The Directive Board of the Iniciativa Educação is advised by a small group of members.
Mónica Vieira holds a PhD in Educational Sciences, with a specialization in teaching analysis and organization, from the University of Coimbra. Between 2015 and 2019, she was coordinator of the research team at the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation where, between 2010 and 2015, she was content and project manager in the areas of education, science and economics. Before joining the Foundation, Mónica worked as a special education technician at Cercilei and as a trainers, teachers and other technicians certified trainer.
Diogo Novais holds an MA in Political Philosophy from the University of York and a postgraduate Diploma in Management from the Catholic University of Portugal. Before joining the team he was the External Communications Manager at BNP Paribas in Portugal for 3 years. Between 2014 and 2017, Diogo was a consultant at JLM&A, where he worked with Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, amongst other clients. His career has been dedicated to corporate communications and public relations, having also held positions with Hill & Knowlton and Galp’s media relations team.
André Prates holds a master’s degree in Sports Coaching and a degree in Physical Education from the Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies. Before joining Iniciativa Educação, he was an elementary and secondary school teacher between 2007 and 2022, as well as a soccer coach at various clubs in Lisbon. He has also worked in customs and administration.
Our Project Coordinators
João Arménio Lamego Lopes is the coordinator of the AaZ - Read Better, Learn More project. He has a degree in Psychology from the University of Porto (1981), Master in Educational and Developmental Psychology (University of Porto, 1991) and a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Minho (1996). Professor at the School of Psychology at the University of Minho since 1995. Associate Professor with Aggregation at the same University (2004). Director of the Department of Applied Psychology (2015-2019) and of the Master in Educational Psychology Themes at UM. Director of the PhD Program in Applied Psychology for CPLP countries. President of the Scientific-Pedagogical Council for Continuing Teacher Education (2014-2018), Portugal representative at CERI-OECD (2015-2017) and member of IAVE General Council (2013-2018).
Fernando Egídio Reis is the coordinator of the Ser Pro project. He has a degree in History from the University of Lisbon, a Master and PhD in History and Philosophy of Sciences from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. His researches focus on History of Sciences in Portugal, with several published studies. He has been a professor at the Cacilhas-Tejo Secondary School for 28 years, where he has coordinated and promoted multiple projects and teams. He was coordinator of the Khan Academy pilot project in Portugal (2016-2019), Director-General of Education (2011-14) and State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education (2014-15). He is a teacher trainer and has collaborated in the design of training courses and workshops with teacher training centers and in partnership with other entities.