In 2025, I was selected for the UK–Italy Young Leaders Programme, bringing together a small cohort of emerging leaders from across business, politics, academia, culture and other fields.
As a Brit who has built much of her adult and professional life in Italy, the relationship between the two countries is something I care about both personally and professionally.
The programme has been an opportunity to get a closer look at how that relationship works — and, just as importantly, to meet people who are interested in where it could go next.
I'm now involved in the programme's alumni network and Steering Committee.
I've lived and worked in Italy for years, but I've never felt that building a life in one country required leaving the other behind.
Quite the opposite.
I've become increasingly interested in the opportunities that emerge when people, businesses and institutions look beyond their own borders — particularly when the relationships are built on more than formal introductions.
The Young Leaders Programme brings together people working in different sectors who share an interest in strengthening the relationship between the UK and Italy.
Work Details
Learning from both sides
The programme has included opportunities to engage with institutions, policymakers, businesses and other organisations in both countries.
For me, one of the most interesting aspects has been seeing how different sectors approach shared challenges — and how much there is to learn from people whose professional worlds look very different from my own.
Building relationships across sectors
A particularly valuable part of the experience has been the people.
The cohort brings together different perspectives, backgrounds and areas of expertise, creating opportunities for conversations and collaborations that might otherwise be unlikely to happen.
Continuing the conversation
Through the alumni network and Steering Committee, I'm involved in exploring ways to keep those connections active and useful beyond the original programme.
That includes developing opportunities for exchange and collaboration with other networks and organisations.
It's a part of my work and life I'd like to continue developing: finding practical, interesting ways to bring people and ideas together across the UK and Italy.
