Curriculum Vitae Silvia Nicolis

Silvia Nicolis is President of the ‘Museo dell’Auto, della Tecnica e della Meccanica’ in Verona, today one of the most important private museums with an industrial matrix on the international scene. In 2018 she won the prestigious Museum of The Year at The Historic Motoring Awards in London and in 2021 she will win the coveted ‘Best in Classic’ award from Ruoteclassiche in Italy as best museum of the year and the “Premio Eccellenza dell’Anno” presented by ACI Storico.

She matured her professional activity in the Gruppo Lamacart, a family business, leader in the recovery and processing of waste paper. The industrial experience, started by Nicolis more than 80 years ago, has enabled her to acquire solid managerial professionalism and business skills at an international level. The group boasts an important position in the global market, virtuously develops the circular economy model and is a benchmark of the green economy. Silvia Nicolis and her brother Thomas are partners in Lamacart. The company was the first in Italy to receive the prestigious Papyrus Award from the BIR – Bureau of International Recycling in 2012.

Of German mother and Italian father, she developed a natural openness to intercultural dialogue from a young age. This attitude has enabled her to build solid relationships across national borders and to act with a truly global approach.

A dynamic entrepreneur, she successfully operates between culture and business economy, holding numerous institutional positions. She sits on the Board of Directors of Veronafiere, one of the leading trade fair players in Europe. She is vice president of Museimpresa, the association that belongs to Assolombarda and Confindustria for the valorisation of the Italian industrial history heritage; she is also a member of the Gruppo Tecnico Cultura di Confindustria nazionale and Commissione Nazionale Storia e Musei ASI Italian Historical Automobile Club. For ten years, he was a member of the board of the Verona Chamber of Commerce with delegated responsibility for tourism for the industry sector. In the course of his career he has also held numerous other important roles.

Inaugurated in 2000, the Museo Nicolis is the result of a vision shared with the father  Luciano Nicolis, an eclectic entrepreneur and collector who passed away in 2012. The museum covers over 6,000 square metres and houses ten themed collections that tell the story of the 20th century through extraordinary objects: vintage cars, motorbikes, bicycles, musical instruments, cameras, typewriters, Formula 1 racing wheels and other works of human ingenuity and technological evolution.

Always passionate about cars and engines, Silvia Nicolis has been able to reconcile her industrial activity with her commitment to museums, taking on the direction of the institution of the same name since its opening in 2000. From the outset, she has aimed to transform it into a cultural hub of excellence capable of telling the world about Italy’s mechanical and manufacturing tradition, combined with our country’s innate vocation for art and beauty, projecting it into the future through a strong process of internationalisation.

Thanks to its commitment, the museum has developed a contemporary congress center, a venue for numerous events, a reference bookstore in the motoring sector, numerous collaborations with the media, schools, institutions and companies. It has promoted initiatives such as the Premio all’Imprenditoria Veneta and territorial enhancement projects, which have contributed to Villafranca di Verona’s inclusion in the national “Città dei Motori” circuit, a network involving 27 Italian municipalities and prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Pagani and Lamborghini, with which the museum actively collaborates.

Silvia Nicolis has received numerous awards: including the “Nodo d’Amore Award” for the cultural-tourist enhancement of the area, the “Captains of the Year Veneto Award” which recognises the ideas and determination of entrepreneurs the “Premio Giulietta” to women who have distinguished themselves for their professional commitment in their field; the “Motu Proprio” award conferred by the Verona Chamber of Commerce for the economic development of the territory; the “Profilo Donna” international award for entrepreneurial commitment; the “Premio AIV Impresa Lavoro”; the “Parksmania Awards” for the success of the Vespa Exhibition and many others. She was designated ‘Nobilissima Castellana delle terre di Suavia’ and ‘Ambassador of Bardolino’ by the Bardolino Chiaretto DOC wine Confraternity for her commitment to promoting and enhancing the territory.

In 2022, it was received in audience by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella on the occasion of Museimpresa’s 20th anniversary, in recognition of the value of business culture in Italy.

The classic cars that are part of the collection have also received important international prizes in concours d’elegance and major events.

Visited every year by thousands of Italian and foreign tourists, the Museo Nicolis is today an internationally recognised tourist and cultural reality, a protagonist in the main events related to historic motoring and collecting.