Born in Milan and educated in Italy and the UK, Alessandra’s background is in design and languages. She directs writing, social media and digital services for Oratia. Alessandra is the author of several cookbooks, active committee member and teacher for the Dante Alighieri Society of Auckland, and founder of the Festival Italiano Auckland and Slow Food Waitakere (now Slow Food Auckland). She speaks Italian, English, Japanese and Spanish, and studies te reo Māori. In 2018, President Sergio Mattarella made Alessandra a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy for services to Italian culture and relations with New Zealand.