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Our Team

Our Team

Richard Parkes

Founder and Director

Sofia Leitão

Principal Development Manager

Gigi Guizzo

Senior Development Manager

Trevor Burgess

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Manager

David Garcia Gonzalez

Learning Technologies Development Manager

Michele De Vito

Compliance Development Manager

Sami Atif

Digital Content and Technologies Officer

Ana Huesa

Administration and Liaison Officer

Danna Calle

Assistant Communication and Digital Content Officer
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Richard Parkes

Founder and Director
Richard has over 30 years’ experience in lifelong learning. His work has supported over 20,000 SMEs, start-ups, and countless learners. He studied Spanish Language and Culture at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship, a degree in Music and Education and Community Studies, and an MRes in Research and Evaluation Methods. An Irish and UK citizen, he has worked internationally on more than 250 learning and development programmes in line with policies and priorities of the EU.
 

Sofia Leitão

Principal Development Manager

She graduated in Sociology from the Universidade do Porto, and holds a PhD in Media Studies and an MA in Journalism Studies from the School of Journalism, Media & Culture at Cardiff University, specialising in childhood, media, and cultural studies. A Portuguese citizen, she has lived in the UK and Cyprus having worked for over a decade in the humanitarian sector on R&D for the enhancement of Human Rights and the Rights of the Child (she is a published author and co-editor in the field).

Gigi Guizzo

Senior Development Manager
She holds a degree in History of Art and an MA in Cultural Memory. With over 15 years’ experience managing EU projects, she specialises in lifelong learning, social innovation, cultural rights, digital up-skilling, and social entrepreneurship. Her expertise includes intercultural partnerships, communication strategies, LGBTQI and gender equality, environmental justice, tackling cyber-discrimination, and applying an intersectional approach. gigi is based in Barcelona, but has lived in different countries, and is fluent in English, German, Spanish, Catalan, French and Italian.

Trevor Burgess

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Manager

He graduated with a Literature from University of East Anglia and an MA  in European Fine Art from Winchester School of Art, based in Barcelona. Trevor has over 30 years experience as an award-winning visual artist and project manager in the creative industries, where he has designed, managed and delivered numerous projects supporting enterprise and professional development in the UK and Europe. A fluent Spanish speaker, who has travelled widely in Latin America, he has also delivered courses as visiting lecturer at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid.

David Garcia Gonzalez

Learning Technologies Development Manager
He holds a BA in Visual Arts and is an EQF level 7 Creative Learning Expert. David began his career as the founder of Artquimia, a Málaga-based training organisation focused on sound design, engineering, and music industry management. After four years in London as a trainer for creative industry apprenticeships, he returned to Málaga to join Rinova, providing internationalisation advice and business coaching to tech start-ups at the Polo Digital incubator. He also developed online learning systems for projects centred on social innovation and creative learning.

Michele De Vito

Compliance Development Manager
He completed an MA in European Funding & Project Management in 2016 while working as a VET tutor on ESF-funded projects in Rome, after graduating in Italy with a focus on cultural business management. Before moving to Spain in 2020, he spent three years in London, managing and implementing Erasmus+, Interreg, REC, and COSME projects with partners across Europe. He also coordinated numerous placements for the Mobilitas Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme.

Sami Atif

Digital Content and Technologies Officer
He graduated in Film and Television Studies from Brunel University London in 2017. Since then, he has gained experience in video and digital media production, digital marketing, web design and development, as well as compliance and finance. He has also worked on the Talent Match London project, an employability programme for young adults, and contributed to various EU projects focused on youth entrepreneurship, creative mentoring, and VET

Ana Huesa

Administration and Liaison Officer
She graduated in Social Education from the University of Burgos. In 2011, she moved to the UK and completed a Master’s in Human Resources at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, working in a residence for people with learning difficulties. In 2016, she became a Manager, gaining experience in business strategy, team management, and internal H&S audits. In 2020, she returned to her home in Málaga. Ana has a particular interest in the uses of technology for social innovation.

Danna Calle

Assistant Communication and Digital Content Officer
She studied a master’s degree in digital marketing management and direction, as well as a master’s degree in Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, both at University of Malaga, Spain.
She has been working in tech companies as content creator and marketing specialist, with foundations as a project facilitator.
She has also recieved awards within entrepreneurship contexts in New York, Mexico, Bolivia and Spain. She is passionate about communication and social entrepreneurship.