Maria Paola has a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacological Sciences and a Master’s in Business Administration.

Since 1995, she has worked at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, where she held various roles, primarily in international marketing and strategic planning. Since 2010, Maria Paola has been responsible for the Paolo Chiesi Foundation, initially as coordinator and since 2021 as President. Maria Paola was appointed Vice President of Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA in 2023 and President in 2026.

After obtaining a degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Social Enterprise Management, in 2007 he began his career in international cooperation, working for several years in West Africa and subsequently in Central America.

He has collaborated with several international NGOs, both in the field and at headquarters, managing humanitarian programs in the fields of health, nutrition, and protection. Since 2021, he has been the Managing Director of the Paolo Chiesi Foundation.

After obtaining a Master’s degree in International Cooperation, in 2018 she began her professional career in Zambia, working with various NGOs operating in the sectors of education, human rights and livelihoods .

From September 2022 to 2026, as Program Development Officer of the Paolo Chiesi Foundation, he oversaw the NEST Model in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Burundi, and the GASP Model in Guyana and Nepal, supporting the Managing Director in strengthening collaboration with existing partners and building new strategic partnerships. In early 2026, he assumed the role of Neonatal Health Program Manager.

After several experiences working in international cooperation, in Zambia and Sudan, and collaborations with Italian NGOs and foundations, he joined the Foundation in September 2024 as Program Quality Officer.

Between 2024 and 2025, he directly supervised the NEST Model in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, and the GASP Model in Peru, also ensuring cross-functional oversight of processes related to data collection, management, and analysis, as well as quality improvement . In early 2026, he assumed the role of Respiratory Health Program Manager at the Foundation.

After earning a master’s degree in Languages ​​and Cultures for International Communication and Cooperation, she built her professional career in communications in various fields, including higher education , martech , and healthcare . She joined the Paolo Chiesi Foundation in May 2024 as Communication & Fundraising Manager.

In this role, she oversees all internal and external communications activities, supporting the rest of the team in promoting the Foundation’s initiatives and projects. She also coordinates the organization of events and fundraising campaigns.

Federico holds a degree in veterinary medicine and a PhD in endocrinology. He has been working at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA since 2005, where he held various roles in the Neonatology and Special Care departments. During his time at Chiesi, he spent ten years in research and development, leading the neonatology preclinical pharmacology team and as a project leader.

Federico’s main research areas were aerosol administration and other less invasive techniques for surfactant administration. During his time in R&D, he supported the Foundation by serving on the scientific committee responsible for evaluating neonatology projects.

In 2020, Federico joined the Global Medical Affairs department as Head of Care, coordinating a team of medical directors working in various therapeutic areas: neonatology, transplantation, and intensive care. Since 2024, in addition to his role in Care, he has been working as a technical advisor to the Paolo Chiesi Foundation.

Ousmane Ndiaye, a pediatrician specializing in neonatology and epidemiology, has made significant contributions to the field of child health. As a researcher and professor of pediatrics at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, he has undertaken numerous teaching missions in the subregion, including Niger, Guinea, Benin, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. His expertise has been sought by UNICEF, AWARE, and LUX-Développement as a child health consultant.

Leading a dedicated team, she coordinates various research activities focused on improving child health outcomes. She serves as head of the Department of Pediatrics at the Albert Royer Children’s Hospital in Fann and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Dakar. She is also director of the African Center of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health (CEA-SAMEF), a project of the Association of African Universities that focuses on research and training, and vice-president of the Association des Pédiatres de Langue Française.

Mario received training in respiratory medicine and critical care at the University of Milan School of Medicine and in respiratory research at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. While at the University of Miami, he was an associate professor of medicine from 1994 to 2006. He subsequently served as a full professor of medicine at the West Virginia University School of Medicine from 2006 to 2010.

In 2011, Mario joined Chiesi Farmaceutici, where he held various roles in clinical development. From 2011 to 2018, he was clinical lead for the Foster and Trimbow programs, focusing on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mario moved to the Global Pharmacovigilance department in 2019, taking on the role of Head of Risk Management Unit and, until 2025, Senior Lead Physician for Respiratory , serving as Deputy Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance .

Mario’s research has focused on the fundamental mechanisms of airway inflammation and the impact of environmental exposure to air pollutants on respiratory diseases. Since 2014, Mario has collaborated with the Paolo Chiesi Foundation.