Mariangela Zappia

Ambassador Zappia is the Permanent Representative of Italy to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, since the 1st October 2014. She is the first woman to be appointed to this position.

Born on the 12th August 1959, she is married to Mr. Denis Caillaux, and has two children, Claire (21) and Christian (17).

A native Italian, she speaks fluent English and French, and has a good comprehension of Spanish.

In 2002, she was awarded the "Ufficiale dell'Ordine al merito della Repubblica Italiana" decoration.

Most relevant experiences

• Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN and other International Organization in Geneva (2011-2014)
• Ministry Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva.  Special  assignment as coordinator of major events under the Italian Presidency of the G8 in 2009.
• Head of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Balkans Department for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.  
• First Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN in New York.
• First Counsellor, at the Italian Embassy in Brussels. Detached, on a special assignment, to the NATO media task-force during the conflict in Kosovo.
• Counsellor, in charge with relations with Italian press and media at the Press and Information Service and Office of the Spokesperson of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Rome.
• She had previously held different positions in New York (1990-1993), Dakar (1986-1990) and Rome (1983-1986).

Education

• She has a Master degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Florence and a Post-graduate degree in Diplomatic and International Relations.
• She has followed periodic high level training courses on diplomatic practice and management at the Diplomatic Academy of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.

Publications

• She has published on the Reform of the Security Council and on the Contribution of Italy to UN peace-keeping operations.
• She is a regular speaker at international conferences on issues such as the European Union Foreign and Security Policy, multilateralism, human rights, migration, disarmament, women peace and security.