Francesco Cappè was an Erasmus student in Bilbao in 1996. He holds a degree in Law (thesis in Ireland) with a Master in International Relations in interdisciplinary perspective. Deputy Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of Pisa from 2000 to 2003, for 12 years (until September 2012) he was employed as a United Nations official, Head of Security, Dialogue and Innovation at UNICRI. From 2006 to 2011 he was member of the UN Secretary General Task Force on Counter-Terrorism Strategy in New York

Francesco is senior advisor for the internationalisation and innovation process for profit and nonprofit organizations. He was adjunct professor on Future Studies and Strategic Forecasting at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Pisa, and he lectured in several universities across the world. He is the editor and co-author of the book Generazione Erasmus: l’Italia dalle nuove idee.

Fabrizio Bitetto has been Chief Executive Officer of the garagErasmus Foundation since August 2017. He was an Erasmus Student in 2008. He took a Master degree in Urban Planning and Policy Design at the Polytechnic University in Milan in 2013. ​

While still a University student, Fabrizio launched his own activity of building administration. At the same time he decided to continue his Erasmus experience by supporting Erasmus students, first at the Polytechnic University in Milan and then as President of Erasmus Student Network Italy. During his term as National President, he coordinated the participation of ESN in EXPO 2015 as Civil Society Participants, and promoted the approval of a national law to grant Italian Erasmus students abroad the right to vote remotely. He started his new adventure with garagErasmus Foundation in 2016.

Nicola Filizola is an international communication and public affairs expert who has worked in the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel and Belgium for the United Nations, for major TV broadcastings and video productions, radio broadcasting stations, and other private and public organisations.

Nicola is co-founder and Vice President EU Affairs of the garagErasmus Foundation. He is coordinating the activities of the Foundation in Brussels, where he is the first contact with the European Commission, companies and European universities to launch Check-in Europe, the first professional online platform for talents and companies in Europe. He is also a member of the Erasmus Students and Alumni Association board in representation of garagErasmus. He is determined to make garagErasmus the largest professional network in Europe and to raise the impact of the Erasmus Generation in Europe’s economic scene.

Carl Björkman is Head of Nordics at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to that, he worked with the World Economic Forum, where he was Director and Head of International Organisations and Government Affairs. He has also worked for Bloomberg, Waterberry Development Organisation, the United Nations, and the European Commission.

Carl comes from an international background, having grown up in Africa and worked in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe. He speaks English, French, Italian and Swedish. He has an MA in International Relations and a postgraduate MLitt in Management, Economics and Politics from the University of St. Andrews, as well as an Executive Master in Global Leadership from INSEAD, Columbia University, London Business School and Wharton. He serves on the board of several non-profit organisations.

Vito Potenza is founder and senior partner of the Associated Chartered Accounting Firm Potenza & Partners operating both in Milan and Monza, providing consultancy and technical support to its Italian and international clients.

Since February 2012, Vito has been Adjunct Professor at the Bicocca University of Milan for the course “Company Evaluation”. He previously lectured on Criminal Law and Economics at the University of Castellanza (2006) and on Company Governance at the Bicocca University of Milan (2011). In 2009 he was elected Provincial Coordinator of Monza and Brianza for the Carabinieri National Association.

Rocco Palma is a lawyer and diplomat specialised in International and European law and affairs, with a particular focus on economic issues. He holds a PhD in International trade law and has been an associate lawyer in local and national top-level law firms in Italy.

Since 2007 he has taught International law, International trade law, and International intellectual property law at the University of Salento in Lecce, and at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Piacenza and Rome, as well as in several other Universities. Rocco currently serves as a diplomat at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He was one of the first members to join the garagErasmus Foundation.