Stefania is a UCT qualified Paralegal with a BSc in History and Sociology (Universita`La Sapienza – Rome) and currently serves as the Programme Coordinator at the Wild Law Institute. With over a decade of experience in the wildlife protection sector, she has been instrumental in developing programmes and shaping policies to protect biodiversity while advocating for land and aquatic wildlife protection and environmental conservation. Driven by her strong interest in behavioural ecology, Stefania has focused on various projects, investigations and campaigns to dismantle the controversial lion-bone and the captive elephant industries in South Africa. On the research field, she has focused on overfishing and chacma baboons in areas bordering human development.
Collaborating with numerous partner organisations, Stefania has coordinated national and international networks dedicated to environmental conservation, advocacy, research, wildlife protection, and promoting the rights of Nature. Her expertise extends to the complexities of wildlife trade mechanisms. Since 2015, she has actively engaged with the South African parliament and government institutions to advance legislation and policies in these areas.