Bernard holds a Master’s degree in economics obtained from UCL (Belgium). He has over 25 years’ experience in the international development arena. He gained his experience through his work in Chili for a local NGO and as Programme Officer for UNIDO in Mali. Bernard has been Director of technical departments as well as Director of the Project Management Unit and Director for several Framework Contracts. He joined EMI 10 years ago as Business Development Manager and was nominated Executive Director in 2019.

As Project Director, Bernard has intervened in multi-million-euro TA programmes, as well as regional projects focusing on Economic growth, Private sector development, Economic integration, trade policy, trade facilitation.

Frédérique joined the company in 2017 and is involved in all aspects of the company’s financial and administrative procedures with 15 years of experience in administration, compliance and finance in various international, English and Belgian firms.

She currently oversees the compliance to EMI’s EU-funded projects and the financial aspect of large projects funded by the EU and other international donors This includes invoicing, payments, budgetary and financial monitoring of projects in close relation with the project manager and director. She is also involved with the cash-flow management, accounts monthly and annual closing, various financial reports and human resources.

Thémis joined EMI in June 2022 as junior Administration and Compliance Officer, after a first professional experience as a legal adviser for asylum seekers from 2019 and 2022. She is currently responsible for compliance with EU rules during tender preparation and provides general administrative and office management assistance.

Thémis holds two Master’s degrees: one in European Studies (UCLouvain and Université Saint-Louis, Belgium) and another in International Humanitarian Actions (UCLouvain, Belgium).

Andrea joined EMI in September 2021. Holding a Master of Science in European Economy and Business Law from Tor Vergata University - Rome, he has over than 13 years of experience in business development and management of international development programmes with a specific focus on providing Trade and PSD-Related Technical Assistance to ACP Countries. He has worked in EC and WB funded Trade Related Assistances and Enabling Business Environment Programmes in Uganda, Ghana, Mauritius and Jamaica.  

Throughout his career, he has developed extensive experience in management of all tendering process, building partnerships and ensuring revenue-generating businesses. Andrea is fluent in French, English and has working knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese.

Pedro is a qualified lawyer holding a Masters degree in Law (University of Murcia, Spain, and University of Rouen, France) and a Masters in Sustainable Human development (University of Murcia, Spain) with more than 17 years of professional experience in international development programmes funded by multilateral and bilateral donors (European Commission UK/FCDO and ENABEL) in Governance, Socio-economic development, Rule of Law, Civil Society and Rural Development.

Having implemented over 100 projects worldwide, Pedro brings extensive experience managing EU framework contracts as well as long-term technical assistance programmes and relevant knowledge in Project Cycle Management, logical framework and cooperation methodological guidelines. Our Framework Contract Manager since 2012, Pedro works in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, with a strong client orientation and service delivery approach.

Javier is a project manager with more than 7 years of professional experience in managing and bidding for international donors funded projects on development and cooperation. He has been working for EMI since March 2021. He currently works in the FWC unit, on the preparation of proposals and the managing/ backstopping of the implementation of projects for EC’s Requests of Services, in several Consortia, both as leader and as an implementing member.

Javier holds a master’s degree in Political Science and Administration at the University of Santiago de Compostela, and works fluently in Galician, Spanish, English, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Jonathan holds a Master’s degree in International relations from the Institute of Political Sciences of Lyon, France.  He has been working in the International Development sector since 2016 and has single-handedly managed major donor-funded projects in the economic development sectors (trade, regional integration, private sector development, quality infrastructure, FTAs etc.) He has hands-on experience in managing multi-million-euro EU projects in various regions in the world (South-East Asia, Northern Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe etc.), including developed partner countries under the FPI instrument (Japan, Canada, Korea, UK).

Jonathan is also versed in the PRAG and has been involved in the bidding of tenders throughout his career. He is also lecturer in International Development (Business Schools or Institutes of Political Sciences). He has joined EMI in 2021 as Consultant and EC Project Manager. Jonathan is fluent in French, English and Spanish.

Riccardo holds a MA degree in International Relations and as well as a professional certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation and he has been managing development projects and programmes for almost ten years.

Prior to joining EMI Implementation Unit in early October 2022, Riccardo had worked for more than two years as project manager for the EU-funded project CT MORSE and for more than seven years as project manager for an international consulting firm mainly implementing technical assistance projects in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as two Brussels-based Programme Management Units (PMU) funded by the EU at the request of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

Riccardo is fluent in French, English and has working knowledge of Spanish.