Mariella Stella

Mariella Stella is a PhD researcher at the University of Milano-Bicocca, focusing on innovation in public administration. With over 20 years of experience in the public sector, she recently led the Departments of Culture and Tourism, Education, and Youth Policies for a Municipality. Her work bridges institutions and communities through innovative policies and participatory processes, especially in the cultural and creative industries.

In 2012, she co-founded Casa Netural, an international hub for social innovation in Southern Italy. From there, she launched different projects, reimagining rural areas as spaces of experimentation and shared futures.

She is an expert in territorial empowerment, civic innovation, and gender policies. For over a decade, she has been designing and leading civic engagement initiatives and local development strategies. She firmly believes in the power of trust and collaboration to build a more responsive and inclusive public sector.