Andrea Vella earned a BSc in Maritime Economics from the University of Genoa and furthered his education with an MSc in International Shipping from the University of Plymouth, completing a short collaboration with Royal Haskoning DHV as part of his final thesis project. He began his career as an Associate Operations professional at a freight forwarder in Milan, where he managed land transportation throughout Italy. Afterward, Andrea joined Hapag Lloyd, where he spent approximately three years in the commercial department, specifically working with agents in the Mediterranean region. During his tenure at Hapag, he had the opportunity to be temporarily relocated to Hamburg, taking on the role of Trade Manager for North Europe-Latin America, where he gained valuable international experience in shipping operations and trade management.