Vincenzo SCHIOPPA, Ambassador of Italy to South Africa
Born in Naples, Italy on 25 July 1956.
Education: Degree in Political Science cum laude at the Istituto Universitario Orientale, Naples; MBAs in International Trade and Marketing and International Law (Rome, Geneva, The Hague) and in Public Governance (ENA, Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Paris).
Professional profile: after various experiences in the private sector, Universities and in Public Support for Exports joined the Diplomatic Service in 1983 (Political Affairs Department, policy planning division and subsequently at the Secretariat of the Department).
• 1988-1991: Consul of Italy in Western Australia
• 1991-1995: Political Counsellor, Italian Embassy, Athens
• 1995-1998: Head of the Secretariat of the Department of Human and Financial Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome
• 1998-1999: Senior Advisor to the Minister for Public Service and Regional Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Rome
• 1999-2000: City Manager of the City of Naples (private contract)
• 2000-2001: Prime Minister’s personal representative for Information and Communication Technologies within the G8, and Chairman of the Digital Opportunity Task Force, DOTforce (created by President Clinton to bridge the digital divide). Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for ICT and e-government. Member of the Italian Board for e-gov, Prime Minister’s Office
• 2001-2005: Alternate Ambassador to the OECD, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris
• 2006-2010: Various responsibilities: General Directorate for Multilateral Economic and Financial Affairs; Coordinator, Prime Minister’s “Unit for better regulation and simplification”; Director, General-Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unit for the promotion of Italian business abroad and the coordination of the external action of Italian Regions
• 2010-2011: Ambassador to Libya
• November 2011 – present: Ambassador to South Africa (with secondary accreditations to Namibia, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar).
Vincenzo Schioppa has written several books, essays and articles, in Italy and abroad, mainly in the field of public governance and reform, where he is a regular lecturer. He has been chair or member of various scientific, steering and managing boards (OECD’s program “Good Government for Development in Mena Countries”, STOA School of Management, FORMEZ, Training Institute for Civil Servants, and other public and private bodies). He is a past President of the Italian Alumni of the ENA, Ecole Nationale d’Administration, and the founder or member of various associations and think-tanks both in Italy and overseas.
Decorated with Orders of Merit in Italy, France and Greece.