The CFS has a permanent Secretariat which includes staff from FAO, IFAD and WFP. Its task is to support the Plenary, the Bureau and Advisory Group and the HLPE in their work. It is hosted at FAO in Rome.
Marina has over 15 years of experience in international cooperation and in the management of non-profit organizations, with a M. Sc. in gender studies and around 10 years of gender-related professional experience focused on institutional gender mainstreaming, advocacy, policy analysis, and research. Before joining CFS, she was Secretary General of the Italian Committee of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Italian Red Cross. Marina likes sailing and improvisation theater, where she enjoys being part of a crew.
With a background in political science and development economics, Chiara brings 15 years of experience in spearheading large intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder processes. She has been coordinating the Committee’s policy work around the areas of responsible investment in agriculture and food systems, rural-urban linkages, gender equality and – most recently – agroecology and innovations. Prior to joining the UN, she held positions within the non-profit sector in Belgium and El Salvador. Her life’s motto is “It always seems impossible until it is done.” (Nelson Mandela)
An Italo-Argentinian national, with academic background in political science, international relations and food security, Emilio joined the CFS Secretariat in 2010. In charge of several CFS policy processes throughout the years, he recently coordinated the development and endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition. He is now coordinating the implementation of these guidelines. His optimism is proverbial - crucial asset for a member of the CFS Secretariat.
Paola has a professional background in the financial markets and in language teaching. She worked in the Front Office of the Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources as executive assistant to the Secretary, before being assigned to the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources. There she assisted the Secretary in the front office for many years and eventually became the focal point for the coordination of meeting logistics both at HQs and outside Italy. She is interested in FAO’s normative work and global policy impact. Her working languages are English, French and Spanish.
Fabio is a Programme Specialist at the CFS Secretariat, where he leads the Secretariat’s work on data systems for food security and nutrition, and helps coordinate the work of the CFS Chairperson. He has several years of experience working on the humanitarian-development nexus. Before joining CFS, Fabio was at the World Bank, working on governance issues in the Middle-East and North Africa regions. He has also worked at the World Food Programme and for international non-governmental organizations in Tanzania, Sudan, Uganda and South Sudan. Fabio has a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Trieste (Italy) and a M.Sc. in Poverty Reduction at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London (UK).
Raquel comes from Extremadura, Spain with a multidisciplinary background as a translator and interpreter of languages by education and as an agent for change by vocation. Her studies in the field of communication and language transfer have offered her the chance to discover very diverse countries - such as Poland, France, India or Romania - where she has lived and worked as a Spanish teacher, an EVS youth worker or a translation and localization specialist, among others. Most recently, she worked as a Partnership Development Officer at Translators Without Borders and as a Freelance Translator (English, French, Spanish) specializing in the humanitarian field.
Born in Moldavia, Tatiana has lived in Rome for the past 19 years. She joined the CFS Secretariat in May 2019 working at the front office of the CFS Secretary while assisting the Secretariat with administrative and logistical operations. Her main aim is to support the whole team and bring joy to all.
Her life’s philosophy is: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams - Eleanor Rooseveltl
Giorgia is a Biologist, Food Scientist and licensed Nutritionist with a Master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She joined the CFS Secretariat in 2018 and is excited to contribute to the development of policy guidance that aim to achieve food security and nutrition worldwide. Before joining CFS, Ms Giorgia worked at FAO since 2015 in the Food Systems and Nutrition Division, and at a Hospital in Rome, developing nutrition plans in the diabetic department, before that. She is motivated, enthusiastic, reliable and sees opportunities in every challenge and the positive side in every difficult situation.
Martin is a German-Filipino, born and raised in Upper Franconia, Germany. He holds a B.A. in English linguistics and an M.A. in Media Culture and Media Economy. He joined the CFS Secretariat in January 2021 to help out on the digital and visual communications front. Prior to this, he worked as a Media Officer at the ONE Campaign in Berlin, Germany and as a Carlo-Schmid-Fellow at the UN Department of Global Communications in New York. He speaks German and English, a bit of Arabic, and wishes he was better at speaking French.
Francoise is an engineer in earth sciences with a Master in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, UK). With more than 20 years’ experience with UN organizations, NGOs and private companies, implementing food security and nutrition development initiatives in many regions of the world, she joined the CFS Secretariat in 2015 where she’s currently coordinating the Committee’s work on gender. Francoise is a professional facilitator, certified by the International Association of Facilitators
Bahar joined the CFS Secretariat in June of 2022 from WFP as Senior Programme Officer. A long-term dedicated staff member of WFP and the UN system for over two and half decades, Bahar has held various positions in different UN Agencies and the UN Secretariat at field and HQ locations, including in emergency response settings, logistics, leading development and environmental portfolios and heading a liaison office.