Alberto Lorente saiz

Creative and proactive technician, who hold a degree in Geography (2011), a Master's degree in Local Development and Territorial Innovation from the University of Alicante (2012) and Master’s degree in Advances Studies about the European Union from the University of Valladolid (2024). I also complemented my studies with a research stage on rural development and cooperativism, at the Estadual University of Maringa (Paraná - Brazil) in 2011, a research schoolarship funded by the Human Geography Department (2011) and by the Gender Studies Institute of the University of Alicante (2012) and also by 15 months of professional stage at Local Action Group Eloro (Sicily - Italy), asisting sustainable development and civic participation projects.

I have been the President of the Territorial Delegation of the Valencian Community of the College of Geographers (2015-2023). I am a member of the Board of Administrators of the Jean Monnet Association (since 2022). I am the Secretary of the ASEID Association (Association for Development and Entrepreneurship in the Alcoiá-Comtat Region) and I am responsible for the European projects area of CREA 360 SL. I have more than 12 years of experience in developing and managing European projects, having worked on projects related to sustainable urban-rural development, citizen participation, regional development, tourism, innovation in education, and youth. Above all, I have dedicated myself to bringing European projects and "Europe" closer to smaller cities, developing EU projects for small cities in Spain and other European territories. I count on a long history of helping to implement URBACT projects and integrated urban development plans (Action Plans, Implementation Plans and Transfer Plans) at the local level with cities such as Medina del Campo, Ibi, Santa Pola, or Altea, in networks such as "City Centre Doctor", "Creative Spirits", "Volunteering Cities", "Active NGOs", "iPLACE" or "Health&Greenspace". In addition, I have a long experience in other European Union programs such as Interreg Europe, Erasmus Plus, Creative Europe or Europe for Citizens (CERV), working on very diverse topics from the perspective of peer learning, exchange of good practices, non-formal education, networking and capacity development. I have experience of having coordinated dozens of cooperation projects in the field of the Erasmus Plus program and Europe for Citizens (Network of Towns). Having also coordinated non-formal education activities, sectorial researches, exchange of experiences and the development of educational products. Since 2018, I'm external expert and evaluator of Erasmus cooperation projects for the Spanish National Agency. Since 2024, I am also expert and evaluator of the Interreg NEXT MED program. 

Beyond European projects, since 2014 I have worked on the development of dozens integrated and sectoral "city plans", using civic pacticipation methods and integrated approach, highlighting examples as "The Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development Strategy of Medina del Campo","The Innovation Strategy of Vinaroz", "The Urban Agenda of Alcoy", the "Urban Agenda of Benissa", the "City Plan of Alicante", or the "City Plan of Santa Pola" (the first Urban Agenda in Spain). I also coordinated the regional plan for sustainable tourism at the Wine Route of Rueda (Spain) level (by the Interreg Europe Rural Growth project) or at the Caravaca de la Cruz Path (Spain) level (by the Interreg Europe Slowdown). Furthermore, I worked as technician in the development of the Regional Law about Civic Participation of the Region of Murcia (2014-2015). I also took part, as expert, in the participative processes of the strategic plans of the "Urban Agenda of Comunidad Valenciana" and the "Valencian anti-depopulation strategic plan", among others. In addition, I am an honorary collaborator of the Department of Human Geography at the University of Alicante since 2019, collaborating mainly as a guest lecturer in the Official Master's degree in Local Development and Territorial Innovation (since 2014), organizing specialized seminars and training courses, or participating as a guest lecturer in the Máster in Food City Design (University of Alicante - Università di Parma) in 2021 and 2022, or the E.M.C.T. Euromediterranenan Master in Cultures and Tourism Prof. Cosimo Notarstefano at the University of Bari (Italy) in 2018.

I have also participated in relevant international conferences and seminars such as the "Shapping Fair Cities" conference on the SDGs and the 2030 agenda, organized by the University of Bologna (Italy) in 2020, the "Merge Split 2019" (Croatia) conference, organized by the Association of Croatian Municipalities or the Peer Review about Depopulation organize in Coimbra (Portugal) in 2023 by Interreg Europe program.