The event aims to highlight real-case experiences and foster high-level dialogue on how SACE’s guarantees can support transformative projects in high-potential Asian markets. It will bring together prominent representatives from the institutional, financial, and industrial sectors to explore new growth trajectories and unlock business opportunities for Italian companies across the region.
Speakers
| Riccardo Barbieri Hermitte Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, Director General of the Treasury |
Riccardo Barbieri has served as Director General of the Treasury since January 2023. He represents Italy in international financial institutions and acts as Deputy to the Minister of Economy and Finance in G7, G20, and IMF meetings. He sits on the boards of CDP, FS, and ESM. Previously Chief Economist at the Treasury, he led macroeconomic forecasting and contributed to Italy’s Recovery Plan. |
| Michal Ron SACE, Chief International Business Officer |
Michal holds responsibility for the SACE Overseas Network, which includes 14 offices across the globe. From 2020 to 2022, Michal was the elected President of the Berne Union, the global association of export credit and investment insurers. From 2018 to 2021 Michal acted as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Trade Insurance Agency, where she also held a director position until July 2023. From 2017 to 2020, she served as the first Secretary General of the International Working Group (IWG), a multilateral initiative between OECD and non-OECD countries aimed at setting common rules for official export credit support. |
| Roberta Casali Speaker ADB, Vice President for Finance and Risk Management |
Roberta Casali is a financial expert with more than 30 years of executive experience in central banking and the financial sector. She held senior positions in the area of payment systems at the Bank of Italy, in both national and international roles, including contributions as a member of the Working Group on Retail Payment Systems in the Bank for International Settlements. Ms. Casali also has significant private sector banking experience, including more than 10 years at Intesa Sanpaolo SpA. |
| Michelangelo Pipan Italy-ASEAN Association, President |
A retired career diplomat with a predilection for economic and cultural diplomacy, he has held numerous posts in Europe, Asia and Africa. He opened the Italian Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. His in-depth knowledge and vast experience in Southeast Asia is also based on several specific positions held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially in development cooperation in the early 1990s. First posted to the Embassy in Manila in 1981, he concluded his career as Ambassador to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Promoter and co-founder of the ITALY-ASEAN Association. |
| Luca Tonello Panelist SMBC, Chair of Energy & Infrastructure Asia Pacific |
Luca Tonello is SMBC Chair Energy and Infrastructure, overseeing the bank’s regional portfolio in sustainable energy, infrastructure, and natural resources. He chairs the SMBC Coal Phaseout Taskforce, partnering with ADB to accelerate coal phaseout in Southeast Asia, and launched a public sector initiative in 2023 to improve the allocation of blended finance. He has contributed to working groups on infrastructure financing led by the World Bank, ADB, IFC, Indonesia’s MoF, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the OECD. |
| Bryan Villanueva San Miguel Corporation, Chief Financial Officer |
Bryan U. Villanueva has been Chief Financial Officer of SMC since February 1, 2025. He was previously Senior Vice President for special corporate projects working under the Office of the President. He is also CFO of San Miguel Aerocity, which is behind the development of SMC’s P740 billion international airport complex in Bulacan. Prior to joining SMC, Villanueva was Managing Director, Global Head of Finance at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. |
| Alberto Pelizza MAIRE, Group Finance Vice President |
Alberto Pelizza has extensive experience in finance and leadership roles across the Maire Tecnimont Group. He began his career at Snamprogetti in 1997, later serving in key finance positions in London and Milan. In 2006, he became Head of Finance at Tecnimont, overseeing treasury, planning, and risk. He currently serves as Group Finance Vice President at Maire Tecnimont, after holding the role of Deputy Group Finance Director. |
Moderator
| Andrea Mattioli SACE, Head of International Business Asia & America |
Andrea is the Head of International Business in Asia & America of SACE, reporting to the Chief International Business Officer and holding responsibility for 7 offices across the Regions. Since 2009 Andrea has been working in the export credit and trade insurance markets, where he has held positions with increasing responsibility in credit risk analysis and underwriting. Previously, he gained various professional experiences in the banking and financial services industry. |
