Rome, Italy Laura is a food systems expert at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, where she coordinates a project that promotes a transition to sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean by building multi-stakeholder partnerships and leveraging investments. Laura previously managed the programme portfolios for food value chain and rural women’s empowerment at FAO Egypt. Before joining FAO, she organized global awards for microfinance institutions serving smallholder farmers. Laura has a master’s degree in international development and is a certified specialist in microfinance.