Paolo Petrocelli (PhD-EMBA-FRSA) is a cultural and performing arts leader, academic, author driven by the belief that culture, arts and education are a major force for growth, development and change globally. Currently, Paolo Petrocelli serves as the Head of Dubai Opera in the United Arab Emirates. In 2024, he has been recognized by Arabian Business as one of the top 30 leaders under 40 in the Middle East, listed by Fast Company as one of the most creative personalities in the Middle East and named by the French luxury house Cartier as a Luminary Thinker. In 2023, he has been recognized as Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for continued contributions to arts and cultural development internationally. In 2022, he has been selected by the think tank Friends of Europe among the 40 most influential young personalities in Europe and nominated European Young Leader. In the same year, the prestigious magazine Fortune named him among the 40 most influential personalities under 40 in Italy, as the first cultural manager ever selected. A passionate, innovative and dynamic manager with 15+ years experience in leadership positions in a wide range of institutions and organizations, he is an international relations and global cultural affairs expert. In order to serve as an active citizen and support non-profit activity, he has become a leading member of some of the most prestigious international organizations, including United Nations and UNESCO. As a cultural and music diplomacy ambassador, he serves in institutional roles to forge bonds through music and arts in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the US. He is the Founder and President of EMMA for Peace (Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy), one of the world’s largest international non-profit organizations for the promotion of a culture of peace through music diplomacy. Paolo is the Founder and Honorary President of the Italian Youth Association for UNESCO, the largest youth organization in the UNESCO system, Cultural Diplomacy Officer for the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and Cultural Advisor to Coldplay. Top-level roles in the public and private sector have rounded out his cultural relations and senior arts executive expertise, allowing collaboration with global leaders in performing arts management. To help shape the next generation, Petrocelli lectures at leading universities, including Yale University, MIT, New York University, Université Paris-Sorbonne. He is a contributor for Forbes, Arabian Business, Huffington Post and a TEDx Speaker.