Meet our team

As overall Project Director, Gustavo supervises all technical aspects to ensure an efficient execution of the actions, representing a centralised organisational figure between the different teams (at national and international level) that make up LIFE Phoenix.

As responsible of economic issues, Nisha specialises in the financial and administrative management of partners involved in LIFE projects coordinated by GESPLAN. In addition, she is responsible for advising partners on bureaucratic processes, reporting and expenditure control, ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework of LIFE projects.

As direct support to the Project Director, Diego divides his work between the office and the field, being in charge of the daily monitoring of the actions, data collection and reporting. In addition, he supervises the work of the team of field specialists in Gran Canaria and acts as a direct contact between the latter, the office, the technical managers of the other partners and the European Commission monitors.

Mara is Field Worker. She will dedicate her work to the ecological monitoring of the palm groves that are the object of this project, as well as collaborating in the collection of samples and in the morphological characterisation of the Phoenix specimens and their possible hybrids.

They are experienced field workers and essential members of the LIFE Phoenix team, who are in charge of the execution of the technical tasks on the ground: clearing and conditioning, control and eradication of invasive plant species, removal of Phoenix hybrids, preparation and maintenance of the forest floor, reforestation, water supply and maintenance irrigation, etc.

Head of the Technical Service of Environment; Department of Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge of the CGC. He is a Technical Forest Engineer and holds a PhD in Forest Engineering, and assumes the technical coordination of the project on behalf of the CGC.

Technical Staff of the Department of Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge of the CGC. He carries out his professional work in Environmental Education, wild Palm Groves, "Singular Tree Concept", and Land Stewardship. He is responsible for the actions of the CGC within the scope of the project on the island of Gran Canaria.

Agricultural Engineer and Head of the Plant Health Service in the General Directorate of Agriculture of GOBCAN. He is responsible for identifying possible harmful organisms in the selected palm groves, proposing management systems for their eradication and advising other partners on control mechanisms in their palm groves.

Agricultural Engineer and Head of the Plant Health Section in the General Directorate of Agriculture of GOBCAN. He collaborates in the identification of possible harmful organisms in selected palm groves, proposes management systems for their eradication and advises other partners on control mechanisms in their palm groves.

Estrella Hernández holds a PhD in Entomology and is a Researcher at the Plant Protection Dept. of ICIA, where she has developed her career on biological control of crop pests. She has published more than 70 scientific papers and documents and presented more than 80 communications. Estrella is the Project coordinator by ICIA in LIFE Phoenix; she will oversee field prospections and pest monitoring in the Canary Islands, as well as will take part in data revision and technical meetings. She will also collaborate through supervision of methodology, reporting and internal/external communication.

Agricultural engineer with experience in research and development of integrated pest management strategies, especially in the management of Dysmicoccus grassii and Diocalandra frumenti, the latter being the focus of her doctoral thesis. He has participated in several nationally and internationally funded projects, collaborating with ICIA and other agencies in the evaluation of chemical and biological products, as well as in the optimisation of traps based on semiochemicals. Her work in the LIFE Phoenix project focuses on the drafting of working protocols for the prevention, early detection, control and eradication of the pests Diocalandra frumenti and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in Phoenix canariensis; the collection and analysis of data related to specific indicators for monitoring the success of the phytosanitary measures implemented in the palm groves under study; and the organisation and participation in communication and dissemination activities of the project.

Pedro is a Professor of Botany and Deputy Director and Researcher at the University Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (IUNAT) of the ULPGC. His work in the project is focussed on the genetic characterisation of both Phoenix species and the molecular identification of possible hybrids in the populations, palm groves and palm specimens under study.

Priscila holds a PhD in Biology and is a researcher at the University Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (IUNAT) of the ULPGC. Her work on the project focuses on studying the genetic characterisation of the Canary Island palm tree, as well as the identification of hybrids with the date palm and the environmental and phenological factors involved in hybridisation.

Polymnia Sklavaki is a Forester - Environmentalist serving at the Forestry Service for more than 40 years and currently holds the position of Director at Chania Forest Directorate. Polymnia, in the frame of the project, acts as an assistant coordinator on behalf of the FPIRC and supervises the actions foreseen to be held in Crete.

Anastasios Ioannou is a Forester - Environmentalist serving at the Forestry Service for more than 35 years and currently holds the position of Director at the Inspectorate of Forestry Policy Implementation in Crete. Anastasios, in the frame of the project, acts as a coordinator on behalf of the FPIRC and supervises the actions foreseen to be held in Crete.

Dimos Dimitriou is a Forester - Environmentalist and the head of the Protection Department of Chania Forest Directorate. He has more than 25 years of experience in implementation of forestry policy. Dimos will actively participate in the required field work while, at the same time, he will also assist in all planned actions within Chania Prefecture, ensuring effective implementation of the project.

Laboratory Teaching Staff of UoC and Head of the Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Management of UoC – NHMC. Project Coordinator in LIFE Phoenix project (participation in WP1 and WP2).

Professor in the Biology Department of the University of Crete (UoC), Director of UoC – NHMC & Curator of the Genomics and Genetic Resources Department of UoC – NHMC. Project Manager in LIFE Phoenix project (participation in WP1, WP5 and WP6).

Laboratory Teaching Staff of UoC and Curator of the Vertebrates Division of UoC – NHMC. Field Monitoring Officer in LIFE Phoenix project (participation in WP4, WP5 and WP6).

Technical Assistant & Laboratory Staff of UoC and Museum Technician – Collection manager (Botany Division) of UoC – NHMC. Field Monitoring Officer in LIFE Phoenix project (participation in WP4, WP5 and WP6).

Associated collaborator in the Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Management of UoC – NHMC. Administrative and communication assistant in LIFE Phoenix project (participation in WP1, WP5 and WP6).

Adamantia is a Biologist with MSc in Ecology – Management and Protection of Natural Environment and EU Projects Manager at the HSPN. In LIFE Phoenix, she actively participates in energizing Working Groups and participatory networks. She is also involved in the elaboration of technical reports and the implementation of area-based conservation and monitoring actions in Crete.

Alexandros is an Environmental Engineer with MSc in Sustainability, Circular Economy and Sustainable Development. In LIFE Phoenix, he participates in communication and dissemination activities of the project.

Christos is an Environmental Scientist, with MSc in Environmental and Planetary Change, Management and Technology, with a specialization in Environmental Policy and Biodiversity Conservation. In LIFE Phoenix, he participates in the production of technical reports and in supporting the regular activities of the participatory networks.

Lefteris is a Forester with MSc in Education for Sustainability–Education Sciences. In LIFE Phoenix, he participates in environmental education activities.

Charitini has studied at the Department of Banking and Financial Management. She is responsible for the financial management of EU projects at the HSPN.

Nikolaos Gounaris is a Forester, as well as Founder and Technical Director of HOMEOTECH. During LIFE Phoenix he will be the coordinator for technical studies and responsible for the public awareness and dissemination activities allocated to this partner.

Konstantinos Kontos is a Forester, as well as Founder and Financial Director of HOMEOTECH. During LIFE Phoenix he will be the coordinator in financial and administration procedures and the contact with partners UoC and FPIRC.

Despoina-Maria Vlachaki is a Forester and head of the environmental department in HOMEOTECH. She holds a MSc in Nature Protection & Forest landscaping and will provide support and knowledge on biodiversity and habitat conservation issues.

Lampros Papalampros is a Forester PhD and Head of the Technical Department in HOMEOTECH. He will act as the Technical Project manager of HOMEOTECH, as he has significant experience in forest, environmental and phytotechnical studies as also in collecting/processing field data and in coordinating field crews.

Eleftherios Mystakidis is a Forester and member of the Technical Department of HOMEOTECH. He will provide Technical Support on GIS applications, databases, and field data collection, and will participate in elaboration of the necessary forest and environmental studies.

Elena Loukaki-Gkountara is a Forester and member of environmental department of HOMEOTECH. She holds an MSc in Wildlife Management. She will provide administrative support and will share knowledge and practices in Invasive Alien Species management.