Marina has a degree in Food Preparation Sciences. She is currently the Quality Manager at the “Oleificio Pietro Coricelli S.p.A.”.

Marina deals with quality certifications, contacts with customers and consumers. It also deals with the surveillance of the quality of products and processes, the control of incoming oils from a sensorial point of view. She was also Head of Quality Assurance at “Carapelli Firenze” and Quality Manager of “Agnesi Spa” for the production of pasta in the Danone group. Marina has been an ONAOO Professional Taster since 2001.

Marina was the winner in 2015 of “THE GREAT CHALLENGE – THE WORLDWIDE OLIVE OIL TASTERS’ CHALLENGE” at the Milan EXPO. She regularly attends refresher courses organized by ONAOO of which she has also become a member of the Council in 2019.

Emily Lycopolus is an olive oil sommelier, professional olive oil taster, and author. She holds a degree in Life Sciences from Queen’s University, where she combined her love for science and discovery with a deep passion for food and flavors.

Additionally, she completed a master’s degree in cultural anthropology, transforming her kitchen into a space of exploration and learning. Her dedication to olive oil began in her husband’s family olive grove, an experience that marked the start of a career that now spans over 15 years. Emily has taught more than 500 culinary students and introduced numerous enthusiasts to the art of tasting and using olive oil. She is frequently consulted as an expert by retailers and food distributors for product category management, marketing strategies, and culinary pairings.

A faculty member at George Brown College, Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Emily is also the author of eight cookbooks, which have earned prestigious awards such as the Gourmand and Taste Canada Awards. Her books have been presented at the Nobel House in Sweden, further solidifying her esteemed reputation in the industry.

Thanks to her expert palate, Emily shares her passion for olive oil with consumers, producers, and serves as a judge in international olive oil competitions.

In Victoria, Canada, where she lives, she organizes private workshops, advanced courses, and guided tastings with the goal of educating both culinary professionals and retail experts on how to best utilize and promote this precious ingredient.

David began his journey with Olive Oil in 1985 as a Chef Commis at The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC, USA. After five years in hotel Food and Beverage and another six in Organic and Specialty Food retail, ending at Whole Foods Markets as Director of Grocery, he entered food manufacturing, spending ten years as an Executive for the leading organic cereal company in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

In early 2006 and for the next nine years, he was President and Partner of Lucini Italia®, based in Miami, Florida, which he grew to be the premier quality Italian Olive Oil in America. David continued his passion for EVOO by founding EVOOGuy.com(R), a consultancy. Focused 100% on best–in–class Extra Virgin Olive Oils. At the same time, launching his own EVOO brand, established a Tasting Tour using a custom-designed Olive Oil truck, lecturing, and continuing to share his knowledge via his Olive Oil 101 platform. He found a partnership with the Mediterranean Diet Round (MDR) Table in 2020, a think tank to support awareness about curated EVOOs. This included a tasting class with Yale University and 100 of their students as well as numerous tasting events in New York and Notre Dame University.

Olive Oil clients David has helped build their brand and business in the USA include: Deoleo (Carapelli/Italian), Casas De Hualdo (Spanish), Oleama (Turkish), Oz Organics (Turkish), Mis Raices (Spanish), Valderamma (Spanish) and many more.

David’s first book, Extra Virgin Olive Oil—The Truth In Your Kitchen (Morgan James Publishing 2022), is available in paperback and endorsed by notable Olive Oil author, Tom Mueller, is also available as an e-book and audiobook on all the usual platforms. He has been featured on Martha Stewart, Kelly Clarkson Show, MSNBC, PBS, and many other media outlets, teaching how to taste and evaluate EVOO properly.

His participation is vast in the Olive Oil field, included many years of study at the oldest Olive Oil school in the world; O.N.A.O. O (Organizzazione Nazionale Assaggiatori Olio di Oliva) based in Imperia, Italy, an International Olive Council Accredited school. His designation as a trained Panel Taster and ONAOO Level 1 Technical Taster in 2012, as well as rising to a Professional Taster in Good Standing, 2018 – Present.

Today, David continues to use his vast knowledge in the Olive Oil world as a C-level executive for Millpress Imports / Seasons brand, based in Bethlehem, PA, and their Estate in Jaen, Spain.

Giovanni was born and raised in Caserta. His roots and love for his land led Giovanni to open a modern business at the foot of the Trebulani Mountains in Pontelatone (Caserta). Through path of recovery, protection, and enhancement of the most significant and ancient olive specimens, he encourages the development of marginal areas, fulfilling a remarkable biodiversity defense function.

In 2018, he enrolled in the Official Technical Course of the ONAOO School, passing the selective tests and obtaining the Certificate of Physiological Suitability. In 2019, he decided to pursue a more in-depth training path, enrolling in the Advanced Course. He passed the final exams in 2021 and obtained the ONAOO Professional Taster qualification.

He also participated in various activities organized by the School, including the ONAOO Meeting in 2020 and online tasting sessions.