Who we are

The company

The Generali Convention Center is managed by the company Trieste Convention Center Spa, of which the Generali group is the reference shareholder with 47% of the capital, followed by illycaffè (13%), BCC Venezia Giulia bank (7%) and 62 other shareholders including companies, institutions and private citizens of the area. The entrepreneurial initiative gave life in 2020 to the convention center in the area of ​​the old port of Trieste (now PortoVivo ), affected by a large urban regeneration project.

The TCC Board of Directors is made up of Roberto Morelli (president) , Joram Bassan, Massimo Iesu, Paolo Marchesi, Federico Pacorini, Francesco Rossetti Cosulich, Emma Ursich.

The team

Roberto Morelli

President

Roberto Morelli has been President of Generali Convention Center since October 2021, with the delegation of General Manager since January 2023. From 2006 to 2022, he was a senior manager at illycaffè, where he led six central departments over time, the last of which was the Marketing Department of the group at a global level. He was president and CEO of various companies of the Illy Group, as well as director of the Ernesto Illy Foundation, which he helped establish.

Graduated in Political Science, he is a professional journalist. Former correspondent for Corriere della Sera and periodicals of the RCS group, he taught Theories and techniques of journalistic language at the University of Trieste and was director of various newspapers in print and on TV. He is currently an editorialist for the North-East newspapers of the NEM group and carries out professional training activities for the Order of Journalists.

 

He has published a novel ( La via di Trieste ), a long story, a university journalism manual ( È la stampa, bellezza ) and some essays on territorial economics. His latest book Muovere merci, muovere il mondo (Laterza, 2023) traces the history of the Pacorini company in the context of historical events in Trieste, Italy and Europe.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Trieste. He was President of the International School of Trieste from 2004 to 2020, of which he is now honorary president.

Francesco Gazzola

Secretary General

 

Francesco Gazzola is the general secretary of Generali Convention Center with duties of supporting the presidency and general management, administrative-financial manager and curator of corporate affairs. Having held this role since January 2018, he has supported the birth of the company and its growth in all its phases. Since the start of the management phase, he has also been an active part in supporting the management of the spaces of the structure for the organization and holding of events.

Born, raised and educated in Trieste until graduating in Political Science, he subsequently undertook a series of work experiences abroad that led him to travel to Australia and South-East Asia.

Barbara Fabi

Operations manager

Barbara Fabi, graduated in Public Relations at the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​and Literatures of the University of Udine, has been  Operations manager  of Generali Convention Center since January 2023.
Previously, she worked for illycaffè, in the roles of  Travel & fleet manager  (2022), Personal assistant to senior management (2016-2021) and  Sales & orders administrator  for Asia-Pacific (2008-2016). She was Personal Assistant to a Member of the Italian Parliament and to the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (2000-2008). She has worked as an organizer of events, motivational and training courses (1990-2000).

Enrico Caforio

Technical Director

 

Enrico Caforio, born in Udine, raised and educated in Trieste until graduating in Engineering, has been the Technical Director of the Convention Center since March 2022. Previously, after a period at Danieli Spa, he began his freelance career gaining varied experiences as a designer and works manager in various technical sectors. From 2015 to 2021 he also held the role of team leader in the Hvac and Oil&Gas sectors at Meccano Engineering. 

Eleonora Bianchi

Event planner

Eleonora Bianchi, graduated in Public Relations at the IULM University of Milan, where she was born, has worked for over 15 years in the marketing field: mainly related to product development together with the management and design of events and fairs in the B2B sector. After moving to Trieste, she became Executive Assistant to the top management at illycaffè until April 2024. She then chose to work at the Generali Convention Center where she is now an Event planner , to follow her passion with which, in addition to event planning, she also supports the communication and promotional marketing sector.

Nicola Savron

Facilities coordinator

Nicola Savron, graduated in Industrial Engineering, after having gained some experience in the technical/logistics sector is now Facilities coordinator of the Congress Center, a transversal role in which he works to support the Technical Director and the Operations manager. He deals with maintenance of the structure, operational management and maintenance of the systems and technical assistance to customers in the planning of the event ( layout , equipment, safety).

Noemi Bellussi

Event coordinator

Noemi Bellussi, graduated in Economics and Management of Tourism, Sports and Events, worked in the communication and promotion office of Azalea.it from 2018 to 2021, participating in the realization of important concerts and large events in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto. In this role, dealing with digital marketing, collaboration with the various stakeholders of the company, booking and hospitality, she gained experience in the dynamic world of entertainment. After an experience in the commercial field, during which she managed relationships with large-scale Italian distribution companies for an important wine company in the region, she decided to resume her career related to events, this time exclusively linked to Trieste, a city she loves.