Nicola Catellani is the Network Coordinator of SERN (Sweden Emilia-Romagna Network). Under his leadership, SERN has grown from 28 to 58 members and implemented over 150 projects, mainly EU-funded, gaining recognition at both EU level and nationally in Italy and Sweden. He is responsible for the strategic development of the network, expanding its membership and areas of activity. Over the years, he has trained more than 500 officers from local and regional authorities in administrative capacity building and EU affairs.

Prior to his work at SERN, Dr Catellani conducted academic research on EU foreign and security policy, with a focus on the EU's neighbourhood policy, regional cooperation in the Baltic Sea area, the Northern Dimension, and EU-Russia relations. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2004).