Ms. Francesca Ottolenghi

Multimedia Journalist & Educator, Philippines

Ms. Francesca is Head of International Relations, Sustainability & Cooperation, and Equal Opportunities at Legacoop (Italy). With a background in Biology (Sapienza University of Rome) and advanced studies in France and Australia, she founded in 1995 a pioneering women’s research cooperative. In 2005 she created Haliéus, where she served as Director and President, transforming it into a specialized structure for international cooperation project design and implementation. As Project Manager, she coordinated initiatives across the Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, Turkey, Madagascar, the Dominican Republic, Laos, and Vietnam. She is also Chair of the ICA Development Platform (ICADP). For over 10 years, she has taught at Sapienza University the course “Cooperative Business Model for Sustainable Development”. She collaborates with FAO, ILO, UNIDO and CIHEAM.