short Century, and in the 47th and 49th Venice Biennale, and in Word into Art at the British Museum, 2006. Part of his installation, Path of Roses, comprising embroidered silk, textiles, steel sculptures, roses and ceramics, was acquired by the British Museum. Concerned with the Islamic concept of Safar (travel and transcendence), this installation traces the journey of the medieval poet and traveller Jalal ad-Din Rûmî across the Mediterranean to meet the Sufi mystic and poet Ibn al-Arabi. While his aesthetics are deeply rooted in his multicultural Algerian heritage, Rachid Koraichi is a truly cosmopolitan artist who speaks to a global audience.
He has participated in many international exhibitions, and his work is included in major private and public collections worldwide such as the British Museum, London; the National Museum for African Art, Washington and the Museum of Islamic Arts, Doha. In 2010, he contributed works to the Centro Cultural Banco do Brazil’s exhibition Isla, (Islam) and The Future of Tradition – The Tradition of Future, at the Haus de Kunst, Germany. A major exhibition of his outstanding installation, The Path of Roses, will be held at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi in March, 2011, with a new catalogue to accompany the event.
ANDREY KORTUNOV
Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Russia
ANDREY KORTUNOV
Andrey Kortunov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1979 and completed his postgraduate studies at the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1982. He holds a PhD in History. Dr Kortunov completed internships at the Soviet embassies in London and Washington, and at the Permanent Delegation of the USSR to the UN.
In 1982–1995, Dr Kortunov held various positions in the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies, including Deputy Director. He taught at universities around the world, including the University of California, Berkeley. In addition, he led several public organizations involved in higher education, social sciences and social development.
Since 2011, Andrey Kortunov has been the Director General of RIAC. He is a member of expert and supervisory committees and boards of trustees of several Russian and international organisations. His academic interests include contemporary international relations and Russian foreign policy.
GIAMPIERO MASSOLO
President of ISPI (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale), President of Fincantieri, Italy
GIAMPIERO MASSOLO
Giampiero Massolo is President of Fincantieri S.p.A (2016) and President of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies – ISPI (2017). A career diplomat, Ambassador Massolo was the Coordinator of the Italian Intelligence Community (2012-2016), the Prime Minister’s personal representative (Sherpa) for the G8 and G20 Summits (2008-2009), the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2007-2012).
He is adjunct professor of National security and International relations studies both at the School of Government of the LUISS University in Rome and at Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs. He regularly contributes on international and security matters to the newspaper “La Stampa”.
AHMED MATER
Artist, Saudi Arabia
AHMED MATER
Ahmed Mater is one of the most significant cultural voices documenting and scrutinising the realities of contemporary Saudi Arabia. Forging an ongoing, complex mapping of the Kingdom, his practice explores collective memories to uncover and record unofficial histories. The historical, geographical and topical breadth of his research-led inquiries are sharpened by the incisive actions of his conceptual works. With this scope, Mater imagines possible prognoses for a land of unprecedented religious, social, economic, and political influence.
Born in 1979, the intense conclusion to a decade of momentous economic and political upheaval, Mater witnessed a rapidly transforming society whose changes diverged into extraordinary social shifts and trenchant ideologies. Mater entwines expressive and politically engaged artistic aims with the scientific objectives of his medical training. His practice embraces the paradoxes of science and faith, exploring their connections and contradictions and their social reach. His employs broad investigative techniques to assess the Kingdom’s condition, reframing unofficial sociopolitical histories and realities with an observational and wide-ranging scope.
His work is part of major international collections including The British Museum, London; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California; and Centre Pompidou, Paris. Mater lives and works in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is represented by Athr Gallery, Jeddah and Galleria Continua, San Gimignano.
PAOLA NURNBERG
Journalist, RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera, Switzerland
PAOLA NURNBERG
Paola Nurnberg, a long time journalist with a master’s degree in Journalism and Literature awarded by the University of Milan, started the job more than 20 years ago as a freelancer in Italy, working with different media and focusing on local and national news, economics and finance.
After spending one year working in a news agency in New York, in 2001-2002, and after witnessing the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, she started to focus more on Middle East and foreign news, writing reportages from Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.
Assistant producer for a documentary shot in 2007 by PBS Television (of Washington DC) “America at a Crossroads: the Muslim Brotherhood”, since May 2008 is regularly employed by RSI – Radiotelevisione svizzera, the Swiss public TV in Lugano, where she works as news presenter and at the news desk covering foreign news and reporting from Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, West Bank and Gaza and the Mediterranean region. In 2014 she was awarded by the Italian organization “Giornalisti del Mediterraneo” a recognition for a reportage on the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
DIMITRIOS PAPACHRISTOU
Young change-maker
DIMITRIOS PAPACHRISTOU
Dimitrios Papachristou is from Greece, he is 21 years old and pursuing a career in business internationally. His background has played a key role in developing his interest for international relations and world politics.
He grew up in five countries – Greece, France, Hungary, Russia and Italy – all distinctly different from one another in history and culture. The need to constantly adapt within shifting environments, drove him towards a better understanding of the social sciences.
Whether in business, or politics, Dimitrios’ priority is understanding people. He is most passionate in how narrative shapes identity and behavior for individuals, groups and entire societies.
He believes that in order to solve the deep issues challenging our world, the focus needs to change from shaping, that which is visible – outcome, to that which is invisible – culture.
Dimitrios’ vision is a world where “we realise we have more that connects us, than tears us apart. And to do that, we must take ownership of our collective human identity, first and foremost. Crises, like the one we are living through right now, has allowed us to do that for the first time in years. We cannot let these opportunities, go to waste.”
PATRICK POUYANNÉ
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Total, France
PATRICK POUYANNÉ
A Graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and Chief Engineer of the French Corps des Mines, Patrick Pouyanné held various positions in the French Industry Ministry and in ministerial offices from 1989 to 1996, including Environment and Industry Technical Advisor to the Prime minister from 1993 to 1995 and Chief of Staff to the information technology and space minister from 1995 to 1996.
Patrick Pouyanné joined Total in January 1997, with positions in Angola and Qatar in 1999. In August 2002, he was named Senior Vice President, Finance, Economics and Information Systems in Exploration & Production, then Senior Vice President, Strategy, Business Development and R&D in Exploration & Production in 2006.
In January 2012, he was appointed President, Refining & Chemicals and member of the Executive Committee.
On October 22nd, 2014, the board of directors of Total appointed Patrick Pouyanné Chief Executive Officer. On December 16th, 2015, Total’s board of directors appointed Patrick Pouyanné as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Total.
He is member of the Board of Cap Gemini, of AFEP, of Institut du Monde Arabe, of Ecole Polytechnique and Institut Polytechnique of Paris. Patrick Pouyanné is also President of the Alliance for Education, French association against dropping out of school. He is a Knight of the Legion of Honor.
MUSTAFA SANALLA
National Oil Corporation, Libya
MUSTAFA SANALLA
Mustafa Sanalla was appointed Chairman of the Board of Libya’s National Oil Corporation in May 2014.
After graduating from Tripoli University in 1985 with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Sanalla joined Ras Lanuf Oil & Gas Processing Co. (Rasco), as Head of Ethylene Operations. He held increasingly senior positions within NOC before being appointed to the Board following the revolution. He became NOC Chairman on the retirement of his predecessor, Nuri Berruien.
Sanalla has played a central role in protecting NOC’s operations from the violent contest to govern the country. He has publicly challenged those attempting to blockade Libya’s oil ports and facilities and has led the campaign, successfully, to add those who hold Libya’s oil hostage to the United Nations Security Council Sanctions List.
Sanalla is a nationwide campaigner against smuggling and corruption, and an advocate for transparency and the fair distribution of national oil revenues.
Despite these challenges and a lethal terrorist attack on NOC headquarters on 10 September 2018, NOC has increased production to over one million bpd, and in September recorded its highest production level since 2013.
In November 2017, Sanalla was recognized by his global industry peers as Chief Executive of the Year at the Petroleum Economist Awards.
DIANA SEGANTINI
Advisor for Arts, culture, heritage and media, Switzerland
DIANA SEGANTINI
Diana Segantini is a Swiss/Norwegian citizen who specialised in Arab-Islamic Studies at L’Orientale University and holds a Masters in International Relations from IUHEI in Geneva. Diana started her professional career in the art and documentary film scene, as well as gaining extensive experience working in different countries serving the UN, various NGOs and more extensively in the Middle East as a delegate for the International Red Cross ICRC for 4 years. Fluent in Arabic and 9 other languages, she has become an expert on the Arab region and in intercultural issues.
In 2008, she founded Segantini Unlimited, an agency specialised in cultural mediation and international cultural productions such as art exhibitions, music events, debates and documentary films, mandated by the Global Ethic Foundation.
Diana has also led women’s empowerment programs in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC. For 6 years, she was Head of Arts & Culture for Swiss TV and radio RSI and a Member of the RSI Board, producing music concerts and over 100 feature and documentary films, acclaimed at various international Festivals.
In 2019 she was appointed Chief Heritage & Culture Officer at Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Saudi Arabia, responsible for this UNESCO Heritage Site, building up several cultural institutions such as museums, academies and an Art District. Currently she is an independent advisor for Arts, culture, heritage and media for different projects in KSA.
CLAUDIA SOSAI
Young change-maker
CLAUDIA SOSAI
Claudia Gabriela Sosai, Human Rights specialist. She has a Bachelor’s in “Social Studies and Political Science” (University of Bologna, 2014) and a Master’s in “Pedagogy and Science of Education” (University of Bologna, 2017). In 2019 she further broadened her knowledge by doing a second Master’s degree in “Human Rights and International Protection” at Sapienza University (Rome, Italy, 2019).
She has long been interested in human rights and she gained experience in the field by working for local and international organisations promoting the education and socio-cultural inclusion of marginalised people with a particular focus for asylum seekers.
Her interest stems from her personal life experience, as she comes from a migrant family and this particular background is what urges her to constantly relate with other people who have shared or are sharing this same experience. She is an activist in Bologna (Italy) offering legal and social counselling to migrants and organising theatre of oppressed sessions together with a team of passionate volunteers.
SOFIA VOLPI
Young change-maker
SOFIA VOLPI
Sofia Volpi is a MA candidate of Crossing the Mediterranean: Towards investment and Integration MIM (Ca’ Foscari- Venice and Paul Valery-Montpellier) with the dissertation: “Self-narrating ‘second generation’ young women in Italy: between acknowledgment and otherness”. During the lockdown she has been volunteering for local COVID-19 response with the Italian Civic Protection in Settimo Milanese (Milan).
Trainee with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (remote position) at ICC Marseille and volunteer project manager for AURORA, project for vulnerable women, part of the Plan for Social Welfare in Milan’s hinterland #Oltreperimetri, she has been teaching Italian to foreigners for long. Translation volunteer for AVSI and passionate linguist, she had the opportunity to take part in the SALAM program for the study of the Arabic Language at Sultan Qaboos college for non-native speakers in Oman in 2017.
After having obtained her BA in Arabic, English and International Relation at Università Cattolica di Milano with the dissertation: “Muslim-Christian dialogue: a challenge to our societies”, she worked briefly for Oasis International Foundation in Venice and Milan.
PIO WENNUBST
Vice Director General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland
PIO WENNUBST
Ambassador Pio Wennubst is assistant director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and head of the Global Cooperation Department.
He is a visionary who has worked successfully in promoting sustainable and fair globalisation. Having trained as an agricultural economist, his work involves developing viable solutions for implementing political agreements. After working as managing director of a Swiss chemical company, he moved to the public sector, joining the SDC in 1995. On the strength of many years’ experience in international development diplomacy, in his current position he is successfully mobilising both private companies and individuals to take part in building the ‘new economy’.
CLAUDIA SOSAI
Young change-maker
CLAUDIA SOSAI
Claudia Gabriela Sosai, Human Rights specialist. She has a Bachelor’s in “Social Studies and Political Science” (University of Bologna, 2014) and a Master’s in “Pedagogy and Science of Education” (University of Bologna, 2017). In 2019 she further broadened her knowledge by doing a second Master’s degree in “Human Rights and International Protection” at Sapienza University (Rome, Italy, 2019).
She has long been interested in human rights and she gained experience in the field by working for local and international organisations promoting the education and socio-cultural inclusion of marginalised people with a particular focus for asylum seekers.
Her interest stems from her personal life experience, as she comes from a migrant family and this particular background is what urges her to constantly relate with other people who have shared or are sharing this same experience. She is an activist in Bologna (Italy) offering legal and social counselling to migrants and organising theatre of oppressed sessions together with a team of passionate volunteers.
Practical Information
Transport
By train: Lugano is one of the principal stops on the main European North-South route and can be reached from many cities in the northern and southern part of Europe by direct day or night train connections. Check trains and updated departure times from/to Lugano here.
By plane: The quickest way to get to Lugano from most places abroad, will be through a number of airports listed below:
- From Milano Malpensa: The S50 is the train line that connects Lugano and Malpensa. Check trains and updated departure times here. Direct bus connections to Lugano are available on demand. To make a reservation contact Giosy Tours at +41 79 133 53 23.
- Lugano Airport is served by Swiss International Air Lines. From the airport, you can take a shuttle bus to the centre of the city or a taxi.
- Zurich Airport: As an alternative you might consider flying to Zurich and use the train to travel to Lugano (overall, a 2h journey). There is a direct, hourly train from Zurich main station to Lugano. It is a chance to experience the longest train tunnel in Europe by passing under the Gotthard.
Visa
For citizens of the following countries, only a valid passport is required to travel in Switzerland: Americas (except Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia and Peru), Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Passport holders from other countries should consult the relevant visa requirements.
Please note that the general visa and entry procedure is described in detail in this information sheet.
Leisure
The Lugano region is well-known for the beauty of its landscape, lake, mountains and Mediterranean vegetation.
For further information: https://www.luganoregion.com/en