I have a degree in European Studies, a degree in International Business, and a Master in International Economics and Management. My areas of expertise are economic development, foreign direct investment, innovation management and entrepreneurship. My thesis was focused on networks, highlighting the relevance of R&D institutions and scientific networks. This has taken me to follow a PhD in Business and Management Studies, where I defended a thesis proposal about new institutionalism and the role that local public institutions play in the determination of social and economic outcomes. Unfortunately, I had to abandon this project because of my professional responsibilities. Also the work I developed in Porto Vivo as a coordinator of the studies and planning division, made me work on several projects related to urban renewal and local economic development, from planning and designing, to managing and monitoring several integrated actions, physical and intangible initiatives that led me to produce several publications, but also intervene at national and international conferences, and participate as representative in important fora, from the Energy Cities to the Urban Development Network. During the years I have developed the understanding and actively worked for integrated and sustainable urban development, bringing together urban renewal and economic development, attracting and enabling new businesses to flourish. Such experience may be further developed with new projects.

As already mentioned, I was actively involved in 4 URBACT projects, representing the partners Porto Vivo, SRU or the City of Porto, having therefore a deep knowledge about exchange and transfer of best practices and case studies. I have participated in numerous transnational meetings and workshops, as also conferences where I made presentations or which I helped to organise. Those presentations, reports from workshops and meetings, proceedings and reports from conferences may all give evidence of the work I have accomplished in terms of learning and exchange processes. Strong relationships have been developed between partner cities through the different paths these projects have followed, and this is also important because personal relationships create informal channels of communication, important for breaking barriers and better learn from each other, between the technical staff that has the operational level of projects. This is a rich experience that I can also develop in terms of soft skills and human skills, very important in such knowledge exchange initiatives.