Monica Barni is Vice-President of the Tuscany Region and Assessor for Culture, University and Research. Before joining the Regional Council, she was Rector of the University for Foreigners in Siena. Graduated in Literature, she conducted several research and teaching activities, dealing particularly with sciences of language, languages learning, diversity and linguistic contact, with many publications also at international level. She was part of various expert groups, at national and international level, collaborating with international bodies, such as the Council of Europe, on issues of languages for migrants’ integration and of languages for the economic development of the territory. For the Tuscany Region she deals with cultural policies, relations with universities and research centres, scientific research promotion and research activities coordination in various sectors, policies for the right to higher education, initiatives against death penalty and for human rights promotion, policies for consumers and users protection, activities against discriminations related to sexual orientation or gender.