I am originally from Milan, Italy. In 2008 I came to Australia as an international Ph.D. student, funded by a prestigious Endeavour Europe Award.

I have Bachelor and Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Milan, Italy, and completed my Erasmus exchange at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (Spain). During my Ph.D. at Victoria University I also spent a year of data collection at the University of Verona, Italy. 

I have obtained over $400,000 in external research funding as chief investigator, including grants from FIFA, UEFA, and individual sporting clubs, while contributing as associate investigator to $1m+ funding. I have also been recipient of a Joao Havelange Research Scholarship, awarded by FIFA and the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES).

My leadership in higher education curriculum development has seen the creation of innovative programs such as one of the country's first Masters of Sport and Exercise Science, a Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis (Football), and more recently a Graduate Certificate in Strength and Conditioning in partnership with the Western Bulldogs FC.

As a scholar always connected with the industry, I was the inaugural Head of Academy Sport Science at Melbourne Victory Football Club, Chair of ESSA’s Sport Science advisory group, and I am currently a Non-Executive Board Director at VicSport.