Italy

Mariangela Zappia is the Italian Ambassador to the United States of America. A career diplomat with forty years of experience, she is the first woman in her country to hold this position. She was the first woman Ambassador of Italy to the United Nations in New York, to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Diplomatic Advisor to the Italian Prime Minister and G7/G20 Sherpa.

MOST RELEVANT EXPERIENCES

• Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN in New York (2018-2021);
• Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Italy and G7-G20 Sherpa (2016-2018);
• Permanent Representative of Italy to NATO in Brussels (2014-2016);
• Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva (2011-2014);
• Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva (2007-2011);
• Special assignment as coordinator of major events under the Italian Presidency of the G8 in 2009, including on violence against women and women, peace and security;
• Head of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Balkans Department for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome (2007);
• From 2003 to 2006 she dedicated herself full time to her family;
• First Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN in New York (2000-2003);
• First Counselor at the Italian Embassy in Brussels (1997-2000);
• Counselor Press and Information Service and Office of the Spokesperson of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Rome (1994-1997);
• She had previously served at the Consulate General of Italy in New York (1990-1993) and at the Italian Embassy in Dakar (1986-1990).

EDUCATION

She holds a master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Florence and a post-graduate degree in Diplomatic and International Relations from the same University. She has taken periodic high-level training courses on diplomatic practice and management at the Diplomatic Academy of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.

OTHERS

She has published on the Reform of the Security Council and on the Contribution of Italy to UN peace-keeping operations, and she is a regular speaker on Italian foreign policy, multilateral and global issues.

She speaks fluent English and French, and has a good knowledge of Spanish.

She holds the decoration of “Commendatore” (Commander) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

She is the recipient of the “Mela D’Oro” award (2019) by the Fondazione Marisa Bellisario, for the advancement of women in public institutions, and of the “Top Diplomacy” award (2022) by the Fondazione Guido Carli.

She is the proud mother of Claire and Christian.