Irene Pivetti, a former Italian journalist and politician, will be the guest speaker of the 2017 Benjamin Tonna Lecture organised by The Institute for Research on the Signs of the Times (DISCERN). The theme of this year's lecture will be 'The Catholic Journalist in the Secular Media'. The event will be held on Wednesday, 15 November, at The Old Refectory, The Archbishop's Curia, Floriana, at 7pm.

Irene Pivetti was President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1994 to 1996. Initially she was active in the Lega Nord and later joined various political formations, such as the Rinnovamento Italiano, UDEUR, of which she has been President, and FdCP.

Pivetti graduated in Philosophy at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan. Later she undertook her journalistic career as an editorial consultant, director of political periodicals and opinionist of L'Indipendente. She also collaborated with Il Messaggero (1996-1997), Libero (2000) and Il Campanile Nuovo (2000-2002).

After leaving politics, she started a career in television and produced and presented various current affairs and entertainment programmes at Odeon Tv, La7 and Mediaset.

Since 2010 Irene Pivetti has been president of the Italian Association of IPTV Operators. She is also president of Only Italia.