We are honored to confirm the presence of an esteemed guest from Italy: the Italian Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Giorgio Silli. 

This distinguished visit brings an added layer of significance to our gala, as it will be the first official high political visit from Italy since 2017.

EXPO CURATOR: Emma Elizabeth

Living and breathing by Emma Elizabeth's self-created ethos "design is nothing without style, and style is nothing without design", Emma Elizabeth is a highly innovative designer, stylist and creative director. She spent her younger years in the United Kingdom, after moving back to Australia, to attended her formative years within schools in Brisbane. As a 2006 graduate in 'Scenografia' from Istituto Europeo di Design in Milano, Italia, a fusion course between interior design, industrial design and set design. This education allowed Emma Elizabeth to return to Australia in 2006, to set up her practise EMMA ELIZABETH DESIGNS. Now with over 17 years of experience under her belt she now runs two business, both her own practise and LOCAL DESIGN.

Emma Elizabeth's cross disciplinary approach to creative workings allows the all round creative powerhouse to work within the realms of: Art Direction, Design, Creative Direction , Styling, Experiential, Curation, Events, Production, Buying and Creative Conceptualization. In summary she is chaos and creation. Also acting as Creative Director for jellwery and accessories for the infamous title Harper's Bazaar Australia.

Past commercial clients include: Westfield, Debenhams, Amex, Dom Perignon, Moet and Chandon, David Jones, Lane Crawford, amongst others. She has exhibited her product ranges on many global designer platforms including exhibits in Milan, New York, London, Sydney and so forth. Having been featured in many local and global online & offline media publications including: Vogue UK, Elle Decoration UK, Vogue Living, ELLE DÉCOR, FRAME, YATZER etc… With Emma Elizabeth selected as one of the 50 influential faces of Australian Now, celebrating Vogue Living's 50thanniversary. Emma Elizabeth was also selected as one of the top ten designers during TENT LONDON by ELLE Decoration UK.

Acclaimed for her collaboration piece, 'Round Diamond' with Australian rug company Designer Rugs, she has created over five collections with this brand with a further collection "Materiality" having been launched during this year's Milan Design Week 2019, within her own curation and creative direction passion project LOCAL DESIGN presents LOCAL MILAN No.4. Emma Elizabeth has curated and creatively directed Australia's largest shows to date within the worlds most influential design show Salone Del Mobile.

Emma Elizabeth was also the founder and creator of the world's first 'The Design Vlog' traveling for two years to many major and minor design weeks, as a design editor & personality, syndicating her footage to online blogs like YATZER and a design news network in Japan, giving her a direct connection and great understanding of the current global design scene. Including not only the designers, but the great publicists, brands and names, who bring this industry together and orchestrate and nurture this precious subject field of culture, that is Emma Elizabeth's mind is termed DESIGN CULTURE.

GUEST CHEF: Luca Ciano

Luca was Born and raised in Milan by an amazing family from whom he inherited his passion for food and respect for people. Luca started cooking with his Mum and Grandma when he was 8 years old, taking his first few steps with them in the direction of becoming a chef.

Luca's career includes the famous 2 Michelin-starred restaurant "Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia" in Milan, as well as international experience at London's Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Relais and Chateaux in Bermuda, and in Australia at the Sheraton on the Park and The Westin in Sydney, and Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley. He took part in the Salon Culinaire International de Londres Competition where he was awarded a medal for Senior Pasta Class, and a Merit Award in the Nestle' Master Chef Grand Prix. A number of Luca's signature dishes from his London days have been published in Chefs of Distinction. Luca was awarded in Italy by APCI (Professional Italian Chef Association) 'Les Toques Blanches D'honneur', Honorary Professional Career Award.

Luca currently consults for restaurants, hotels, magazines and Italian brands in Australia and around the world, providing guidance and assistance in their daily operations, as well as part of his ambassador roles. He has appeared on Channel 7's The Morning Show, Channel 10 – Studio 10 – The Living Room, ABC & 2GB Radio and TVSN.

In 2015, Luca released his own signature product range which includes hand made Pasta Sauces, Olive Oils, Salad Dressings and has two best-selling cookbook as well as a popular television show on Channel 10 network 'Lucas Key Ingredient' where he is currently filming Season 3.