Paolo Petrocelli, recently appointed Head of the Dubai Opera House in the United Arab Emirates, has quickly established himself as one of the leading international cultural managers of his generation. Today, Petrocelli’s contributions to culture and business have been officially recognized by the World Economic Forum as he joins the Forum of Young Global Leaders in its Class of 2023, as the only Italian nominee and one of six selected from the arts, culture and sports sectors.

For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has brought together presidents, heads of state, economists, entrepreneurs and academics from all over the world, meeting each year in Davos, with a commitment to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation.

Since the establishment of the Forum of Young Global Leaders in 2004, the WEF has annually selected 94 of the most influential individuals under the age of 40, recognizing their outstanding ability to address global issues through their civil and professional commitment, across fields including politics, business, science, culture, sport, and media. New members of the Forum embark on a 3-year programme of opportunities to create even more of a global impact through education courses, collaboration with YGL peers, community and YGL-led events, and attending WEF gatherings including the YGL Annual Summit and World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

Paolo Petrocelli is honoured to become part of the prestigious community of Young Global Leaders, which has approximately 1400 members and alumni of 120 nationalities.