FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Liverpool, United Kingdom / Genova, Italy โ 09-12-2025
Global Visionary Women Network (GVWN) โ an international organisation founded in Liverpool, United Kingdom, to empower women and girls through transformational leadership, identity restoration, mentorship, and global collaboration, proudly announces the official launch of GVWN Italia, one of the Foundational European Chapters of GVWN Europe.
GVWN Italia will be led by Dr Anna Maria Grassi, appointed Chairwoman / National Director of GVWN Italia, alongside Dr. Enrico De Barbieri, appointed European Director of Leadership Development & Strategic Partnerships (GVWN Europe). Together, they will spearhead a national movement designed to strengthen womenโs leadership, elevate female voices, and position Italy as a central pillar of GVWNโs expanding European mission.
Founded on 8 March 2014 by Dr. Sylvia Forchap-Likambi, GVWN was created in honour of International Womenโs Day to restore the identity, dignity, worth, and potential of every woman. As the first global empowerment network established in Liverpool, GVWN unites visionary women across continents and empowers them to rise as confident, purpose-driven leaders with global impact.
Reflecting on this historic expansion, Dr. Sylvia Forchap-Likambi, Founder and Global Chair of GVWN, shared:
**โGVWN Italia represents a powerful advancement of our global mission. Our vision is that every female child, everywhere in the world, becomes fully aware of her authentic identity, worth, and unlimited potential โ and rises as a confident, purpose-driven leader. Italy holds a very special place in my heart; it is a nation that has given me so much and played a profound role in shaping the woman and leader I am today.
To be able to give back in this way โ by empowering women and contributing to the leadership landscape of a country that deeply impacted my own journey โ is an immense honour. Through this partnership, we are privileged to support the rise of extraordinary Italian women into positions of influence and purpose.
We could not have asked for more passionate and dedicated leaders than Anna Maria Grassi and Dr. Enrico De Barbieri โ outstanding visionaries who embody the values, integrity, and transformational spirit of GVWN.โ**
Expressing gratitude and commitment, Dr Anna Maria Grassi, Chairwoman / National Director of GVWN Italia, stated:
โI am deeply honoured to lead the Italian chapter of GVWN. This partnership creates a powerful opportunity to uplift women across Italy โ helping them discover their purpose, strengthen their leadership, and realise their full potential. GVWN Italia will serve as a national space of sisterhood, growth, and empowerment, where women from all backgrounds can rise together. I am committed to building a movement that inspires transformation in families, communities, and institutions across Italy.โ
Adding to this, Dr. Enrico De Barbieri, European Director of Leadership Development & Strategic Partnerships, said:
โThis partnership marks the beginning of a new leadership era for women in Italy and across Europe. I am honoured to contribute my expertise to co-create and enhance GVWNโs European leadership programmes, ensuring they reflect both global excellence and Italian cultural richness. Empowering women strengthens society as a whole. GVWN Italia will become a beacon of hope, inspiration, and progress for our country and beyond.โ
GVWN Italia will deliver transformational leadership programmes, mentorship and development pathways, and innovative empowerment initiatives. The chapter will collaborate with institutions, universities, businesses, and civic organisations to promote womenโs leadership and build opportunities for advancement across social, economic, and cultural sectors.
As part of GVWNโs European expansion strategy, Italy joins San Marino and Monaco as one of the Foundational European Chapters. GVWN Italia will play a strategic role in shaping continental leadership programmes, supporting the creation of new chapters, and fostering cross-cultural collaboration through summits, forums, and leadership academies.
About Dr Anna Maria Grassi
Dr Anna Maria Grassi is an accomplished Italian professional with an extensive career spanning private investigation, security management, media communications, and creative production. She is a licensed professional private investigator in both Italy (since 2002) and Bulgaria (since 2015), holding multi-sector civil and criminal investigative authorisations, including armed security clearance issued by the Bulgarian Government. She also holds an active European Private Detective Licence.
With strong expertise in criminology, behavioural analysis, cybercrime awareness, interrogation techniques, and security operations, she has undertaken specialised advanced training in areas such as Criminal Profiling (Stalking and Femicide), Body Language Interpretation, Cyberbullying Prevention, Sociological Criminology, Lie Detection, Fire Safety, and BLSD emergency response. She is additionally certified as a Security Manager and Close Protection Operative (2025) under the Security Skills Certification Scheme (SSCS).
Anna Maria is the founder and licence holder of World Security Intelligence Investigation (Sofia, Bulgaria) and is authorised to operate across a wide range of investigative and security sectors. She also serves as an approved lecturer for accredited professional training courses in the legal and security fields (T.U.L.P.S.).
Her career also includes extensive work in broadcasting and media, having served with the Ligurian networks Telegenova and Telenord (1994โ1998) as a programme manager, teletext and meteorological coordinator, announcer, and presenter. She has advanced technical expertise in audiovisual production and digital media systems, and is a certified Videomaker and Director recognised at European level.
As a film producer, music producer, and editor, she holds a Discographic Production Licence (2016) and SIAE editorial registration, and has produced both audio and cinematographic works, including culturally significant projects aimed at promoting regional heritage. She is also an established writer and poet, with works published by Dantebus, Versus, and Pagine, and distributed through major retailers such as Feltrinelli, Mondadori, and Amazon.
Her civic and cultural contributions include serving as President of the Pro Loco of Borzonasca, where she coordinated high-visibility tourism and cultural initiatives, authored the world-record โlongest Genovese focacciaโ event to promote regional identity, and co-produced the film โLupo Grigioโ to elevate local heritage. She also served on the Board of the Aveto Regional Park Authority.
Anna Maria is a member of several distinguished national and international associations, including ANI.O.C. (National Association of Knightly Order Insignees), ANPS (National Police Association), and the International Police Association (IPA). She is also a former competitive athlete in equestrian jumping, a trained judoka, and a Karate champion for Liguria (2008) and National Champion (2009).
Highly skilled, multidisciplinary, and deeply committed to service and empowerment, Anna Maria Grassi brings exceptional professionalism, resilience, and leadership to every role she undertakes, both nationally and internationally.
About Dr Enrico De Barbieri
Dr Enrico De Barbieri is a distinguished tourism and trade entrepreneur, diplomat, cultural ambassador, and senior international representative with an extensive record of service in Italy and abroad. He served as Honorary Consul of South Africa in Genoa from 2003 to 2019, strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations, and has been recognised as Ambassador of Genoa to the World since 2018.
In 2022, on the 240th anniversary of the birth of the legendary violinist Niccolรฒ Paganini, he was appointed Paganini Ambassador, a role reflecting his deep commitment to safeguarding and promoting Italian musical heritage. This cultural legacy is also a personal mission: as the son of the renowned violinist Renato De Barbieri, he actively preserves and advances his fatherโs artistic work and its historic connection to Paganini.
Dr De Barbieri has held numerous prominent leadership roles, including President of ASD Genovese Boccadasse (2018โ2022), President of the Provincial Federation of Genoa of the Istituto del Nastro Azzurro (since 2022), and President of the Rovereto Section of the National Carabinieri Association (ANC), elected in 2024. That same year, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC).
His international recognitions include being an Honorary Member of the Netaji Research Bureau (India) and of INTACH West Bengal & Calcutta Chapters, as well as WUSME Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco. He is also President of the Catholic Artists Association (As.C.Ar.) of Genoa, President of the Genoa Albaro Lions Club, and a Melvin Jones Fellow. In 2025, he was appointed Ambassador of the Nastro Azzurro, entrusted with promoting the Instituteโs image and values nationally and internationally.
Dr De Barbieri is a respected member of the Chiavari Economic Society and holds influential positions in numerous Italian and international organisations. Widely recognised for his cultural diplomacy, leadership expertise, and long-standing public service, he continues to represent Italy and the European community with distinction, integrity, and visionary commitment.
For more information about GVWN and GVWN Italia, visit www.globalvisionarywomen.org
or contact enquiries@globalvisionarywomen.org, Tel: +44 (0) 7539216072
๐ฎ๐นVERSIONE ITALIANA โ COMUNICATO STAMPA UFFICIALE
Global Visionary Women Network Lancia GVWN Italia in Partnership Strategica con Dr.ssa Anna Maria Grassi & Dr. Enrico De Barbieri
DIFFUSIONE IMMEDIATA
Liverpool, Regno Unito / Genova, Italia โ 09-12-2025
Global Visionary Women Network (GVWN) โ unโorganizzazione internazionale fondata a Liverpool, nel Regno Unito, per promuovere lโempowerment di donne e ragazze attraverso leadership trasformazionale, riscoperta dellโidentitร , mentoring e collaborazione globale โ annuncia con orgoglio il lancio ufficiale di GVWN Italia, uno dei Capitoli Fondativi Europei di GVWN Europe.
GVWN Italia sarร guidata da Dr.ssa Anna Maria Grassi, nominata Presidente / Direttrice Nazionale di GVWN Italia, insieme al Dr. Enrico De Barbieri, nominato Direttore Europeo per lo Sviluppo della Leadership e le Partnership Strategiche (GVWN Europe). Insieme guideranno un movimento nazionale volto a rafforzare la leadership femminile, amplificare le voci delle donne e posizionare lโItalia come pilastro centrale della missione europea di GVWN.
Fondata lโ8 marzo 2014 dalla Dr.ssa Sylvia Forchap-Likambi, GVWN nasce in onore della Giornata Internazionale della Donna per restaurare identitร , dignitร , valore e potenziale di ogni donna. Prima rete globale di empowerment fondata a Liverpool, GVWN unisce donne visionarie in tutto il mondo e le sostiene affinchรฉ diventino leader sicure, consapevoli e di impatto globale.
Riflettendo su questa espansione storica, la Dr.ssa Sylvia Forchap-Likambi, Fondatrice e Presidente Globale di GVWN, ha dichiarato:
**โGVWN Italia rappresenta un passo straordinario nellโavanzamento della nostra missione globale. La nostra visione รจ che ogni bambina e donna, ovunque nel mondo, diventi pienamente consapevole della propria autentica identitร , del proprio valore e del proprio potenziale illimitato โ e si alzi come leader sicura, determinata e guidata da uno scopo.
LโItalia occupa un posto molto speciale nel mio cuore; รจ un Paese che mi ha dato tantissimo e che ha svolto un ruolo fondamentale nel formare la donna e la leader che sono oggi. Poter restituire in questo modo โ contribuendo allโempowerment delle donne e allo sviluppo della leadership in una nazione che ha profondamente influenzato il mio percorso โ รจ per me un grandissimo onore.
Attraverso questa partnership, siamo privilegiati a sostenere lโascesa di donne italiane straordinarie verso ruoli di influenza, impatto e servizio.
Non avremmo potuto desiderare leader piรน appassionati e dedicati di Anna Maria Grassi e del Dr. Enrico De Barbieri โ due visionari straordinari che incarnano pienamente i valori, lโintegritร e lo spirito trasformativo di GVWN.โ**
Esprimendo gratitudine e impegno, Dr.ssa Anna Maria Grassi, Presidente / Direttrice Nazionale di GVWN Italia, ha affermato:
โร per me un onore profondo guidare il capitolo italiano di GVWN. Questa partnership rappresenta unโopportunitร straordinaria per sostenere le donne in tutta Italia โ aiutandole a scoprire il loro scopo, rafforzare la loro leadership e realizzare il loro pieno potenziale. GVWN Italia diventerร uno spazio nazionale di sorellanza, crescita ed empowerment, dove donne di ogni provenienza potranno elevarsi insieme. Mi impegno a costruire un movimento che ispiri trasformazione nelle famiglie, nelle comunitร e nelle istituzioni italiane.โ
Aggiunge il Dr. Enrico De Barbieri, Direttore Europeo per lo Sviluppo della Leadership e le Partnership Strategiche:
โQuesta partnership segna lโinizio di una nuova era di leadership per le donne in Italia e in tutta Europa. Sono onorato di contribuire con la mia esperienza alla co-creazione e allo sviluppo dei programmi europei di leadership di GVWN, assicurando che riflettano lโeccellenza globale e la ricchezza culturale italiana. Lโempowerment delle donne rafforza lโintera societร . GVWN Italia diventerร un faro di speranza, ispirazione e progresso per il nostro Paese e oltre.โ
GVWN Italia implementerร programmi trasformazionali di leadership, mentoring e sviluppo personale, oltre a iniziative innovative di empowerment. Il capitolo collaborerร con istituzioni, universitร , imprese e organizzazioni civiche per promuovere la leadership femminile e favorire opportunitร di crescita nei settori sociale, economico e culturale.
Nellโambito della strategia europea di espansione di GVWN, lโItalia si unisce a San Marino e Monaco come uno dei Capitoli Fondativi Europei. GVWN Italia svolgerร un ruolo strategico nello sviluppo dei programmi di leadership continentali, nella creazione di nuovi capitoli e nella promozione della collaborazione interculturale attraverso forum, accademie e summit europei.
Per maggiori informazioni su GVWN e GVWN Italia, visitare www.globalvisionarywomen.org
o contattare enquiries@globalvisionarywomen.org