Barbara Cimmino

Barbara Cimmino is an Italian entrepreneur and institutional leader in the textile, fashion and retail industries, widely recognized for her commitment to sustainable innovation and the international promotion of Italian manufacturing excellence.

She is Co-Founder of Yamamay, one of Italy’s leading fashion-retail brands in lingerie, swimwear and nightwear. Since the company’s foundation in 2001, she has played a central role in shaping its strategic vision and embedding sustainability and responsible innovation into its business model, positioning the brand as a benchmark for transparency, product responsibility and ESG integration across the value chain.

Since 2024, she has served as Vice President of Confindustria, with responsibility for Internationalization and Investment Attraction and Vice President of EURATEX – the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, where she contributes to the European agenda on sustainability, competitiveness and the transition of the textile and apparel sector.

Her institutional engagements include positions as Board Member of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA/ICE) and SIMEST, Vice President of Comitato Leonardo – Italian Quality Committee and President of ABIE – Confindustria Advisory Board of Foreign Investors. She is also a member of Apheon’s Board of Senior Advisors, the LUISS Business School Corporate Advisory Board and the Advisory Board of the UCL Centre for Sustainable Business. She promotes dialogue between industry, policy and academia through collaborations with universities and design schools in Italy and abroad, including institutions in the United Kingdom and Brazil.

Barbara Cimmino is Founder and President of DIANA ODV, a non-profit organization supporting women and children in vulnerable conditions, and an active supporter of the One Ocean Foundation.

Her recognitions include the Sustainability Leader of the Year Award from the UCL Centre for Sustainable Business in 2025, the Premio Nazionale Donna in 2025, the ASFOR-ISVI Excellence Innovation Award in 2023, and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Fashion & Design in 2017. She holds a degree in Political Science – International Relations from the University of Naples Federico II and completed further studies in Fashion Merchandising in London.