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 for 17 years, Ana Paula has a Diploma 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: +39 335 568 6329
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 has a degree in Law and a postgraduate qualification in European Union Law from the University of Minho. Formerly, she was a scholarship holder and collaborator at the Centre for Studies in European Union Law at the University of Minho and a trainee at the European Commission. Joana has more than 10 years of experience in European funding and managing teams, projects and events.

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: +351 913 702 954
ana.ribeiro@magellancircle.eu

Ana 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 with active participation in different R&D projects, workshops, conferences and seminars.

Vanusa Monteiro

Consultant | Administration and Finance

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.

Catarina Carvalho

Senior Consultant | International Consultancy

Tel: +351 912 428 402
catarina.carvalho@magellancircle.eu

Catarina holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Porto. With over 8 years of professional experience, Catarina has developed expertise in project management, particularly in the context of funded projects. Catarina has worked in both national and international contexts, including roles in Germany, Italy, and the Philippines.

Rui Dimitri

Senior Consultant | Financial Manager

rui.dimitri@magellancircle.eu
+351 916 139 698

Rui holds a degree in Economics and has over 30 years of professional experience in finance and management. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership roles, including CFO positions in both multinational and industrial environments. His areas of expertise include financial planning, cost control, performance management, corporate restructuring, mergers and continuous improvement processes.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION

Andrea Hržić

Senior Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination Manager

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

Andrea has 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 in Brussels. She specialises in corporate communication strategy, the dissemination of EU-funded projects and event organisation.

Valeria Burlando

Senior Consultant | Strategic Communication and Marketing Manager

Tel. +39 349 400 1389
valeria.burlando@magellancircle.eu

Valeria has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s in General Management from the University of Genoa. She has extensive experience as a strategic communication consultant and as a communication and dissemination manager on EU-funded projects.

Carolina Enes

Senior Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel: +351 913 325 708
carolina.enes@magellancircle.eu

Carolina holds a degree in Journalism and Communication Sciences from the University of Porto. She has worked in communications since 2005, including at the Portuguese General Consulate in London, the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment and Climate Action, and Porto City Council.

Gloria Cottafava

Senior Advisor | Strategic Communication and Marketing

Tel. +39 347 983 8233
gloria.cottafava@magellancircle.eu

Gloria specialises in designing marketing and communication strategies that help companies in the port, transport, and logistics sectors to establish an international presence. She has experience in developing innovative formats and bespoke business events aimed at strengthening her clients’ business proposals and relations in Europe.

Marika Gillardo

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Marketing

Tel. +39 342 868 9669
marika.gillardo@magellancircle.eu

Marika holds a Master’s degree in Maritime and Port Management from the University of Genoa. She has specialised knowledge of marketing, management and communication, designing and implementing solutions based on new communication channels and digital media.

Enrico Giunta

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel. +39 349 725 7131
enrico.giunta@magellancircle.eu

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

Giorgia Montorsi

Senior Event Manager | Strategic Communication and Marketing

giorgia.montorsi@magellancircle.eu

Giorgia has extensive experience in management and has worked as a freelancer in Italy, abroad and within the European Community, consulting and organising ECM Congresses, courses and events. Giorgia’s proactive mindset enables her to adapt to challenges and demonstrate excellent leadership and communication skills.

Pedro Matos Trigo

Senior Advisor | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

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

Pedro studied media at Porto’s journalism college, ESJ, and has over 35 years of experience in publishing and press advisory. After working as a journalist and gaining experience in radio, print and digital media, he joined several PR agencies and became a senior communications advisor.

Patrícia Santos

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel: +351 913 534 945
patricia.santos@magellancircle.eu

Patrícia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Business Affairs and a Master’s degree in Management, specialising in Marketing and International Business, both from the University of Aveiro. She specialises in communication, focusing on reinforcing brand image and designing personalised strategies to promote EU-funded and national projects.

Julia Kosiek

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel:+48 578 426 906
julia.kosiek@magellancircle.eu

Julia has a degree in Transport Engineering from Gdynia Maritime University and has gained specialised knowledge in communication and dissemination throughout her professional career. She has also been involved in several EU and private projects in the port and maritime sectors, focusing on research, desktop analyses, and technical recommendations.

Giovanna Stulle

Senior Consultant | Graphic Designer

Tel: +39 349 813 1280
giovanna.stulle@magellancircle.eu

For many years, Giovanna has passionately dedicated herself to the world of graphic and web design, progressively expanding her skills to include web development. Her career has involved her in a series of challenging and diverse projects across sectors ranging from the maritime industry to renewable energy, and even collaborations on European-wide initiatives.

Luís Malhadinhas

Senior Consultant | Strategic Communication and Advocacy

Tel: +351 912 428 979
luis.malhadinhas@magellancircle.eu

Luís holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from ISCAP in Portugal, a Master of Arts in International Economics and European Studies from ISEG in Portugal, and a Master of Arts in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe. He specialises in analysing and advocating EU affairs and policies, translating key legislation and insights into actionable measures.

Adriana Coutinho

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel: +351 917 043 258
adriana.coutinho@magellancircle.eu

Adriana holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and International Business, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Business Relations, both from the University of Aveiro. She has focused her academic and professional career on strategic communication, internationalisation and knowledge management.

Sónia Pereira

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel: +351 91 256 85 84
sonia.pereira@magellancircle.eu

Sónia has a degree in Journalism and Communication, specializing in Multimedia, and a postgraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Porto. She has over 15 years of experience in marketing, communication and project coordination, having held senior management positions in retail, technology, education and consulting environments.

Bruno Reis

Graphic and Communication Designer | Strategic Communication and Dissemination

Tel: +351 912 563 388
bruno.reis@magellancircle.eu

Bruno holds degrees in Geography and Communication Sciences. He has a diverse professional career, with experience in fields such as geography, tourism, and multimedia communication. Throughout his career, he has worked in multidisciplinary teams and gained experience in producing clear, consistent visual solutions adapted to different audiences, applying creativity to tackle complex challenges.

Maria Guerra

Consultant | Strategic Communication and Advocacy

Tel: +351 912 995 465
maria.guerra@magellancircle.eu

Maria holds Master’s degrees in both International Politics (Institut d’Études Politiques de Bordeaux) and International Relations (University of Coimbra), specialising in Peace, Security and Development Studies. She has experience working within the Portuguese National Administration and the European institutions, thus having a strong foundation in international affairs, particularly in Security and Defence.

ENVIRONMENT AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Hugo Marques Sousa

Senior Consultant | Environment and Circular Economy Manager

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

Hugo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Environmental Economics and Management, both from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Porto (UP). He has extensive experience of European funding, having worked on projects throughout their life cycles, as well as on international tenders, strategic consulting, research and communication activities.

Teresa Presas

Senior Advisor | Environment and Circular Economy

Tel: +32 (0) 47 583 7345
teresa.presas@magellancircle.eu

Teresa has over 30 years’ experience in the international industrial and business sector, working with multinational companies and European associations. She specialises in European affairs, management and strategic development, with a particular focus on sustainability issues. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Helsinki Aalto.

Marilena Branchina

Senior Consultant | Environment and Circular Economy Manager

Tel. +39 335 824 6524
marilena.branchina@magellancircle.eu

With a strong academic background, Marilena holds a degree in Political Science, a postgraduate degree in Diplomatic Careers and International and European Organisations, an Advanced Diploma in Fundraising and a Marie Curie Fellowship-RISE Programme. Marilena is also a certified Sustainability Manager.

Ana Cláudia Alves

Consultant | Environment and Circular Economy

Tel: +351 913 087 342
claudia.alves@magellancircle.eu

Ana Cláudia holds Master’s degrees in both International Politics (Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux) and International Relations (University of Coimbra), specialising in Peace, Security and Development Studies. She has experience of working within European institutions and has a strong foundation in project management and international affairs.

João Pacheco

Consultant | Environment and Circular Economy

joao.pacheco@magellancircle.eu
+351 910 603 250

João holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environment from the University of Porto, and is currently completing a Master’s in Economy and Environmental Management at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. Previously, he developed research work in ecology and biodiversity at CIBIO-InBio and participated in environmental impact and conservation projects.

Mafalda Vieira

Consultant | Environment and Circular Economy

mafalda.vieira@magellancircle.eu
+351 912 885 104

Mafalda Vieira holds a degree in Biology and a Master’s in Ecology and Environment from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. A specialist in circular economy, sustainability and innovation, she is an active participant in European collaboration networks and programmes, including NetZeroCities and the EU Missions programme.

MOBILITY, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

Filipe Ribeiro

Senior Consultant | Internacional Consultancy

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

Filipe holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial and Management Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto. He has over 10 years of experience in European funding and project management, as well as extensive experience in coordinating and implementing communication activities and disseminating results.

Beatrice Dauria

Senior Consultant | EU Funding Accelerator

Tel. +39 340 603 1552
beatrice.dauria@magellancircle.eu

Beatrice is a researcher at the University of Genoa. She has drafted numerous studies and reports, and published several papers in the smart cities and smart mobility field. As an EU funding specialist with over seven years’ experience, she has been involved in various EU-funded projects, including H2020 RCMS, SYNCHRO-NET and Docks The Future.

Marco Gorini

Senior Consultant | Intelligent Transport Systems Manager

Tel. +39 335 748 4779
marco.gorini@magellancircle.eu

Marco has over 35 years of experience in R&D project management in the fields of energy, transport and logistics. He specialises in designing and implementing ICT solutions for mobility and process automation. He has been involved in several H2020/CEF projects, including 5G-LOGINNOV, I RAIL, FENIX, FEDeRATED and E-Bridge.

Manuela Soares

Senior Advisor | Mobility and Transport

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

Manuela has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Porto and has worked for 30 years as Director of Research Programmes on the Environment and Transport Directorate-General at the European Commission. She specialises in EU research and innovation and has an extensive network of EU associations and stakeholders in the mobility and transport sector.

Federico Marcone

Consultant | Transport and Mobility

Tel: +39 346 575 9002⁩
federico.marcone@magellancircle.eu

Federico has acquired an in-depth knowledge of the maritime transport and shipping industry through his bachelor’s degree in Economics of Maritime Businesses, Logistics and Transport and his master’s degree in Maritime-Port Economics and Management at the University of Genoa. Throughout his professional career, he has explored various topics, including communication and the management of international and European projects.

Manuela Bistolfi

Senior Consultant | Mobility and Transport

Tel: +39 380 2585033
manuela.bistolfi@magellancircle.eu

Manuela has a long-standing experience in European funding, project management and international cooperation, having obtained a Bachelor’s degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Trieste and a Master’s degree in Transport Engineering and Management from Tor Vergata University in Rome.

Alessandro Barisone


Senior Consultant | Mobility and Transport

Tel: +39 350 009 7955
alessandro.barisone@magellancircle.eu

Alessandro holds an MSc in Electronic Engineering from the University of Genoa and has developed over 20 years of extensive professional experience in the transportation and mobility sectors. With over 13 years’ experience in research and innovation initiatives, he plays a key role in regional, national and European projects.

Andrea Schiaffino

Consultant | Mobility and Transport

Tel: +39 320 790 6581
andrea.schiaffino@magellancircle.eu

Andrea holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Genoa, and gained experience as a trainee at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Italy. He is currently focusing on providing administrative assistance for European projects. His responsibilities include financial reporting, proposal writing and project management.

Marjan Saadatpanah

Consultant | Mobility and Transport

Tel: +39 351 6012132
marjan.saadatpanah@magellancircle.eu

Marjan has a background in Economics and Data Science, as well as experience in the AI sector. She supports Magellan Circle by exploring and comparing AI-based tools, analysing their strengths and limitations, and selecting the most effective solutions. She focuses her work on data analytics in order to tailor tools to organisational needs, improve decision-making and integrate AI into project workflows.

Ismail Yemmouni

Consultant | Mobility and Transport

Tel: +39 344 6655045
ismail.yemmouni@magellancircle.eu

Ismail has a background in business management and a passion for energy transition. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Warsaw University of Business, and is completing a Master’s in Management of Energy and Environmental Transition at the University of Genoa. He specialises in developing sustainable business opportunities that integrate environmental, social, and AI-driven solutions.

Simone Siria

Senior Consultant | Mobility, Transports and Logistics

simone.siria@magellancircle.eu 
+39 348 315 1570

Holding a Degree in Economics and Management from the University of Genoa, Simone specializes in the development of innovative logistics projects, with a specific focus on logistics nodes and EU-funded programmes. Simone has 10 years of extensive experience at Circle Group, working as a Project Manager, Business Analyst, Business Developer, and LOB Manager, managing complex initiatives and supporting strategic growth within the transport and logistics sector.