The District Governor of Rotary District 2110, Sicily and Malta for the year starting 1 July 2026 is Prof Lina Riccardello.
Carmela (Lina) Ricciardello was born in Brolo, and had lived with her family in Palermo for twenty years, where she graduated with a degree in classical literature.
On returning to the Messina area, she first worked as a teacher and then held management roles in various educational institutions; she co-ordinated numerous training courses, frequently acted as a speaker, and managed Comenius and Erasmus projects in collaboration with schools and universities abroad (in Germany, Finland, Spain, Portugal and Turkey).
At the same time, she was the owner of the family business RI.CA, operating in the motorbike and car sector; of Vinci S.p.A., a dealership for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Piaggio; and of SAFAR, a finance company, with offices in Brolo, Capo D’Orlando and Patti.
Today, she works as a civil and commercial mediator, whilst also managing the family guest house and farm.
An eclectic individual, she has long been active in various fields, holding senior positions.
She has two daughters, Fiorella and Tiziana, and four grandchildren: Giuseppe, Carlo Maria, Antonio Maria and Livia.
A Rotarian since 1989, when Rotary International opened its doors to women, she was co-opted into the Rotary Club of Patti Terra del Tindari. After holding various roles on the Executive Committee, she was elected President in 2002/2003, during the governorship of Carlo Marullo di Condojanni. Since then, she has also been actively involved in the District and its Fellowships. As a member and delegate of the well-known ‘Cuisine 15’, she organised several highly appreciated meetings in her Peloritana area; she subsequently contributed to the establishment of the Nautical Fellowship and the Poseidon Squadron, Flotta Sicilia e Malta.
She worked towards the establishment of the Interact Club of Patti – Terra del Tindari, as well as the founding of the Barcelona Pozzo di Gotto Club.
She has consistently carried out numerous service activities, serving as a committee member and chair, an assistant and a member of the District Staff, whilst always attending the various district Rotary meetings.
As a speaker on various environmental and socio-cultural issues, she has coordinated English-language training activities, leading groups of Rotarians and non-Rotarians in Malta. Within the district’s literacy programme, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, she organised online courses to improve communication strategies via social media, attracting a large number of participants.
In recent years, she has served as the Rotary district delegate for the Good News Agency, for Women’s Empowerment and for DEI.
She has consistently carried out her duties with a particular spirit of service, following the guidance of the pro tempore Governors, undertaking activities consistent with the roles entrusted to her and planning them with the relevant committees in a spirit of teamwork.
A benefactor of the Rotary Foundation and a Paul Harris Fellow with three rubies, she has received numerous certificates of merit from successive Governors.
In January 2024, she was appointed Governor of Rotary District 2110 (Sicily and Malta) for the year 2026/27 and has already carried out training activities in close collaboration with all her counterparts.