Raffaella Salierno

Naples (Italy), 1954. Raffaella Salierno received her PhD in Chinese and Mongolian Studies from the “Orientale” University of Naples. For years, she has combined her research and dissemination of Asian cultures with translation and cultural programming. She has also translated classics of Asian studies for the prestigious Rome-based publisher Astrolabio-Ubaldini, among them La via delle nuvole bianche by Anagarika Govinda. After living in New York, she moved to Barcelona, where she coordinated cultural activities on freedom of expression as well as exhibits on Asian cultures such as “Afghanistan: A millennial history” (Caixa Forum, 2001) and “Confucius” (CaixaForum 2003-2004). From 2000 to 2010, Salierno was the coordinator of Catalan PEN’s Persecuted Writers’ Committee and since 2006, she has coordinated the Catalan PEN’s Visiting Writers program. She has served as the General Secretary of the Catalan PEN since 2010. In 2006, she represented the Catalan PEN at the founding meeting of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) and joined the Advisory Board. From 2009 to 2012, she was the spokesperson for ICORN’s Board of Directors and is currently a member of its international Search Committee.