Valentina Montalto has 13 years of professional experience as a cultural and creative sectors (CCS) policy specialist, combining work in the public and private sector. She worked for six years at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (2016-2022), as a main researcher and project lead of the ‘Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor’. Prior to joining the European Commission, Valentina worked at the Brussels-based research and advisory company KEA where she conducted multiple research assignments (e.g. to assess the quality of available cultural statistics/indicators to support evidence-based policies, to design policy/evaluation strategies), on behalf of both European institutions and local governments. She currently works for Unesco as a cultural data expert. Her professional experience is backed by a multidisciplinary educational background in statistics, cultural economics, and tourism management. Valentina holds a PhD in geography from the Paris-Sorbonne University. On YouTube her TEDxTalk on how to measure culture in European cities.