Vitoria-Gasteiz Mobility Lab Foundation
Director
ARCHITECT (Basque Country University), MASTER ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (IESE, Madrid, University of Navarra) AND EUROPEAN PROJECTS EXPERT (Spanish Office for Science and Technology, Brussels)
Proven experience in environmental and European projects derived from the management of the European Green Capital 2012 programme and other European projects such as: URBAN, MOVESMART, IRRIGESTLIFE, INTERREG, NOBEL GRID, NAPOCTEP, etc. As former member of the board of the Tecnalia Research & Innovation Foundation I also know the Basque Science and Technology network and all the European research programs.
Strong experience and background on urban planning after more than 20 years on public and private projects in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the European Green Capital 2012, like the General Plan, the Old Quarter Integral Refurbishment Plan, the Salburua and Zabalgana Agreement, the Sustainable Mobility and Public Space Plan, the Urban Green Infrastructure Strategy (the Green Belt), the Tranway, etc.
Excellent knowledge of the European Commission system and wide communicative and relational competence gained over 24 consecutive years of service to local governments and within international environments. Extensive experience as a lecturer (English and Spanish) in the USA, Brazil, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, China, Belgium, Greece, France, Canada, Spain, Chile, etc. I have participated in various exchange programmes in urban policies of the European Union with third countries such as China (EU-China Partnership on Urbanisation) or Canada (EU-Canada World Cities project). I have been involved in the EU-China Dialogue on Regional Policy, participating in four EU-China High Level Seminars on Regional Policy (Guangzhou, Brussels, Beijing and Shantou) and organizing a study visit of Chinese delegates from NDRC to Vitoria (Nov 2012). In 2017, I worked as NKE in the EU-South Africa World Cities Project, managing the Bilbao (ES)-Cape Town (SA) partnership. I am also involved in the IUC-LAC, the EU-Brazil Sector Dialogue in "Nature based solutions and sustainable cities", Brasilia 2018 and I have also participated as speaker in the Expo-Foro Innovación Ciudad Futuro. 27-28, March, 2019 in Santiago de Chile (Chile).
H2020 Evaluator & European Commission's Expert (Id: EX2012D128322).
I worked as leader of the Sustainable Cities Department in the Finnovaregio Foundation (FINNOVA), working in Interreg, H2020 & Life projects and in the Cities Startup Europe Award. This award, organized by DG Connect and the Committee of the Regions, looks for improving innovation and entrepreneurship in cities.
Actually, I am the CEO of the Mobility Lab Vitoria-Gasteiz Foundation pushing innovation on mobility and logistics sectors