Massimo Carnelos

Massimo Carnelos is an expert of governmental affairs, technological innovation and financial regulation with over 20 years international experience across Asia, Middle East and Europe, and previously held executive roles in the Italian Government (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Prime Minister’s Office) as well as in International Organisations (the Council of the EU and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).

Massimo Carnelos is currently Head of Innovation, Startups Ecosystem and Space Economy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, based in Rome. 

Prior to his currents role, he was Head of the Economic Office of the Embassy of Italy in London for nearly five years, where he oversaw all issues relating to the financial regulation transformations and policy changes arising from Brexit as well as regulatory and policy framework across sustainable finance and fintech. He also promoted the Italian innovation ecosystem to public investors.

During the same period he also sat in the Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as Alternate Executive Director for Italy, where he was involved in all major decisions relating to strategies, investments and risk management, and sat on the Financial and Operation Policies; Audit; Budget and Administrative Affairs committees. 

Massimo serves also on a number of London-based boards, including the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Advisory Group of the International Business, Diplomatic Exchange and of the Italians’ Private Capital Association, and he is Visiting Scholar at the London Institute for Banking and Finance.