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, André was an elementary and secondary school teacher between 2007 and 2022, as well as a soccer coach at various clubs in Lisbon. André has also worked in customs and administration.
Inês Neves holds a master’s degree in Communication Sciences, specializing in strategic communication, from NOVA University of Lisbon, in addition to a postgraduate degree in Digital Marketing from the Portuguese Institute of Marketing Administration. Inês was a press officer with the Longo Alcance agency between 2019 and 2021, and worked with clients in the higher education sector, such as the Coimbra Higher Institute of Engineering and Coimbra Business School. Inês joined Iniciativa Educação’s communications team in November 2023, after integrating the Global Media group’s digital department as social media account manager.
Program coordinators
João Arménio Lamego Lopes is the coordinator of the AaZ - Read Better, Learn More program. 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).
Filipa Oliveira is the coordinator of the Ser Pro program. She holds a PhD in Science Education, specializing in Physics, from the University of Coimbra, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Education of Viseu. She collaborates with the Physics (CFisUC) and Chemistry (CQC) research centers at the University of Coimbra.
Filipa Oliveira has developed numerous science communication projects for several audiences, as well as creating experimental teaching resources for teachers and students who took part in the Physics Olympics. She is the author and co-author of multiple publications in scientific journals and conferences. In 2012, she represented Portugal at the FameLab Science Festival in Cheltenham.