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Who we are
Executive Committee
Giusy Arzillo - President
I am a lawyer and work in the corporate legal department, where I am also a member of the internal Diversity & Inclusion committee. During the pandemic, I provided online mentoring to support the professional integration of people who had moved to Scotland. My commitment to community work continued with Comites, representing the next step in a journey focused on community, inclusion, and the promotion of Italian identity and culture.
Michela Calcagni - Vice President
I was born in Milan and grew up in the province of Frosinone. I have lived in Pisa and Naples. After graduating in Business Administration and completing a traineeship towards qualification as a chartered accountant, I gained a range of professional experience in administrative and accounting roles. Since 2008, I have been living in Glasgow, where my two daughters were born. I am a member of an Italian book club, which nurtures my passion for reading; since 2023, I have also been a trustee and treasurer of the non-profit organisation Italian Scotland. I am committed to developing projects that bring people together and keep my connection to my roots alive.
Laura Landi - Executive Councillor
I’m from Salerno, but I’ve been living in Belfast for over 15 years, with a short spell in Boston. I have a degree in Communication Studies, two master’s degrees in public and digital communication, and a crush on cinema that I’ve never gotten over. Between 9 and 5, I create technical and business-oriented content for Northern Ireland’s economic development agency; outside office hours, I write about everything that isn’t technical. I’m also part of the executive committee of Comites Scotland and Northern Ireland, I organise events, bake cakes, and take my family travelling whenever I can
Councillor
Laura Leuzzi - Councillor
I am an art historian and curator who weaves together research, community, and creativity between Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee. For years, I have been working on Europeanism, feminism, and cultural exchanges between Italy and Scotland, telling stories that unite generations and give voice to the Italian-Scottish community. My work is born from dialogue and care, building bridges between past and future and placing people, memories, and territories at its core. I am currently a Chancellor's Fellow at Gray's School of Art.
Giuseppe Ragona – Secretary
Born in Florence in 1979, graduated in Veterinary Medicine in Bologna, I have been living in Scotland since 2018with the family, where I work as a Veterinary Auditor for Food Standards Scotland, I work in food safety and official controls.
I love travelling and staying in touch with nature. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and walking our dog.
Maria Zelinda De Marco – Councillor
I am the daughter of Italian immigrants who moved to Britain in 1948. They worked hard to ensure our family's well-being, and although they themselves had no formal education in Italy, they were passionate about ensuring we did. I worked at the University of Glasgow in medical research for a year, and then for three years with a team at Harvard University. After getting married, I decided to take over the family business. I was passionate about working in hospitality and meeting people from all over the world. Since retiring, I have devoted my time to my grandchildren and my passions: cooking, bridge, and chess.
Wilmer Ricciotti - Treasurer
Committees
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Consulate General of Italy in Edinburgh