Born in Brussels on 5th April 1962, Uberto Vanni d'Archirafi graduated in 1986 with a degree in Political Science from the University "Luiss" of Rome. Following an open competion, he was appointed as a ‘Volunteer’ in the Diplomatic Service on on 13th February 1989. From 1989 to 1991 he served at the Foreign Ministry's Directorate-General for Political Affairs, and the General Secretariat. From 1992 he was posted at the Embassy of Italy in Buenos Aires, and in 1995 appointed to First Secretary for Trade at the Embassy of Italy in Tunis. He was later appointed to Trade Counsellor at the same Embassy. On 1st of April 2000 Uberto Vanni d'Archirafi returned to the Ministry of Directorate General for European Countries (Direzione Generale Paesi Europa), and then to the Directorate General for Multilateral Economic and Financial Cooperation, to monitor the application of Italy to an international competition in 2008. He returned to the Directorate General for European Countries where he reported directly to the Director-General and on 24 August 2005 he was appointed Consul General in Vancouver. On 20 August 2009 he was appointed Consul General in London.

The Accademia Apulia asked the Consul General the following questions

What was your first job?

After my appointment in the diplomatic service in 1989, I worked for several years on South America matters at the Directorate-General for Political Affairs, followed by a brief but intense period at the General Secretariat of the Foreign Ministry.

Early in my career, I was given the opportunity to serve at the Embassy of Italy in Buenos Aires. In that city I found the same smells and colours of twenty years earlier. Plaza San Martin and La Boca seem unchanged, yet profound political and social upheavals occurred there from the '60s to the '90s. Argentina suffered a dramatic military dictatorship, a war, a severe economic crisis with high inflation. Upon my arrival in Argentina in 1992 I found a relatively calm situation both in political and financial terms. The fact that the dollar and the Argentinian peso were at the same level had fostered economic stability, but had had some consequences on the middle classes who were forced to eat away their savings in dollars.

In 1995 I was posted to serve at the Embassy of Italy in Tunis, as Head of the Trade Office. A truly educational experience both from a professional and a human perspective. Being in contact with businesses and their issues opened my professional horizons. It was most rewarding to see Italian businesses increase their presence from 450 to about 1200 in 4 years, an increase also due to heavy investment made by the host country in foreign production facilities, especially in the textile sector. My time spent in the Economic and Commercial Office was most rewarding as it represented a tangible milestone for the development experienced first-hand by our businesses there. And then Tunisia has close links with Italy and its cultural traditions. In short, a fertile ground for joint projects.

After a short period back in Rome, where I worked on multilateral issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted me to Vancouver in the position of Consul General. This too was an extraordinary experience because of the Italians I came into contact with, their fine character and their devotion to our country. I felt that I was in harmony with the Italian community in Vancouver, testament of which were the expressions of esteem and friendship I received upon my departure. And now here I am in London.

I would say that Vancouver has, without a doubt, made London a test. I have a good knowledge both of Consular affairs and administrative matters which can help solve problems affecting our compatriots, for a number of issues they may encounter whilst abroad - some of which can be highly complex. This is an Italy represented by communities abroad, that have a great value. After all, they represent us and help us today, with their perseverance and their sacrifices, to make our country known, earning it a place as one of the most developed nations. It was an experience that reached across the board. The distance between the Italian Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Vancouver (a time difference of 3 hours and 5 hours by aeroplane), makes the latter an important point of reference. I was dealing with economics and business, cultural and tourist promotions as well as, of course, purely consular issues. The Consulate General is regulated by clearly defined norms, but its role is flexible and knows no limits. Its "clients" consist of bankers, leading figures from the world of culture, businessmen, architects, engineers and also civil servants and tourists. Difficult to exhaust the list of those who, for whatever reason, visit the Consular Offices, not to mention also the sensitive and demanding responsibility of the Visa Office.

As for the Consulate General in London, although its affairs are based on the same principles and standards, in reality it’s very different, if only for the number of Italians registered here. There are some 153,000 Italians registered in the UK thus making this Consulate second largest in the world after Buenos Aires. In London, any decision made can have an immediate effect on the community and for this reason it is necessary to act prudently and with common sense. The most sensitive of issues become more complex as a result of the large numbers. Therefore we must devote great attention and concentration to our work on a daily basis. And because of this it is an exciting job, which never lets up and to some extent is almost "adrenaline" fuelled. Undoubtedly, the experience of Vancouver has also been very important in terms of technological innovations. In the wake of new laws lessening red tape, launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am sure that a lot more can be achieved by allowing computers to improve services for the benefit and support of the Italian community. The process of innovation has been launched and while many systems will be more user-friendly, some are still being tested.

The promotion of Italy is the responsibility of all institutions of our country, with the Embassy at the top of the list, which has a commercial office that works towards a co-ordination of our institutional presence and promotion. Even the Consulate General, precisely because of its diverse role, is well placed to accommodate the promotion of our country’s assets; whether economic, trade or cultural. Sometimes the system works better from the outside rather than from the centre, because it’s more manageable and flexible, but also made possible by highly versatile professionals who promote our country from behind the scenes. In actual fact this is not a very difficult task. Italy expresses its genius in all sectors so as to be well known everywhere. Fashion, design, painting and sculpture, theatre and art, sports. In short, Italy excels in all areas and many of the leaders of these sectors operate from London - they help raise the good name of Italy. The potential of this wealth lies in the ability to provide regular support and to channel its energy towards a common goal. And this is a task that all of us from public institutions are committed to providing on a daily basis.

I find it really difficult to express a preference for one country over another. I don’t mean to give a "diplomatic" answer here - it’s true. I have appreciated the countries in which I have lived so far - each with their strengths and their weaknesses. But, of course, Italy is quite unique. Indeed I can find more faults with other countries but that’s not for sentimental reasons but rather for objective ones. The same ones for which Italy is loved abroad.

London is an extraordinary city as are Rome, Paris or Berlin. Each of these cities has an advantage compared to other major cities, because they are part of Europe. It’s difficult to actually feel not in Italy. The United Kingdom has so many ties with our country, and here in London there is the best of what Italy can offer in terms of social and economic life. After Vancouver, where everything seemed far away, in the wake of a culture and traditions that shape personality and education, distance leads one to be more creative, and to find substitutes for the missing country, it looks for opportunities to make one feel closer to the country one misses. So, after my Canadian experience I cannot speak of London as a distant place; in actual fact, the presence of Italy here, in its many facets, is everywhere. All you have to do is look around you!

Let me conclude with a joke ... to what free time are you referring to? If for free time you mean the opportunity to do what one most enjoys, then I am free all of the time!