This seminar, hosted by Generali in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), explores strategies, partnerships, and innovative solutions that strengthen Asian MSMEs and the global value chains that rely on them in the face of rising uncertainty. With the objective of raising awareness around the commitment of supporting Asian MSMEs’ journey to resilience, this session aims at addressing the urgent need for MSMEs to better manage their financial risks and enabling a solution-focused discussion, especially with relevant public institutions, local associations, business representatives, as well as international organizations to drive sustainable development for MSMEs in Asia. A networking cocktail will follow the seminar.
Panelists
| Riccardo Barbieri Hermitte Director General, Department of the Treasury, Ministry of Economy and Finance |
Dr. Riccardo Barbieri Hermitte was appointed Director General of the Treasury in January 2023. In his position, Dr. Barbieri oversees the management of public debt, banking and financial sector policies, macroeconomic analysis and forecasting, the drafting of official economic and fiscal policy documents, European economic and financial relations, and international financial relations, including multilateral development banks, the IMF and the OECD. Dr. Barbieri is the Deputy of the Economy and Finance Minister at the G7, G20 and IMF-World Bank Meetings, and a member of the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) and the Euro Working Group of the European Union, as well as of the Board of Directors of the European Stability Mechanism. He is the chair of the SCIMF sub-committee of the EFC, which coordinates the EU position vis-à-vis the IMF. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Italy’s national development bank). Dr. Barbieri started his career as an academic economist at Bocconi University in Milan, where he previously graduated with honours in Economics and Social Sciences, and subsequently studied and worked at New York University, U.S.A., where he earned a Ph.D. in Economics. He then had a twenty-five-year career in the financial markets, with the longest stints at JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Mizuho, before joining the Italian Treasury as Chief Economist in August 2015. |
| Andrea Sironi Chairman, Generali |
Andrea Sironi has been a member of the Board of Directors of Assicurazioni Generali since February 28, 2022. Prior, he was financial analyst at Chase Manhattan Bank in London, Chair of CEMS, the global alliance of management schools, member of the board of directors of London Stock Exchange Group, Banco Popolare, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Unicredit Group and Intesa Sanpaolo. He was Vice-chair of Banca Aletti and Chair of Borsa Italiana. Andrea Sironi is currently President and Professor of Economics of Financial Intermediaries at Bocconi University in Milan. |
| Kanni Wignaraja UN Assistant Secretary-General & Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP |
With over 30 years of experience in the UN, Kanni Wignaraja has held senior leadership roles in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and at the UN in Geneva and NY. She is an advocate for people-centered perspectives and policies that secure peoples’ futures while protecting the environment. Before taking up her current role, Wignaraja led UNDP’s Bureau for Management Services. Wignaraja holds a Masters degree in Public Administration (Development Economics) from Princeton University. Wignaraja is a national of Sri Lanka. |
| Giulio Terzariol CEO Insurance, Generali |
Giulio Terzariol has joined Generali in January 2024 as CEO Insurance. Prior to joining Generali, between 1998 and 2023 he held various positions within Allianz SE, most recently serving as the Group CFO for a period of six years. Giulio started his insurance career with Generali in 1995 as an International Trainee with basis in Munich and an assignment in Vienna. Giulio graduated in Business Administration from Bocconi University in 1995, Milan. |
| Roberta Casali Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, Asian Development Bank |
Ms. Roberta Casali is the Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). She assumed the position in January 2022. Ms. Casali is responsible for the overall management of the operations of the Office of Risk Management, the Controller’s Department, and the Treasury Department. |
| Simone Bemporad Group Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, Generali |
Simone Bemporad joined Assicurazioni Generali in January 2014. Prior to that, he spent several years in Washington, D.C. as a strategic consultant and, from 2007 to 2012, as CEO of Finmeccanica (now Leonardo) North America. He has published books on private and public companies, served on several Boards of Directors, and he is currently Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He teaches a course on integrated communication at Cattolica University. |
| H.E. Vani Rao Ambassador of India to Italy |
Vani Rao is a career diplomat who served the Government of India since 1994. She holds the rank of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. From August 2020 to March 2024, she led the Americas Division in the Ministry of External Affairs which dealt with India’s relations with USA, Canada and the Quad framework. She assumed charge as India’s Ambassador to Italy on 3rd April 2024. She is India’s Permanent Representative to the Rome-based UN agencies: FAO, WFP, IFAD. |
Moderator
| Lauren Carter Deputy Team Lead and Head of Engagement Cluster, UNDP |
Lauren Carter is IRFF Deputy Team Lead and heads the Engagement Cluster. Based in Geneva, she is a specialist in climate finance. Previously, Lauren was Director of Climate Finance Initiatives for a boutique advisory in Morocco and guided the government’s engagement with the Green Climate Fund. Before this, Lauren worked as an Agriculture and Environmental Advisor with the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and in the private sector as a hedge fund analyst. Lauren has an MBA and a BA and is fluent in French. |
