Born in Siena, Italy, she studied law and economics at Yale University in the United States, before gaining a degree in political sciences with a thesis on international satellite telecommunication law at the University ‘Cesare Alfieri’ in Florence, Italy. She also holds a diploma of advanced studies (DEA) from the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques (CEDS) in Paris.
Simonetta Cheli has worked at ESA for over three decades, both at Headquarters in Paris and at ESRIN, and in various roles since 15 years within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.