About me

Welcome to my blog. My name is Alessandro Drago, and I have been working in the field of nutrition, food safety, and European regulations for over ten years. My passion is to approach regulatory challenges as opportunities for innovation, as I am convinced that regulation, science, and innovation can coexist and must go hand in hand.

I currently hold the position of Scientific Advisory Lead at Amway, where I head up the scientific advisory function, with a particular focus on how to innovate in the health and wellness sector in an informed, rigorous, and regulatory-compliant manner

In my daily work, I focus on three main areas: providing strategic scientific advice on new products and services, interpreting complex regulatory constraints and transforming them into concrete opportunities for innovation, and facilitating dialogue between research teams, regulatory functions, and business areas, because I believe that true innovation arises when science, regulation, and market strategies communicate effectively.

My vision

I am convinced that modern challenges in the health and wellness sector can only be resolved when you manage to combine three pillars: scientific rigor, a deep understanding of regulations, and conscious innovation. True innovation does not emerge from conflict between these elements but from their virtuous integration.

In my daily work, I aim not only for regulatory compliance, however crucial, but also for the creation of value for all stakeholders. I believe in transparent communication, genuine collaboration between teams, and continuous growth. Above all, I believe that the nutrition and wellness sector deserves innovation that is responsible, scientifically sound, and regulatory savvy.

My Journey

I joined Amway in 2013 as Regulatory Affairs Coordinator for Nutrition, managing compliance for Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. It was there that I realized how complex and fascinating it was to navigate European regulatory frameworks and apply them locally.

Over the years, I gradually expanded my responsibilities. As Technical Regulatory Specialist (2017-2020), I consolidated my understanding of how European food legislation applies in practice to product innovation. I learned to evaluate new ingredients not only from a scientific point of view but also from a regulatory one and to anticipate regulatory changes.

The role of Lead Regulatory Specialist (2020-2023) was the turning point. There, I truly understood that my job was to act as a bridge. I led complex projects that required translating technical regulatory requirements into actionable innovation briefs and coordinating product development teams, regulatory functions, and business development. I oversaw the alignment of the innovation pipeline with the evolution of European regulatory frameworks, not only anticipating changes, but also proposing “preventive” innovations: solutions that responded to regulatory trends even before they became mandatory.

Subsequently, as Senior Regulatory Policies Advisor (2023), I had the opportunity to further deepen my integrated and strategic vision of European regulation in the health and nutrition sector, identifying strategic areas for innovation.

Today, in my role as Scientific Advisory Lead, I bring all of this together: I deeply integrate my understanding of European regulatory frameworks (EFSA, EU food legislation) with advanced scientific knowledge of nutrition and formulation. It is not just compliance management; it is the continuous search for how to innovate responsibly, i.e., in a way that is scientifically sound, regulatory aware, and commercially relevant.

My Education

I graduated in Environmental Chemical-Toxicological Sciences and Safety from the University of Milan (2009-2012), where I built my scientific foundations in the areas of toxicology and environmental safety.

I then, as part-time-student, completed a Master's Degree in Safety Assessment of Xenobiotics and Biotechnological Products, also in Milan (2015-2018), gaining in-depth knowledge of the rigorous safety assessment of substances and biotechnological products: useful course when I have to evaluate complex ingredients and formulas.

My Knowledge

Regulatory affairs & compliance: I don't just ensure compliance. I seek to understand the “why” behind the rules so that I can turn constraints into strategic opportunities.

Scientific communication: I know how to explain complex concepts to different audiences, from corporate decision makers to technical teams, always maintaining scientific accuracy without losing clarity.

Health and wellness strategy: I have gained in-depth knowledge of nutrition, dietary supplements, food safety, and botanicals, not only from a technical perspective, but also from a strategic one.

Integrated innovation: This is perhaps my most distinctive skill. I know how to combine scientific knowledge, AI platforms and innovation, regulatory requirements, and market strategies to generate innovation that really works: sustainable, compliant, and commercially relevant.

Project management and leadership: I have coordinated complex cross-functional projects, facilitating dialogue between different departments with sometimes conflicting objectives. Prince2 certified.