Dr. Maria Michela Morese is Senior Natural Resources Officer and Energy Team Leader at FAO. She leads the Energy-Smart Agrifood Systems (ESAS) Programme aimed to support countries increase access to sustainable energy in agrifood systems through innovative, green energy solutions. In FAO since 2006, she has +25 years of experience working on international relations, energy, environment and climate change. Between 2006 and 2022 she was Executive Secretary of the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) and Coordinator of various FAO projects. Before joining FAO, she worked for the Italian Government negotiating on environmental and climate change international processes, and prior to that she worked for other UN agencies with a focus on human rights. Michela holds a PhD in Forest Ecology and a Master of Arts in International Relations.