Emiliano Stornelli
RSC Chairman
Emiliano Stornelli is the founding Chairman of the Religion & Security Council (RSC). He established RSC in 2017 to promote the role of the “religious factor” in conflict resolution and peace-building. His expertise covers a variety of fields, ranging from international relations and policy-making to addressing radicalization and violent extremism, as well as interreligious dialogue and the promotion of humanitarian initiatives.
Through his work with RSC, he has played an active role in organizing interreligious programs in Lebanon and Iraq. He has also led numerous other activities — forums, panel discussions, study seminars — within an interreligious and intercultural framework, involving participants from Europe, the MENA region, Africa, and Asia.
A KAICIID Fellow, he currently also serves as Coordinator for Research and Program Development at the “De Gasperi” Foundation (Rome), and he is a member of the European Expert Network on Terrorism Issues (EENeT). He edited the volume “Religion, Peace, and Security: Challenges and Prospects in the MENA Region” (2023).
Formerly, he was Coordinator for Research and Program Development at the Pontifical Missionary Union and the International Center for Mission and Formation, Vatican City (2016-2020); Director of the Mediterranean & Middle East Program at the Italian Atlantic Committee (Rome, 2011-2016); Advisor to the President of the Atlantic Treaty Association (Brussels, 2014-2016).
Specialized in Strategic Studies at the Center for High Defense Studies (Italian Ministry of Defense), Emiliano Stornelli was Visiting Researcher at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C., and collaborated with the Military Center for Strategic Studies. He graduated at LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.