In this edition of Wingspan Conversations, we sat down with Niccolò Faggiani from AS Napoli. This year, the Congress named him Member of the Year. Let’s explore his journey, his toughest moments during the year, and why he believes International Events are one of the best parts of our association.
From AMEAC Napoli to the International Stage
Niccolò joined EUROAVIA in 2022, when the AMEAC took place in Napoli. His international side began at the Congress in İstanbul in 2024, where the International Events Working Group (IE WG) was presented. He remembers thinking that it was probably the thing that suited him the most, and a couple of months later he was part of the IE WG. Niccolò spent a year and a half as a tutor, looking after everything from Ideathon to symposiums, before becoming a coordinator in the summer of 2025. He explains, “IE works a little differently from other working groups. Every member is called a tutor, and every tutor is assigned a whole international event for the entire duration of its organisation.”
Tutoring Two Congresses in One Business Year
Coordinators in IE don’t usually tutor events themselves. They manage the working group, collect updates and give advice. This year was different. Two Congresses needed urgent attention with very little time left, and Niccolò was one of the most experienced members in the group, so he stepped in and tutored both: EMEAC 2026 in Bucharest and ExMEAC & AMEAC 2026 in Dresden.“We succeeded in both of them,” he says, though he admits it wasn’t the easiest way.
What Keeps Him Going
For Niccolò, the motivation is simple: seeing the event actually take place. He always tries to be present at the events he tutors, because the bond with the organisers is special. “You become part of the local board for a bit with them.” And the best part? “Actually seeing participants enjoying the event you organised. I think that is the biggest motivation you can have.”
The Night in Porto
Since he tutored the two Congresses this year, Niccolò admits he might be biased, so he picked a different favourite: the Fly-In in Minho, organised by what was then PAS Minho (now AS Minho). It was well organised and set in a beautiful place, and one day in particular stays with him. After an amazing lunch hosted by a company during the sponsor day, the group took a bus to Porto. What nobody had considered was that the driver was legally required to rest for eight hours. The earliest he could pick everyone up was 3:00 in the morning. So the group spent the whole evening and night in Porto left at around 4:00. Wake-up call for the flight experience? 7:00. “It was an amazing day, but it was also a stretch for our backs,” he laughs.
One of the Toughest Moments
Unfortunately, not every memory is as funny as the night in Porto. In Bucharest, bad news came just two hours before the final dinner, when the team was told that the reserved room was no longer available because it had been given to another association. The dinner had to move to the usual cafeteria. Telling the participants was hard, and there was no time to find another solution. But what happened next stayed with Niccolò: people showed up, had fun with the friends they had made during the Congress and signed each other’s magazines. “Even though the location was not the best, people still found a way to enjoy the moment, and I think that is also part of the EUROAVIAn spirit.”
Support Starts With a Conversation
How does he make sure organisers and participants feel supported when things get stressful? By talking to them, really talking. “Sometimes text messages are not enough.” Everyone faces problems and anxieties in a different way, so Niccolò makes a point of listening, whether to organisers during the preparation or to participants during the event. People are also much more honest in a conversation than in a message.
Advice for Anyone Who Wants to Get Involved
His top tip: organise an International Event in your local group. “It’s the only way to actually understand what an international event is and how to organise it.” Attending as many international events as possible helps too, because you learn how things are done and what the spirit of an IE really feels like.
One Word: Diverse
Asked to describe his IE experience in one word, Niccolò chose diverse. Every event is different, every local board and every AS works in its own way, and even when the guidelines are similar, no two experiences are the same.
The Best Part of EUROAVIA
His favourite thing about EUROAVIA? He admits it’s a selfish answer: the travelling. The international events, the conferences and all the opportunities EUROAVIA offers.
When the Congress named him Member of the Year, Niccolò called it one of the most amazing feelings he has ever had. He had worked very hard during the year, and had done things that weren’t strictly his duty because the events needed them. “I think it was the best payback I could get.” Standing among other candidates who had worked just as hard made the moment even more special. He sent a special shout-out to Marialena Poulaki, who nominated him for the award. “It’s still something I’m processing,” he says.
No two events are the same, and no memory comes without its challenges. But as Niccolò puts it, the experience is worth every single mile:“Go to International Events. It will be some of the best experiences you ever have. See you there.“