Il Forum
Panoramica
Il Forum riunisce personalità eminenti dell’imprenditoria e della politica, accademici e intellettuali che discutono delle sfide che la regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo si trova a fronteggiare. Vengono trattati vari temi, con una grande attenzione all’attualità, come le nuove configurazioni geopolitiche, le dinamiche dei flussi migratori, la sicurezza nel Mediterraneo, la salute e i sistemi alimentari, l’ heritage culturale in pericolo, il partenariato euro-mediterranei, le municipalità della regione. I giovani change-maker hanno la straordinaria opportunità di condividere le loro riflessioni con autorità di spicco ed esperti, presentando il loro punto di vista e le proposte di progetto elaborate prima del Forum.
Quest’anno a causa della pandemia di Coronavirus e delle sue conseguenze, il Summit non può essere tenuto come previsto. Le circostanze hanno comprensibilmente imposto una revisione del formato del MEM Summer Summit 2020. Il Forum è stato trasferito online. L’edizione online del Forum è visibile sotto.
Il Forum online
Guarda il Forum
MEM Summer Summit Forum 2020
Forum 2020 Programma
Programma completo del Forum: MEM Summer Summit 2020 Online Edition – Forum Programme
Lingue
Inglese e francese, con i sottotitoli in italiano.
L’ambasciatrice svizzera in Libano ha fatto un resoconto della attuale difficile situazione in Libano, colpita da un’importante crisi economica, da una profonda crisi di governo, dall’emergenza COVID-19 e infine dalla grande esplosione che ha devastato Beirut. L’ambasciatrice ha parlato anche delle iniziative e dei progetti di supporto promosse dalla Svizzera.
Il Presidente francese Emmanuel Macron è intervenuto, in un video messaggio, sull’importanza della regione del Medio Oriente e del Mediterraneo e sui suoi equilibri politici, con particolare attenzione ai conflitti in Siria e Libia e alla crisi in Libano. L’analisi del Presidente francese – che si appella alla responsabilità collettiva per trovare soluzioni condivise – è strutturata in quattro assi: religioso, demografico, energetico e politico.
La regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo è stata caratterizzata negli ultimi anni e negli ultimi mesi da guerre civili e da sollevazioni che hanno interessato quasi tutti i Paesi. In coincidenza con l’intensificarsi dei movimenti di protesta che raccolgono il malcontento delle popolazioni, si è assistito a una progressiva diminuzione o perdita di interesse da parte delle potenze occidentali per la regione. Questo ritiro dell’Occidente, definito con un neologismo anglofono “Westlessness”, ha dato origine a nuovi accordi ed equilibri. Ne hanno parlato politici e studiosi provenienti dalle zone dove si stanno delineano queste nuove linee di accordo.
Maha El-Adawy ha delineato un quadro dell’emergenza sanitaria COVID-19 nella regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo. Data l’estensione e l’eterogeneità della regione, ha parlato di Paesi con situazioni molte diverse come, fra gli altri, Iran e Yemen. Ha evidenziato anche le conseguenze socio-economiche della pandemia sugli strati più fragili della popolazione come i poveri e le donne.
L’emergenza sanitaria Covid-19 e le misure di contenimento adottate dai vari Paesi, a livello globale, hanno determinato, come noto, il crollo dei prezzi del petrolio con importanti ripercussioni economiche, politiche e sociali. L’era del potere incontrastato delle petromonarchie del Medio Oriente potrebbe volgere presto al termine. In questo contesto la Libia, lacerata da divisioni tribali interne e al centro di interessi internazionali, offre importanti spunti di riflessione sul presente e futuro dei Paesi produttori di petrolio. Il panel ospita speaker dell’industria petrolifera e della cantieristica che hanno delineato la situazione attuale e i possibili scenari futuri.
Pio Wennubst ha parlato dell’iniziativa “Bites of Transfoodmation”, organizzata dalla rappresentanza permanente della Svizzera alla FAO, IFAD e WFP, dal 20 al 24 ottobre 2020 a Roma, che metterà insieme giovani innovatori per riflettere del futuro dei food system. La regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo, in cui il cibo e la sua produzione rivestono un ruolo culturale e socio-economico straordinaria, è investita dal cambiamento climatico, dal incremento dell’urbanizzazione, dall’aumento dei prezzi dei beni primari.
Audery Azoulay, direttrice generale dell’UNESCO, ha sottolineato l’importanza dell’arte, della cultura e dell’istruzione per combattere le inuguaglianze e la disoccupazione delle donne e dei giovani nella regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo. Ha parlato delle iniziative promosse dall’UNESCO durante la pandemia.
Questo panel offre una riflessione sulle sfide e sulle opportunità che l’arte e la cultura presentano per la regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo. La pluralità delle voci nel panel, di artisti e del direttore culturale dell’UNESCO, restituisce la complessità, la fragilità e la forza della produzione artistica e culturale. La “prognosi” dell’Arabia Saudita fatta Ahmed Mater propone un’analisi in cui vita personale e storia della regione si incrociano in un momento di profonda transizione. Rachid Koraïchi, con il Jardin d’Afrique crea uno spazio sacro per mantenere viva la memoria dei migranti affogati nel Mediterraneo e per incoraggiare un ripensamento delle relazioni fra Africa, Mediterraneo ed Europa. Ernesto Ottone Ramirez invece si fa portavoce delle istanze di un’importante istituzione culturale e del dibattito lanciato durante la pandemia sulla dimensione resiliente dell’arte con il programma Resiliart. Il panel era moderato da Diana Segantini che nel 2019 è stata responsabile culturale e del patrimonio del Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Arabia Saudita.
Gli Alumni del MEM Summer Summit e giovani change-maker hanno contribuito in vari modi alla realizzazione del MEM Summer Summit Forum.
Alcuni di loro erano seduti nei panel come rappresentanti e portavoce di tutto il gruppo; alcuni avevano preparato delle testimonianze video e altri hanno partecipato attivamente al dibattito dei panel, collegati da tutta la regione del Medio Oriente Mediterraneo. Nour Nasreldin ha ideato e diretto un cortometraggio Muted City sul lockdown al Cairo, che sarà presentato in anteprima al Forum.
Relatori

IGNAZIO CASSIS
Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA),Switzerland
S.E. IGNAZIO CASSIS
Ignazio Cassis si è laureato in medicina umana presso l’Università di Zurigo nel 1988. Ha lavorato come medico dal 1988 al 1996. Successivamente, nel 1996, è diventato medico cantonale per il Canton Ticino e nello stesso anno ha conseguito un master in sanità pubblica (MPH) presso l’Università di Ginevra. Si è anche laureato nel 1998, specializzandosi in medicina interna, nonché in prevenzione e salute pubblica.
Cassis è stato eletto al Consiglio Federale svizzero il 20 settembre 2017, dove ha assunto l’incarico di capo del Dipartimento Federale degli Affari Esteri il 1° novembre 2017.
La carriera politica di Cassis iniziò nel 2004 quando è stato eletto nel legislativo del Comune Ticinese di Collina d’Oro. Dal 2008 al 2012, Cassis ha ricoperto la carica di vicepresidente dell’Associazione medica svizzera. Dal 2015 ha presieduto il Comitato per la Sicurezza Sociale e la Salute del Consiglio Nazionale ed è stato anche vicepresidente o presidente di vari gruppi parlamentari.
Prima della sua elezione al Consiglio Federale, per due anni Cassis era presidente del gruppo parlamentare PLR.I Liberali, di cui è diventato membro quando è stato eletto al Consiglio nazionale nel 2007.
Dal 2001 tiene conferenze in varie università in Svizzera. È stato anche membro di numerose fondazioni e associazioni. Era a capo dell’associazione CURAVIVA (case di cura e istituzioni in Svizzera) e Curafutura, un’associazione di assicuratori malattia.

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
Boas Erez ha conseguito la maturità scientifica al Liceo di Lugano nel 1981, quindi il Diploma in matematica all’Università di Ginevra nel 1985 e il Dottorato di ricerca in matematica presso la medesima università nel 1987. È stato assistente all’Università di Ginevra dal 1985 al 1990 e Benjamin Peirce Assistant Professor alla Harvard University dal 1990 al 1993. A partire dal 1993 è stato Professore ordinario di matematica all’Università di Bordeaux, dove ha ricoperto numerosi incarichi direttivi a livello di istituto, di facoltà, di commissioni, di programmi, di collegi dottorali e di progetti scientifici internazionali. Ha fatto ripetutamente parte del Consiglio d’amministrazione dell’Università di Bordeaux 1, del quale è stato vicepresidente per il quadriennio 2005-2008. Vanta numerose pubblicazioni scientifiche di qualità e ha organizzato regolarmente congressi internazionali nel suo campo disciplinare. Ha una grande esperienza nella coordinazione di progetti di formazione universitaria in partenariato internazionale.
Dal 1° settembre 2016 il Prof. Boas Erez è Rettore dell’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
La dottoressa El-Adawy ha conseguito una laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia presso la Facoltà di Medicina, Università del Cairo, in Egitto, nonché un master in Sanità Pubblica presso la stessa università. Ha conseguito un master in Sanità Pubblica della salute materna e infantile presso la Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, e un dottorato in Sanità Pubblica presso l’Università del Cairo. Dal luglio 2016 è direttrice della divisione Protezione e Promozione della Salute presso l’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità.
Da agosto 2015 a luglio 2016 ha lavorato come rappresentante dell’UNFPA in Iran. Da gennaio 2009 ad agosto 2015 ha ricoperto la carica di consulente tecnico regionale e di programma per la salute e i diritti sessuali e riproduttivi presso l’ufficio regionale dell’UNFPA al Cairo. El-Adawy è stata anche consulente politico per la salute presso l’ufficio dell’UNDP (Programma delle Nazioni Unite per lo sviluppo) a New York, negli Stati Uniti, da giugno 2007 a dicembre 2008.
El-Adawy ha ricoperto la carica di ufficiale superiore del Programma regionale per la salute riproduttiva e i diritti riproduttivi (Regional Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights Programme) presso la Ford Foundation, New York, da marzo 2000 a giugno 2007. Ha ricoperto altre posizioni senior nel settore della salute presso la delegazione della Commissione europea al Cairo, nonché presso la Harvard School of Public Health di Boston.
Ha ottenuto la borsa di studio Eisenhower per lo sviluppo della leadership e ha pure ricevuto una borsa di studio Takemi dalla Harvard School of Public Health. Ha anche lavorato come consulente per l’UNICEF, la Banca mondiale e l’Università americana di 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; PLS 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 ISPI since January 2017. He has also been Chairman of Fincantieri Spa since May 2016. He was appointed Deputy Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister on October 1993. In 1994, he was designated Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. Since June 1996 he served as Head of the Press and Information Office and the Minister’s spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since September 2001, he served as Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between March 2004 and May 2006, he was Director General for Multilateral Political Affairs and Human Rights and then Head of Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. On January 2006, he was appointed to the rank of Ambassador. Director General for Personnel since May 2006, in September 2007 he became Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From April 2008 to December 2009 he also served as Personal Representative of the Italian Prime Minister for the G8/G20 Summits (Sherpa). From May 2012 until May 2016 he was the Director General of the Department for Intelligence and Security (DIS), the coordinating body of the Italian intelligence community.

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.

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 & 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.
Informazioni pratiche
Transporti
In treno: Lugano è una delle principali fermate sull’asse principale europeo nord-sud e può essere raggiunta da molte città europee con collegamenti ferroviari diretti diurni o notturni. Verifica qui i treni e gli orari di partenza aggiornati da/per Lugano.
In aereo: è il modo più rapido per raggiungere Lugano dall’estero. Qui di seguito la lista degli aeroporti vicini:
- Da Milano Malpensa: La linea S50 è il collegamento che unisce il Ticino all’aeroporto di Malpensa. Verifica qui i treni e gli orari di partenza aggiornati. Si possono prenotare i bus diretti su richiesta. Per prenotazioni contattate +41 79 133 53 23 (Giosy Tours).
- L’aeroporto di Lugano è servito da Swiss International Air Lines. Dall’aeroporto, è possibile prendere un bus navetta per il centro città o utilizzare un servizio di taxi.
- Aeroporto di Zurigo: in alternativa è possibile considerare un volo per Zurigo e poi un collegamento ferroviario per Lugano (circa 2 ore di viaggio). I treni diretti dalla stazione centrale di Zurigo a Lugano sono numerosi. Questa è un’occasione per sperimentare il tunnel ferroviario più lungo d’Europa che attraversa il San Gottardo.
Visti
Per entrare in Svizzera i cittadini dell’UE/AELS necessitano di una carta d’identità o di un passaporto valido. Si raccomanda ai cittadini di altri Stati di verificare i requisiti in materia di visti presso l’ambasciata o il consolato del proprio paese.
Promemoria entrata nello spazio Schengen e procedura del visto.
Tempo libero
La sua bellezza naturale, la diversità dei suoi paesaggi, il clima mediterraneo, la sua ricchezza culturale e l’offerta variegata di attività ricreative fanno di Lugano e di tutto il Ticino una delle mete più popolari della Svizzera.
Per ulteriori informazioni: https://www.luganoregion.com/it