TEAM

The Magellan Circle team works together across three countries in our offices in Porto, Genoa and Brussels. Our experts are specialised in Environment & Circular Economy, Communication & Dissemination and Transport, Mobility & Logistics.

BOARD

Ana Paula Mesquita

CEO | Partner

Tel: +351 919 183 121
anapaula.mesquita@magellancircle.eu

With two degrees in Law and History from the Catholic University of Portugal and University of Porto, Ana Paula is a senior specialist in business development and strategic planning with over 30 years of experience. Besides being a Professor of European Union Law at the Portucalense University (Portugal) for 17 years, Ana Paula has a Diploma d by the Collège d’Europe and an Executive MBA from the graduate school d’Administració i Direcció d’Empreses-ESADE.

Alexio Picco

Chairman | Partner

Tel: +39 3355686329
alexio.picco@magellancircle.eu

With a degree in Transport Engineering from the University of Genoa, Alexio is one of the Circle Group founding partners. Currently, Alexio is the Managing Director and Board Member at Circle Group and the Director of the Business Unit “European Affairs Consultancy”, which supports and develops the business of public bodies and private companies through innovation projects and funding opportunities.

MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

Joana Dias

Senior Consultant | International Consultancy Manager

Tel: +351  917 785  848
joana.dias@magellancircle.eu

Joana holds a degree in Law and a Postgraduate degree in European Union Law at the School of Law of the University of Minho. Joana has more than 6 years of experience in European funding (Horizon 2020, ERASMUS+, INTERREG, LIFE, EEA Grants, Connecting Europe Facility – Transport), project management and coordination of communication activities and dissemination of results.

Hugo Serra

Senior Consultant | Financial Controller

Tel: +351 911 076 803
hugo.serra@magellancircle.eu

Hugo holds a degree in Management and a Postgraduate degree in Industrial and Firm Economics from the University of Minho. Hugo also completed an executive training programme in Project Management at the Porto Business School. Having worked at the University of Porto for more than 10 years, Hugo has vast experience in managing both national and international funded projects.

Ana Isabel Ribeiro

Senior Consultant | EU Funding Accelerator Manager

Tel: +351 91 370 29 54
ana.ribeiro@magellancircle.eu

Ana Ribeiro holds a degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Porto and a Specialisation in Polymeric Engineering from the University of Minho. Ana has more than 20 years of experience in R&D, innovation and project management as well as a corporate network manager and project manager (national and international projects and activities) with active participation in different R&D projects, workshops, conferences and seminars.

Vanusa Monteiro

Administrative and Financial Consultant

Tel: +351 937 151 800

vanusa.monteiro@magellancircle.eu

Vanusa has experience and training in business management. Has a long and diversified experience in several markets, always in the field of management. Has also experience in EU funds management, applications for government financial support and public procurement. Has knowledge in the financial, administrative, budgeting and planning areas.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION

Andrea Hržić

Senior Consultant | Strategic Communication & Dissemination Manager

Tel: +32 (0) 49 923 1725
andrea.hrzic@magellancircle.eu

With a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Marketing from the University of Trieste (Italy) and a Master of Science in Communication Studies from Vrije University (Brussels), Andrea specialises in corporate communication strategy, EU funded projects dissemination and event organisation.

Valeria Burlando

Senior Consultant | Strategic Communication & Marketing Manager

Tel. +39 3494001389
valeria.burlando@magellancircle.eu

With a degree in Economics at University of Genoa, Valeria is Strategic Communication and Marketing Manager at MagellanCircle and Marketing Manager at Circle Group. Valeria currently manages Corporate Marketing, Communication and Dissemination for EU funded projects and Strategic Communication and Advocacy services for private and public clients.

Gloria Cottafava

Senior Advisor Strategic Communication & Marketing

Tel. +39 3479838233
gloria.cottafava@magellancircle.eu

Gloria Cottafava is specialised in designing marketing and communication actions for the positioning on the international market of companies specialised in port, transport and logistics sectors. Gloria is highly skilled in developing innovative formats and tailor-made business events, aimed at strengthening her clients’ relations and business proposals in Europe.

Marta Belinha

Consultant | Strategic Communication & Dissemination

Tel. +351 912 995 465
marta.belinha@magellancircle.eu

Marta holds a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Business Affairs from Aveiro University. In 2020, Marta joined the Communication team while finishing her Master’s degree in Marketing and International Business. Marta has been applying several skills from e-mail marketing and social media management to branding and content in the scope of communication campaigns for EU-funded projects and national projects.

Marika Gillardo

Consultant | Strategic Communication & Marketing

Tel. +39 340 866 1427
marika.gillardo@magellancircle.eu

Marika holds a master’s degree in Maritime and Port Management from the University of Genoa. Marika has specialized knowledge of marketing management and communication, by designing and implementing solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. During her work experience, Marika has also gained experience in events organisation, purchase management and business development activities.

Enrico Giunta

Consultant | Strategic Communication & Dissemination

Tel. +39 3497257131
enrico.giunta@magellancircle.eu

With a degree in Economics and Management from the University of Genoa, Enrico is specialised in advocacy and communication. Enrico has experience in developing social media communication strategies, content and copywriting activities, as well as editorial management, and marketing planning.

Giorgia Montorsi

Senior Event Manager | Strategic Communication & Marketing

giorgia.montorsi@magellancircle.eu

With a vast experience in management, Giorgia has been involved in consulting and organizing ECM Congresses, courses and events as a freelancer in Italy, abroad and within the European Community. Since 2021, Giorgia has collaborated with the digital magazine ShipMag.it as an operational and commercial resource. With a proactive mindset, Giorgia is able to adapt and cope with challenges with excellent leadership and communication skills.

Pedro Matos Trigo

Senior Advisor | Strategic Communication & Dissemination

Tel: +351 913 811 510
pedro.trigo@magellancircle.eu

Pedro studied media at Porto’s journalism college ESJ and is an expert in publishing and press advisory for more than 35 years. After being a journalist and acquiring experience in radio, press and digital, he joined several PR agencies and became Senior Communication Advisor. Having founded his own agency, he’s been working in many electoral campaigns as well as leading magazines and PR departments for corporations, chambers of commerce & industry and city councils.

Patrícia Santos

Consultant | Strategic Communication & Dissemination

patricia.santos@magellancircle.eu

Patrícia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Languages and Business Affairs and a Master’s Degree in Management – Marketing and International Business from Aveiro University. Throughout her professional path, Patrícia has gained specialised knowledge in communication activities, focusing on reinforcing brand image and designing personalised strategies to promote EU-funded projects.

ENVIRONMENT AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Hugo Marques Sousa

Senior Consultant | Environment & Circular Economy Manager

Tel: +351 917 172 165
hugo.sousa@magellancircle.eu

Hugo holds a Bachelor’s in economics and a Master’s in Environmental Economics and Management from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (UP). Hugo has a vast experience in European funding, having worked in all phases of the life cycle of projects, as well as international tenders, strategic consulting, research, and communication activities.

Teresa Presas

Senior Advisor Environment & Circular Economy

Tel: +32 (0) 475 83 73 45
teresa.presas@magellancircle.eu

With over 30 years of experience in the international industrial and business sector both through multinational companies and European associations, Teresa holds a specialisation in European Affairs, management, and strategic development, with a special focus on issues of sustainability. She was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Helsinquia Aalto.

Marilena Branchina

Senior Consultant | Environment & Circular Economy Manager

Tel. +39 3358246524
marilena.branchina@magellancircle.eu

With a degree in Political Science from the University of Catania, Marilena is specialized in business development, innovation and research. During her work experience, Marilena has gained specialized knowledge in developing strategic guidelines for the development of complex projects and actions at a national and European level.

Jorge Gonçalves

Consultant | Environment & Circular Economy

Tel: +351 910 603 250
jorge.goncalves@magellancircle.eu

Jorge holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrotechnical and Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Environmental Economics and Management from the University of Porto. Jorge joined Magellan in 2020 and has been gaining experience in European funding and project management.

MOBILITY, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

Manuela Flachi

Senior Consultant | Mobility & Transport Manager

Tel: +32(0) 486 38 63 81
manuela.flachi@magellancircle.eu

Manuela holds a Bachelor’s in Political Sciences from the University of Pavia in Italy and a Master’s in International Relations from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Manuela has extensive experience in European projects, management and international cooperation for deploying ITS and C-ITS services in Freight Transport, Clean and Urban Mobility, training, and e-learning.

Filipe Ribeiro

Senior Consultant | Internacional Consultancy

Tel: +351 912 244 774
filipe.ribeiro@magellancircle.eu

Filipe holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from the Engineering Faculty of the University of Porto. Filipe has more than 4 years of experience in European funding and project management and a vast experience in the coordination and implementation of communication activities and dissemination of results.

Reza Karimpour

Senior Consultant | Mobility & Transport

Tel: +39 3476 327 203
reza.karimpour@magellancircle.eu

With a master’s and a PhD degree in Maritime Affairs, Reza has a long-standing sea-going experience as a marine engineer officer. Reza has been involved in several projects, in the port and maritime sectors, in the fields of research, desktop analyses, surveys, and policy and technical recommendations.

Beatrice Dauria

Senior Consultant | EU Funding Accelerator

Tel. +39 3406 031 552
beatrice.dauria@magellancircle.eu

As a researcher at the University of Genoa, Beatrice has drafted numerous studies and reports and published several papers in the Smart Cities and Smart Mobility field. In her role as EU funding specialist with more than seven years of experience, Beatrice was involved in different EU funded projects (e.g. H2020 RCMS, SYNCHRO-NET, Docks The Future).

Marco Gorini

Senior Consultant | Intelligent Transport Systems Manager

Tel. +39 3357 484 779
marco.gorini@magellancircle.eu

With over 35 years of experience in R&D project management in the fields of energy, transport and logistics, Marco is specialised in the design and implementation of ICT solutions for mobility and process automation. Marco has been involved in several H2020/CEF projects, ranging from 5G-LOGINNOV, I RAIL, FENIX, FEDeRATED to E-Bridge.

Manuela Soares

Senior Advisor Mobility & Transport

Tel: +351 913 702 954
manuela.soares@magellancircle.eu

With a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Porto, Manuela has worked for 30 years as the Director of Research Programmes on Environment and Transport at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission. Manuela specialises in EU Research and Innovation, with an extensive network of EU Associations and stakeholders in the field of mobility and transport.

Iryna Moroz

Consultant | Mobility, Transport & Logistics

Tel. +351 913 087 342
iryna.moroz@magellancircle.eu

Iryna holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Lisbon. Experienced in managing social projects, Iryna has gained experience in project coordination and communication. Iryna has a keen critical sense of interest in gender equality and environmental issues.