Guido Bertolaso

Guido Bertolaso was born in Rome on March 20, 1950. After he graduated from the School of Medicine of “La Sapienza” University of Rome gaining first class honours, he obtained a Master of Science in Public Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. From 1980 to 1989, while working for the Cooperation and Development Department of the Italian Ministry of Health, he directed the construction of the Italian Hospital in Ta-Phraya, intended to offer medical care to Cambodian refugees. In the same period, he also coordinated healthcare, emergency, and humanitarian aid projects in several developing Countries. In January 1990, Bertolaso was appointed Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office. This role was soon followed – March 1990 – by an appointment as Chief of the Department of Social Affairs. In 1993, after having been chosen as the Vice Executive Director of UNICEF in New York, he became the leader of UNICEF’s new policies on the rights of infants, international adoption, exploitation of children, prostitution, pedophilia, antipersonnel mines, and humanitarian interventions. In 1996 he was appointed by the Italian government to the position of Commissioner in charge of opening the “Lazzaro Spallanzani” hospital specialized in infectious diseases and AIDS. In January 1998, after becoming the Vice Commissioner for the Year 2000 Great Jubilee, he directed all the activities related to the event, including the World Youth Day organized in Rome. From September 1998 to December 2002, he headed the Civilian Service National Office. On September 7, 2001, the Council of Ministries of the 14th Legislature appointed Bertolaso to the position of Director of the National Department of Civil Protection, a position that he still holds after the Council of Ministers of the 15th Legislature confirmed him in office on June 9, 2006. In May 21, 2008, he was appointed Undersecretary of State by the Prime Minister’s Office to manage the waste disposal emergency in the Region of Campania; in April 6, 2009, he has become the Commissioner in charge of managing the earthquake emergency in the region of Abbruzzo.

Awards:
Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito of the Republic of Italy.
Gold medal for his distinguished service in public healthcare.
Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito of the Republic of Italy.
Honorary Degree in Operational Engineering, University of Rome.
Honorary citizenship of the Municipality of Ostini.
Honorary Degree in Law, St. John’s University.
Honorary Degree in Environmental Sustainability and Civil Protection, University of Ancona.

Reasons for assigning the Award

The 2009 Edition of the Vissi d’Arte – Città di Alcamo International Culture Award has been assigned to Guido Bertolaso for his significant achievements in the coordination of emergency activities and humanitarian assistance, for his outstanding skills in managing many emergencies in Italy and abroad with great professionalism and timeliness, and for contributing to the growth of an awareness in Italy of the importance of several themes related to environmental issues and the management of emergencies.

Da sinistra Giacomo Scala – Sindaco del Comune di Alcamo e Calogero Foti – Dirigente Protezione Civile Regione Sicilia che ritira il Premio per il Capo del Dipartimento della Protezione Civile Nazionale Guido Bertolaso