I am Mediterranean at heart
Though I was born in Germany, I studied art history, marketing and design, first in France and later in Italy at the Filmalpha SRL in Rome where I worked as an investigative journalist producing documentaries and films, all of which made me believe that anything is credible only if it has been researched. When Filmalpha produced a documentary on the Pope's visit to Cuba in 1998, I got involved with creating coins and stamps for the occasion and that's when my interest and passion in this unique art was born. My education stood me in good stead because to plan, develop and produce commemorative stamps calls for detailed investigation, followed by effective design and last but certainly not the least, a realistic marketing plan.
In 1998, during my stint with Global Philatelie GmbH Barcelona Branch, I got to experience a wealth of stuff to do with the world of stamps. I was a part of the project management for the Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Health in countries like Afghanistan, Benin, Cambodia, Somalia, Togo, Ivory Coast and Chad wherein I was advising them on all aspects of licensing philatelic products - from creating channels on the wholesale and retail market to production and marketing.
Me and philanthropy
It was during this phase liaising with all these countries that the idea of developing stamps in conjunction with humanitarian projects first hit me. Philanthropy was still largely a male-dominated field in the 1990s.
I learnt all I could about stamps and stamp making before venturing out on my own in 2002. I started my own company and travelled to Afghanistan for my very first stamp project. Instead of staying in a hotel, I stayed with an Italian NGO that was developing a green belt around Kabul - teaching women about the importance of agriculture. Conditions at the time were tough. For example, there was no hot water and no electricity.
My first individual project was with the government of Afghanistan in the Ministry of Communications and the World Health Organisation with stamps I designed to raise awareness about tuberculosis and support charity. We also created the stamp for the first democratic presidential elections of the country. The images, which were very well-received globally, portrayed a positive and hopeful image of a country ravaged by war and invasions. For the first time, women were allowed to vote, and this was represented on the stamp, so they are the carriers of history.
Messengers of historyCharity is the bedrock of all my ventures. Wherever there is a possibility to combine a commemorative stamp issue with a humanitarian project, I go for it. I then travel to the countries I am dealing with to visit the projects. Stamps are an indelible slice of history in their own right. Although we now live in a world of electronic mail, there is a certain charm in affixing a postage stamp to a postcard or letter and sending it off. I believe stamps can be used to increase awareness for a cause. And yes they also serve as great souvenirs for collectors.
My work in the UAE
I have already started working with a recently concluded rare stamp exhibition focusing on the birth and growth of the Italian Republic from 1946 onwards, which was held at the Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah in June. I'd like to give people the possibility to travel back in time and see the stamp as a global messenger. Also, I would like to revive interest in stamp collecting in coordination with the Emirates Philatelic Association. I am currently in talks with the Emirates Football Association to create a collectible series on the game, which is a passion for many in the UAE. I've already visited some of the key clubs in the Emirates and hope to soon get a go-ahead from the Emirates Postal Authority. I'd love to work in the UAE to create commemorative stamps - provided a percentage of it goes to charity. If only I could get Diego Maradona's phone number, it would be great to work with him, as he is the new boss of Al Wasl!
Quick questions
Three places you'd love to visit?
Australia (Great Barrier Reef), Tibet (to see the mountains) and Palestine.
Three things I can't stand in people?
Jealousy, hostility and selfishness.
History is important because…
... if you don't know your past, you don't know your future.
Favourite movie?
The Kite Runner.
What do you love most about your job?
Learning about other cultures and meeting people who are the salt of the earth.
