Alessandra is the Director of the Directorate for Sustainable Resources at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). An Economics graduate, Alessandra's career began in Brussels with the DG for energy and transport and the Cabinet of VP De Palacio, where she worked inter alia on maritime and aviation policies. She joined the JRC in 2009, leading units focused on maritime affairs, demography, migration and disaster risk management. Before becoming Director, she was Deputy Director for space, security and migration.