Scientific secretariat

Salvatore Soresi. He is a full professor at the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua. He has founded the Larios Laboratory (Laboratory for Research and Intervention in Vocational Designing and Career Counseling) and the University Centre for Research and Services on Disability, Rehabilitation and Inclusion of the University of Padova. He is also a founder member of the Italian Society of Vocational Guidance (SIO), of which he was the President for 8 years (and now member of the Executive Board), and of the European Society of Vocational Designing and Career Counseling.
He is the Editor of the Italian Journal of Vocational Psychology and the Director of the series ‘Percorsi di orientamento [Vocational Guidance Pathways]’ (Giunti-OS, Firenze) and of the series ‘Disability, treatment and inclusion' (Ed. Junior, Bergamo).
In 2008 he received an award for his “Distinguished Contribution to the International Advancement of the Counseling Profession” from the Society of Counseling Psychology (Division 17 of the American Psychological Association). In 2000 he has received the ‘High patronage of the President of the Italian Republic’ for the Magellano Project.
He is the founder and the coordinator of the Italian Network University Training in Vocational Guidance (from 2010) and of the International Hope Research Team -- IHRT (from 2011), that involve numerous Italian Universities.
He is a trainer and supervisor of the Italian Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy.
He is member of the Life Design International Research Group (from 2006), of the Career Adaptability International Collaborative Group (from 2008) and is the Italian representative in the European project University Network for Innovation in Guidance - Lifelong Learning Programme. For the latter is member of the Sterring Commettee (2009-2012/2013-2015). He is member of the Special Task Group 'Globalization' of Division 17 - American Psychological Association (from 2011).
He is the author of about two hundred and fifty publications, more than twenty books, and a number of important assessment instruments, among which the portfolios Optimist and Clipper, and the Magellano Project (Giunti-OS, Firenze).
As regards vocational psychology and career counseling, research efforts are directed toward the study of variables involved in Life Design model and toward the planning of preventive intervention programs (for indecisive persons, persons with disabilities, immigrants, ecc.). In recent years, within the SIO, Nice and Italian network, he has studied the theme of the career counselors competencies and has proposed specific competencies repertories and specific training courses.

Laura Nota. She is professor of Psychology of career construction and career counseling and Psychology of counseling for disability and social inclusion at the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova. She is the Director of the Larios Laboratory (Laboratory for Research and Intervention in Vocational Designing and Career Counseling) and of the University Centre for Research and Services on Disability, Rehabilitation and Inclusion, at University of Padova, and of the post-graduate Master Course in ‘Life Design and Career Counseling’.
She is Vice President of SIO; she is member of the Executive Board of Division 16 (Counseling Psychology Division) in the International Association of Applied Psychology; member of the Executive Board of the European Society for Vocational Designing and Career Counseling and of  the European Society in Family Relation.
She is co-editor of The International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, member of the editorial board of The Italian Journal of Vocational Psychology, The Counseling Psychologist, The Journal of Career Development, and The Journal of Counseling Psychology, and member of the consulting committee of The Journal of Happiness Studies. She is member of the Life Design International Research Group, of the Career Adaptability International Collaborative Group. She is member of the Sterring Commettee in the European project University Network for Innovation in Guidance - Lifelong Learning Programme (2009-2012/2013-2015). She is member of the Special Task Group 'Globalization' of Division 17 - American Psychological Association (from 2011- present). As regards vocational psychology and career counseling, research efforts are directed toward the study of variables and processes in socio-cognitive and life design models, setting up of instruments, planning of interventions programs and their verification.

Teresa Maria Sgaramella. She is assistant professor at the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua where she teaches "Models and programs of rehabilitation across life span". She is member of the Larios Laboratory (Laboratory for Research and Intervention in Vocational Designing and Career Counseling) and of the University Centre for Research and Services on Disability, Rehabilitation and Inclusion of the University of Padova. She is also member of the Italian Society of Vocational Guidance (SIO) and of the European Society of Vocational Designing and Career Counseling.
She is member of the International Hope Research Team -- IHRT (from 2011), where she coordinates a special research group interest on disability, and part of the Italian representative in the European project University Network for Innovation in Guidance (NICE) - Lifelong Learning Programme.
She is International Affiliate of the *American Psychological Association* (here she joined the Prevention Section and the International Section of counseling Psychology, Division 17) and of the *Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood* (SSEA).
Author of more than 70 articles or book chapters, she has co-authored 3 books on neuropsychological assessment, disability, inclusion and vocational guidance.
As regards vocational psychology and career counseling, research efforts are directed to the study of cognitive (executive processes) and contextual influences on life design; to the realization of preventive programs for at risk young and adults and to the implementation of functional trainings for young adults with developmental and acquired disabilities aimed at facilitating school, work and social inclusion.

Lea Ferrari. She is an assistant professor at the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova. She teaches Psychology of work inclusion for people with disability and is member of the teaching staff of the post-graduate Master Course in ‘Life Design and Career Counseling’. She actively collaborates with the Larios Laboratory (Laboratory for Research and Intervention in Vocational Designing and Career Counseling) and of the University Centre for Research and Services on Disability, Rehabilitation and Inclusion, at University of Padova. She is member of SIO (Italian Society of Vocational Guidance), of the European Society for Vocational Designing and Career Counseling, and of the International Section of Counseling Psychology, Division 17, American Psychological Association.
She is member of the Career Adaptability International Collaborative Group and of the  European project University Network for Innovation in Guidance - Lifelong Learning Programme (2009-2012/2013-2015). She is co-editor of The Italian Journal of Vocational Psychology and the newsletter of the SIO. She is ad hoc reviewer of the Giornale Italiano di Psicologia dell'Orientamento [Italian Journal of Vocational Psychology], Journal of Happiness Studies, International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, Educational Research Review, and Social Behavior and Personality. As regards vocational psychology and career counseling, research efforts are directed toward the study of variables and processes in socio-cognitive and life design models, setting up of instruments, planning of interventions programs and their verification.