Dr. Mara Di Berardo is a seasoned expert in futures studies, communication, and participatory methodologies. She serves as the Communication Director and Italy Node Co-Chair of The Millennium Project, a global think tank with over 70 Nodes dedicated to improving global foresight and collaborative intelligence. Mara has been a vital contributor to the organization since 2007, leading research, events, and communication initiatives.
A prominent voice in the field, Mara is also the Communication Officer for the Foresight Europe Network, where she connects foresight professionals across Europe through participatory vision-building and strategic action planning. Her research includes an analysis of global futures topics, notably as the Principal Investigator for the 2022 Third Futures Research Grant, resulting in the widely cited study on World Futures Day 2022.
Mara has collaborated with diverse institutions, including the Italian Institute for the Future, National Research Council of Italy, and Tampere University, managing EU-funded projects like H2020 INTERSECT. She is a co-founder of the Italian Futurists Association, a consulting member of the Lifeboat Foundation (from 2023), and co-founder of the Italian Futurists Association in 2018. and a member of the Scientific Council of the Alternative Planetary Futures Institute.
A dedicated educator, Mara has lectured on communication, futures studies, and sociology at universities such as Chieti-Pescara, Parma, and Teramo. Her work spans participatory futures methods, including Delphi, Futures Wheel, and Structural Analysis.
Mara earned her Ph.D. in Cultures, Languages, and Politics of Communication from the University of Teramo. Her publications and contributions to platforms like Futura Network and Futures reflect her passion for shaping a sustainable and inclusive global future.