The President of the Regional Government has decided to renew the team of regional directors and public entities, which includes changes in the areas of Social Solidarity, Education, Culture, Health, Tourism and Rural Development.
 
In addition to the changes in these regional directorates, this renewal process also includes the appointment of new the Presidents of the Administration Board of the Regional Port Authorities, Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island, Graciosa Health Unit and the Institute for Social Security of the Azores.
 
The Regional Directorate for Social Solidarity will be headed by sociologist Paulo Vitorino Fontes, coordinator of Novo Dia - Association for Social Inclusion. He is also the head of the Temporary and Emergency Shelter for Men, the Mobile Homeless Support Unit, the Temporary Shelter for Women and the Occupation Centre.
 
In turn, the position of Regional Director for Education will be headed by Rodrigo Augusto Morais dos Reis, a teacher who has served as President of the Monitoring Committee on the Evaluation of Teaching Performance in the Azores. He was President of the School Board of Rabo de Peixe Basic Education School on São Miguel Island.
 
Susana Goulart Costa was appointed as Regional Director for Culture. She holds a doctorate degree from the University of the Azores, where she teaches History and Cultural Heritage. She is the author of several works in these fields and is a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
 
Tiago Alexandre dos Santos Lopes, former President of the Board of the Autonomous Region of the Azores Section of the Portuguese Nursing Association, will be the new Regional Director for Health.
 
He holds a degree in Nursing and a postgraduate degree in Nursing Management in Health Units.
 
Cíntia de Lacerda Ferreira dos Santos Martins will be the new Regional Director for Tourism. She graduated in Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. She was a member of the Administration Board of Sociedade de Promoção e Reabilitação de Habitações e Infraestruturas, S.A (Society for the Promotion and Rehabilitation of Housing and Infrastructures).
 
 The Regional Directorate for Rural Development will be headed by Valter Miguel de Sousa Braga, a graduate in Economics from the University of the Azores. He has held the position of senior technician at the Regional Directorates for Community Affairs for Agriculture and Agriculture and Rural Development.
 
These changes also include the position of President of the Administration Board of the Regional Port Authorities. The position will be held by Miguel António Moniz da Costa. He has served as Regional Director for Land Transport and Equipment, coordinator of the Road Concession Monitoring Commission of Toll-free Roads and as representative of the Region at the Advisory Council for Public Works, Transport and Communications in the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications. He was also a member of the Regional Assembly and President of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs.
 
The position of President of the Administration Board of Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island will be held by Luísa Melo Alves, replacing the current President, who leaves the post at her request.
 
She holds a degree in Business Organisation and Management from the Institute of Labour and Business Sciences and postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management from the Business School. She has served as President of the Administration Board of Saudaçor - Sociedade Gestora de Recursos e Equipamentos da Saúde dos Açores (Society for the Management of Health Resources and Infrastructures of the Azores).
 
Under the current legislation, the appointment of the new Presidents of the Administration Boards of the Regional Port Authorities and Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island will be announced to the Legislative Assembly for parliamentary hearing purposes.
 
The Administration Board of Graciosa Health Unit will be chaired by Cláudia Raquel Lourenço Vieira da Silva, an economist who works as a senior technician in Economics in the Municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa.
 
In turn, the position of President of the Administration Board of the Institute for Social Security of the Azores will be held by Paula Cristina Pereira de Azevedo Pamplona Ramos, a law graduate who had already served as Regional Director for Solidarity and Social Security. She has held the position of the Vice-President of the Municipal Council of Praia da Vitória with delegated powers in the areas of social solidarity, housing, urban planning and natural resources.
 
The President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, expresses his public recognition for the work carried out by the personalities who now cease their duties.