Professional Experience:
I am a Spanish architect with over 23 years of professional experience, specializing in Shelter and CCCM (Camp Coordination and Camp Management). For 14 years, I have worked in international cooperation, with over 8 years as a member of NORCAP (Norwegian Refugee Council), providing humanitarian shelter and settlement technical assistance in countries like Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, Ukraine, and Ecuador, among others.
My career began while I was still studying architecture, collaborating with Architects Without Borders Spain (ASFe) on projects for Senegal, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. After finishing my degree in 2004, I focused on construction and planning for several years. Recognizing the need for leadership and team management skills, I pursued an MBA while working in Haiti during the earthquake and cholera epidemic. This deployment was a pivotal moment in my career, as I gained valuable skills in entrepreneurship, leadership under pressure, and crisis management.
Since 2016, I have specialized in humanitarian shelter, responding to various crises in Latin America and the Caribbean. I have worked with UNHCR and IOM as a roster member of NORCAP, deploying as a Shelter Program Officer and Shelter Officer. I have also led the Shelter Cluster in Ecuador (2016), Dominica (2017), and during the COVID-19 crisis in Ecuador (2020). Additionally, I continue to co-lead the shelter sector in Ecuador, specifically in response to the Venezuelan crisis.
In my role as a Shelter Expert, I focus on building capacity within organizations, including staff training, mentoring, planning, and designing shelter strategies. I collaborate with country representatives, partners, and peers to ensure effective disaster response and recovery efforts. I have also developed methodologies, training materials, operating procedures, and tools for needs assessment and monitoring that have been utilized to train and guide shelter teams in various countries and agencies.
During the Dominica emergency following Hurricane Maria, I supported the government in developing new construction standards and led efforts to create a network of warehouses to streamline the response. This involved coordinating agreements between organizations to foster collaboration, such as joint purchasing, and highlighting the importance of building trust and finding creative solutions to complex challenges.
In Ecuador, where I co-led the shelter sector for over two years, I played a key role in developing shelter protection training materials, creating evaluation and monitoring processes, and improving the quality of assistance. I also worked with shelter partners to implement and review SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), promoting continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of best practices.
My broad experience in humanitarian response and international cooperation has given me the ability to address sensitive issues in multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary environments. My experience in both the private sector and the third sector has enhanced my strategic analysis skills, enabling me to translate plans into effective action. Additionally, my emergency deployment experience has deepened my understanding of global humanitarian issues and disaster response and recovery.