The XII Government of the Azores comprises a total of 26 regional directorates. The new structure provides for the establishment of the new regional directorates for Prevention and Combat to Dependency, under the jurisdiction of the Regional Secretariat for Health, and for European Affairs, which will be administered by the Cabinet of the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations.
The new regional directors include Paula Andrade (Employment and Vocational Training), Orlando Goulart (Housing), Marta Bulhões (Social Solidarity), José Antonio Freire (Education), Luís Rodrigues (Fisheries), Tania Cortez (Health), Suzete Frias (Prevention and Combat to Dependency), Andreia Carreiro (Energy), Filipe Macedo (Tourism), José Élio Ventura (Agriculture), Lúcio Rodrigues (Youth) and Célia Azevedo (European Affairs).
Under this new structure, nearly 62 percent of the regional directorates will be headed by new government officials.
In addition to the regional directors for various areas, Augusto Elavai will become the Director of the Azores Regional Statistics Service (SREA) and Francisco de Sousa Fernandes will head the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC).
The Regional Directors of the XII Government of the Azores are as follows:
Vice-Presidency of the Government, Employment and Business Competitiveness
Regional Director for the Budget and Treasury (DROT)
Name: José António Gomes
Age: 55 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Business Organisation and Management. He held the position of senior technician at the Regional Secretary for Trade and Industry, where we headed the Budget Service. He also served as Regional Director for the Budget and Treasury.
Regional Director for Support to the Investment and Competitiveness (DRAIC)
Name: Ricardo Maciel Sousa Medeiros
Age: 42 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Business Organisation and Management. He served as Regional Director for Support to the Investment and Competitiveness in the XI Regional Government of Azores. He has held the positions of administrator and financial director at several private companies since 1997. Since 2006, he has held the positions of administrator at the company Ilhas de Valor, SA, and President of the Administration Board of the companies Santa Catarina, S.A., and Sinaga, S.A.
Regional Director for Employment and Vocational Training (DREQP)
Name: Paula Catarina Castelo Borges Andrade
Age: 40 years old
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Social Work and Postgraduation in Training Management and Social Sciences. Since December 2012, she has been Head of the Employment Programmes Division at the Regional Directorate for Employment and Vocational Training. She also held the positions of Senior Technician at the Social Work Institute and Senior Technician at the Regional Directorate for Youth, Employment and Vocational Training, more specifically at the Agency for Qualification and Employment.
Regional Director for Organisation and Public Administration (DROAP)
Name: Victor Jorge Ribeiro Santos
Age: 59 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Law. He has held leading position in the Regional Administration and has wide experience in the legal framework on careers and public sector management. He has served as Regional Director in the areas of Organisation and Public Administration.
Regional Director for the Planning and Structural Funds (DRPFE)
Name: Rui Gaiola von Amann
Age: 61 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Economics. He holds the position of Senior Technician in the Regional Administration. He has held office as Regional Director in the area of Regional Planning and Community Funding. He is also responsible for the management of Community-funded operational public investment programmes, ensuring the dialogue and the Region's representation with national authorities and European Commission services.
Director of the Azores Regional Statistics Service (SREA)
Name: Augusto António Rua Elavai
Age: 60 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Economics. He is a full member of the Statistical Council and Vice-President of the Standing Section of Statistical Coordination. He was a member of Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, having served as President of the Committee on Economic Affairs from 1996 to 2000. He took part in the working groups in charge of preparing the first Finance Act of the Autonomous Regions and the Commission for Regional Taxation. He also headed the Technical Office and the Regional Economic Accounts Project.
Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity
Regional Director for Housing (DRH)
Name: Orlando Batista Oliveira Goulart
Age: 47 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Civil Engineering. He is a member of the Body for the Monitoring and Follow-up of the Regional Public Works Charter (EMACROP). He also worked as technical director and project engineer at several national companies. He is a member of the Portuguese Engineers' Association, with status of Expert in Structures.
Regional Director for Social Solidarity (DRSS)
Name: Marta de Oliveira Barreto Bulhões
Age: 41 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree and Master's degree in Social Work. She is a PhD candidate in Social Work. She held the position of Coordinator of the Monitoring Mission to the Funding of Social Responses in the Azores (EMAFReSA). She was a Member of the Board of the Director of the Institute for the Social Development of the Azores, ISSA-IPRA, and was the Head of the Social Work Division in Ribeira Grande. She monitored Psycho-Education Groups, having served as President of the Commission for the Protection and Children and Youth. She also supervised the traineeships undertaken by social work students at the University of the Azores.
Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture
Regional Director for Education (DRE)
Name: José António Simões Freire
Age: 51 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in History and Social Sciences and Master's degree in Insular and Atlantic History. He is a History teacher attached to the staff of Arrifes Basic Education School and served as President of the School of Arrifes Basic Education School between 1996 and 2016. He was the President of CAMADD - Commission for the Monitoring and Assessment of Teaching Performance and President of working group responsible for assessing the Teaching Performance Evaluation Model as well as the guidelines in force under the Regional Curriculum. He also supervised History traineeships at the University of the Azores. He taught subjects related to New Information and Communication Technologies and was in charge of the presentation and coordination of several projects at the Research, Development and Innovation Centre of the Azores (IDIA).
Regional Director for Culture (DRC)
Name: Nuno Ribeiro Lopes
Age: 62 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Architecture. He held office as Regional Director for Culture in the XI Government of the Azores. He was in charge of the Malagueira project designed by architect Álvaro Siza Veira that was implemented in Évora between 1979 and 1996. He was the head of the Urban Initiative Division of Évora City Hall and held the position of Director of the Évora Historic Centre Department. He was also the Coordinator and Member of the Steering Commission of the Protected Landscape of Pico Island Vineyard Culture from 2002 to 2005. In this context, he was in charge of the application of the Protected Landscape of Pico Island Vineyard Culture for World Heritage - Cultural Landscape. He was also responsible for the Application of the University of Coimbra for World Heritage classification and was the Coordinator of Montado Cultural Landscape project. He worked as Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture of the University of Évora
Regional Director for Sport (DRD)
Name: António da Silva Gomes
Age: 56 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Physical Education. He held office as Regional Director for Sport and is the representative of the Region at the National Anti-Doping Council and at the National Sports Council. He served as Director of Support Services to the Sports Associative Movement of the Regional Directorate for Sports, Director of Sports Services at the Regional Directorate for Physical Education and sports, and as Sports Delegate of Angra do Heroísmo Sports. He worked as Physical Education and has over years of experience as Volleyball coach in different competition levels. He was the founder of the Volleyball Association of Terceira Island.
Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology
Regional Director for Sea Affairs (DRAM)
Name: Filipe Mora Porteiro
Age: 52 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree and PhD in Biology. He has served as Regional Director for Sea Affairs in the XI Government of the Azores since 2013. He is a researcher and senior technician at the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) of the University of the Azores, headquartered in the city of Horta.
Regional Director for Fisheries (DRP)
Name: Luís Manuel dos Ramos Rodrigues
Age: 44 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Animal Science and Biology and Master's degree in Environmental Citizenship and Participation. He exercised duties as adviser to the Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology for Sea Affairs and Fisheries in the XI Government of the Azores. He provided consulting services to the Azores Fisheries Federation, the South Western Waters Regional Advisory Council and to issues regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. He was also the Technical Coordinator of the Island Group for the Azores area (CCR's). He is the author, co-author and contributor to scientific and technical books. He was responsible for the organisation of several forums, seminars and conferences. He participated as guest speaker with expertise in matters related to Fishing Technology, Sustainable Fishing and Enhancement of Fish Products at events taking place in Portugal and abroad.
Regional Director for Science and Technology (ESRD)
Name: Bruno Miguel Correia Pacheco
Age: 38 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He held office as Regional Director for Public Works, Technology and Communications and as Regional Director for Public Works and Communications of the XI Government of the Azores. He also served as Regional Director for Youth in the IX and X Government of the Azores, having previously worked in the area of Engineering, namely in the fields of Energy and Communications. He also taught at Monsenhor João Maurício de Amaral Ferreira Vocational Training School in Povoação and at ENTA/INOVA - School of New Technologies of the Azores.
Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works
Regional Director for Transport (DRT)
Name: Luís Filipe Amaro Pacheco de Melo
Age: 45 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Law. He held the position of Head of Cabinet of the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport in the XI Regional Government, having previously held the positions of the Head of the Cabinet of the Regional Secretaries for the Environment, Housing and Infrastructures and Science, and Science, Technology and Infrastructures. Between 1996 and 2000, he practised law. During this period, he also exercised duties as senior technician, namely as legal export, in the Regional Public Administration.
Regional Director for Public Works, Technology and Communications (DROPTC)
Name: Frederico Furtado Sousa
Age: 39 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Civil Engineering. He has served as Regional Director for Social Solidarity in the XI Regional Government of the Azores since September 2014. He was a member of the Administration Board of the Nonagon Association - Science and Technology Park of São Miguel. He also held the positions of member of the administration board as well as building director-general and director at several private companies. He is Senior Technician at SPRHI SA - Society for the Promotion and Rehabilitation of Housing and Infrastructures S.A.
Director of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC)
Name: Francisco de Sousa Fernandes
Age: 43 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Civil Engineering and Postgraduation in Business Management and Administration. He has been the Director of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory since 2011 and chaired the Body for the Monitoring and Follow-up of the Regional Public Works Charter (EMACROP). He is a Senior member of Portuguese Engineers' Association and Qualified Expert in Energy Certification System (SCE-RCCTE) by ADENE - Energy Agency.
Regional Secretariat for Health
Regional Director for Health (DRS)
Name: Tânia Sofia Eufrásio Cortez
Age: 38 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Medicine, with specialisation in General Practice, and Postgraduation in Palliative Care. She was a member of the local coordination team - Terceira Island of the Regional Network of Integrated Continuing Care as well as of the Integrated Continuing and Home Care team of Praia da Vitória Health Centre. She held the positions of Clinical Director of Praia da Vitória Health Centre of Praia and Alternate Health Delegate of the municipality of Praia da Vitória.
Regional Director for Prevention and Combat to Dependency (DRPCD)
Name: Suzete Maria Madeira Dias de Frias
Age: 52 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Psychology. She served as President of Cresaçor Cooperative and as President of the Board of the Regional Sociocultural Rehabilitation Association of the Azores - Arrisca. She was the coordinator of the Regional Commission for the Fight Against AIDS and guest lecturer under the Master's degree in Educational Psychology at the University of the Azores. She was also the Director of "Casa de Saúde" of São Miguel and speaker at various conferences, seminars and conferences in the areas of Mental Health, Addictions and Psychosocial rehabilitation.
Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism
Regional Director for Energy (DRE)
Name: Andreia Melo Carreiro
Age: 29 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Master in Biomedical Engineering and Master in Energy for Sustainability, specializing in Energy Systems and Energy Policies. PhD candidate in Sustainable Energy Systems. She was responsible for the PMO (Project Management Office) at CEiiA - Engineering and Product Development Centre and was the Manager of the Department of Innovation and Innovation Projects, Research and Development at ISA - Intelligent Sensing Anywhere. She is a Researcher at INESC Coimbra - Institute for Systems Engineering and Computers.
Regional Director for the Environment (DRA)
Name: Hernâni Hélio Jorge
Age: 45 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Law. He served as Regional Director for the Environment in the XI Government of the Azores. He worked as legal adviser to Horta Unions' Association. He has held the positions of Deputy Head and Head of the Cabinet of the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the VII Regional Government of the Azores. He was member of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the VII, VIII and IX Legislative periods. As member of the Regional Assembly, he served as President of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Environment and Labour.
Regional Director for Tourism (DRTu)
Name: Filipe Mota Fonseca Macedo
Age: 39 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Economics and Postgraduation in Strategic Development and Tourism Management. He is Senior Technician at EDA, Eletricidade dos Açores, S.A. He was a Member of the Administration Board of Portos dos Açores, S.A. and Portos dos Açores, S.G.P.S, S.A., Director-General of São Miguel and Santa Maria Ports and President of the Management Board of Operpdl, Lda. And of the Audit Committee of "Portas do Mar" Association. He also exercised duties as Coordinator of APIA - Agency for the Promotion of Investment in the Azores, E.PE. and as adviser to the Administration and Management Board of private companies.
Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry
Regional Director for Forest Resources (DRRF)
Name: Anabela Isidoro Miranda
Age: 48 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Forestry Engineering. She has served as Regional Director for Forest Resources since 2010. She began her professional activity in the forest inventory area, having developed practical work in the National Forest Inventory and in logging concessions located in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. She is Senior Technician of the Regional Administration, having held the position of Head of Division of Nordeste Forest Services.
Regional Director for Agriculture (DRAg)
Name: José Élio Valadão Ventura
Age: 48 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Agricultural Engineering and Postgraduation in Nature Management and Conservation. He was Deputy Head of the Cabinet of the Regional Secretary with jurisdiction in the area of Agriculture in the VIII, IX, X and XI Governments of the Azores. He served as Vice-Mayor of Angra do Heroísmo City Hall and as President of the Administration Board of Municipal Services. In the same period, he was also the President of the Administration Boards of TERAMB - Municipal Environmental Management and Improvement Company of Terceira Island and GRATER - Regional Development Association, and President of the General Assembly of the Azores Geopark Association. He was also a member of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores in the VI Legislature and rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Economy, Finance and Planning. He was member of the Administration Board of INOVA - Azores Technological Innovation Institute and representative of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the Standing Group of the Outermost Rural World Association (MUSA). He is Senior Technician of the Regional Administration.
Regional Director for Rural Development (DRDR)
Name: Fernando Moniz Sousa
Age: 40 Years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Geology and a Master's degree in Geological Risk Assessment. From September 2014 to November 2016, he served as Regional Director for Agriculture in XI Government of the Azores. From November 2013 to August 2014, he worked as Adviser in Geology and Geotechnics and as Senior Health and Safety Technician. He also conducted activities as entrepreneur. From October 2009 to October 2013, he was full-time councillor at Ribeira Grande City Hall, being in charge of the Water, Environment, Urban Services and Municipal Equipment Division.
Cabinet of the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs
Director Regional for Youth (DRJ)
Name: Lúcio Manuel da Silva Rodrigues
Age: 37 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Physical Education and Sport. He is senior technician at the municipal company URBHORT, having been a member of the Regional Assembly in the IX, X and XI Legislative Periods, under which he took part in the Committee on Social Affairs and General Policy. He was the Director of Horta Municipal Pool and Horta Inatel Agency, and the Coordinator of the Swimming School of Horta Nautical Club. He served President of the Parish Council of Praia do Almoxarife and is a member of Horta Municipal Assembly.
Cabinet of the Regional Assistant Secretary of the President for External Relations
Regional Director for European Affairs (DRAE)
Name: Célia Maria Ávila Azevedo
Age: 43 years
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Business Organisation and Management and Master's degree in International Politics. She worked as assistant to the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency of the Presidency for External Relations and to the Regional Under Secretary for European Affairs and External Cooperation in the XI and X Governments of the Azores, respectively. She held the same position at the European Parliament in Brussels between 1999 and 2009. She worked as senior technician and coordinator of the project analysis department at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada and as deputy auditor at the Azores Chamber of the Court of Auditors. She is Senior Technician of the autonomous Regional Administration and has participated in the programmes developed by Project Interchange and German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Regional Director for Communities (DRCom)
Name: Paulo César Câmara Teves
Age: 35 years old
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience: Degree in Political Science and International Relations and Postgraduate in Human Ecology and Contemporary Social Problems. He held office as Regional Director for Communities in the XI Government of the Azores. In 2004, he joined the Regional Directorate for Communities as senior technician. From February 2009 to August 2011, he held the position of Coordinator of the Office of Emigration and Returns in Horta. He was the Director of Emigration, Immigration and Returns Services between August 2011 and November 2012. He has participated in several national and international seminar and conferences, having published various articles on migration in the Azores.