Alessandra Marinetti is an instructional design consultant and trainer with extensive experience developing adult education programmes in the public and private sector. In her work she employs a variety of approaches, from traditional classroom-based and distance education to more recent methods including technology-based training and communities of practice. As a consultant with the UNHCR Staff Development Section, she provides instructional design support during the design and implementation of training activities covering refugee protection, capacity building, and programme management. Support extends over different phases of the instructional design cycle, from needs assessment, to design, development, piloting and evaluation of learning interventions. As an e-learning consultant in the private sector in the USA, she has developed training on topics ranging from induction to HR management to technical skills. Her research work includes the integration of non-traditional learning approaches into learning programmes, motivation factors in adult education, and the impact of culture on e-learning programmes.