Born to a Colombian mother and an Argentine father who belonged to the Diplomatic Services, María has had a vast international experience, living, studying and developing professional activities in Switzerland, Italy, the United States and in the last few years, Bolivia, Peru, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.

She brings with her more than 15 years international as Project Manager. A vast experience in the private and public sector, NGOs and academia. Back in 2000, Maria founded Junior Achievement Bolivia (JA Bolivia). During 2001 to 2003 JA Bolivia trained and educated over 500 children, young farmers and indigenous people with educational and business training programs, in the Chapare region (cocalero area).

She has a strong experience in the design, management and evaluation of socio-economic projects, international standards skills in sustainability and corporate responsibility, working for extractive industries, such as the petro-chemical and mining industries, and in the technology industry (MicroSoft) and the International Cooperation, to name but a few.

Her passion is to get to know and understand cultures, their diversities and ways of thinking. This has led her to research and specialize in community development, integrating the private sector, communities involved and local governments to improve social, environmental and economic development and create real job opportunities and enterprises. This passion for learning about people and their cultures, and wanting to help and make a difference especially with forgotten and marginalized communities has led Maria to work in various regions, including the Peruvian Andes (Apurimac Region), in the Tropics of Cochabamba, Bolivia, and in Argentine Patagonia.

To round up María has an immense social and cultural experience along with entrepreneurial and business skills, as well as great knowledge of South and Central America, especially in the Andean Region. Her academic background is as follows:

• Ph.D on an interdisciplinary programme on Evolutive Psychology and Development Anthropology, Universidad de Palermo, Argentine
• MPA, John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University, US
• Family Therapist, Fundación Gregory Bateson, Argentine
• Political Science Degree, LUISS, Rome, Italy