Tony Piccolo

AQUATIC BIOFUEL SPECIALIST
Building Relationships & Partnerships-Strong communication & presentation skills - Research & Writing

Tony Piccolo is an aquatic biofuel specialist and one of the first to support developing countries in addressing their energy needs through the use of fish waste and algae. His passion for renewable energy led him to write the first paper on Aquatic Biofuels and subsequently coin the term. Tony's presentation on the subject to the UN - FAO community consequently led to him securing funds and creating a cross-departmental working group on the subject.

Speaking three languages and having travelled to over 25 counties on 5 continents, Tony has a natural ability to communicate across cultures and to build relationships within organizations and across the renewable energy community both on and off-line.

Through his research and writing and through his blog Tony continues to explore and promote the sustainable use of aquatic biofuels in the developing world.

AREAS of EXPERTISE

PASSION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

• Conducted ground breaking research which led to coining the term Aquatic Biofuels. The term is now a used in the United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) environment when referring to biofuels deriving from water resources.
  

• Generated interest and enthusiasm in aquatic biofuels as a sustainable renewable energy resource through writing articles, making presentations and starting a working group within UN - FAO.
  

• Committed to ongoing research by continuing studies in an International MBA in Energy and Sustainable Development program after having received a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Studies.
  

BUILDING AND MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS

• Initiated and secured funding for cross-departmental projects and activities by building relationships with key experts across departments, both within UN-FAO and within the development community.
  

• Built and nurtured relationships with global partners of the GLOBEFISH www.globefish.org project through conference attendance, presentations and meetings with key decision makers, resulting in increased members and partners.
  

• Secured buy-in and built public/private sector relationships with governmental organizations and the private sector within the "FishInfoNetwork" (FIN) to centralise online information systems through effective communication and negotiation
  

• Ongoing building of relationships and communities across the globe - from the US and Africa to South America and Asia, through my blog www.aquaticbiofuel.com.
  

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Saved US$20,000 annually by transferring a database from an off-site location in Switzerland to in-house location in UN - FAO. Developed the new database and improved its layout, making it more user friendly.
  

• Saved US$10,000 annually by identifying cost effective in-house web development resources. Moving the management of the GLOBEFISH website to UN - FAO.
  

STRONG PRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Introduced and stimulated interest on the subject of aquatic biofuels as a result of a presentation on the subject given at the UN - FAO to the UN community.
  

• Secured funds as a result of the interest generated through my presentation and was requested to build an UN - FAO website on the subject of aquatic biofuels.
  

• Stimulates and encourages cross cultural communication by inviting people across the globe to visit and contribute to his blog, and connect via on-line networks.
  

• Increased participation and membership from university researchers, the private sector and governmental organizations through the development of compelling on-line and print media, publications and newsletters for the GLOBEFISH UN - FAO programme.
  

RESEARCH AND WRITING

• Conducted pioneering research and wrote the first published paper on aquatic biofuels, which was published on, the Food Security Network Forum, Global Bio Energy website, the Fish Site, and the Bio-Energy Site.
  

• Written articles on aquatic biofuels featured in several publications including Biofuels International Online, UN - FAO in-Touch webpage, Eurofish Magazine, and UN - FAO cultural magazine CASA
  

• Continues to write about his on-going research on aquatic biofuels as well as reporting on latest developments on his blog www.aquaticbiofuel.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN - FAO)
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
August 2005 - present
Communication, Web and Partnership Development Associate.
ROME, ITALY

Comitato Assistenza Italiani - Co.As.It
May 2004 - June 2005
Programme Development, Promotion and Management Specialist
ROME, ITALY

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN - FAO)
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
October 2002 - March 2004
Communication, Web and Community Development Associate
ROME, ITALY

United Nations World Food Program (UN - WFP)
June 2001 - December 2001
Project and Team Leader
ROME, ITALY

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN - FAO)
Sustainable Development Department
June 1990 - September 2002
System and Global Communication Associate
ROME, ITALY

EDUCATION

University of Malta - Rome, Italy
International MBA in Energy and Sustainable Development, Class of 2009

Open University - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours, in Environmental Studies, Class of 2004
Diploma in Environment and Development, Class of 2002

LANGUAGES and PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Mother tongue: English, Italian
  

• Fluent: French
  

• Fair: Spanish
  

• Hold dual Italian and Australian citizenship
  

• Travelled in over 25 countries and 5 continents
  

• Passionate about food and wine. Taught cooking classes to fellow food and wine enthusiasts.