About the Session

Drawing on his experience as Brexit communications lead at the EU Delegation to the UK, and a longstanding career in international relations, Federico Bianchi will share insights on the integral role communications plays in diplomacy. He will reflect on the importance of nuanced and strategic messaging in an increasingly volatile global geopolitical context, where misinformation poses a growing challenge, and provide an opportunity for students to develop critical communications skills, through a guided interactive exercise.

About the Speaker

Federico Bianchi is the Spokesperson and Head of Press and Public Diplomacy at the EU Delegation to the UK.

Prior to his current role, Federico was Head of Press and Media at the Italian Embassy to the U.K. (2015-2019), Senior Comms Adviser at the U.K. Foreign Office (2014-2015), and served in Islamabad (2011-2014); Shanghai (2011), Rome (2009-2011) as Italian diplomat; in Montreal (2008-2009) as G7 outreach coordinator for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP - CBD); in Brussels (2003-2008) working for the EU institutions with multiple roles.

Federico has been since 2021 the elected President of the Diplomatic Press Attaches Association in London (DPAAL). Winner of the Young Diplomat of the Year Award (London, 2018), Federico is also Honorary Life member of the Oxford University Italian Society and Member of the Scientific Committee of the Hub on Corporate communications of the IULM University in Milan.

Federico graduated in law with honours from the University of Naples and holds master’s degrees in International relations and diplomatic studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, the University of Rome and the United Nations institute (SIOI) in Rome, as well as a PhD on EU-US-China relations in the field of intellectual property from the University of Salerno. Federico speaks fluently English, French, Italian, Spanish, good Portuguese and basic Mandarin & Urdu.

The power of communication in diplomacy