Elena Estrada

Elena Estrada. Dynamic and passionate Humanitarian Advisor with over twenty years of experience in complex humanitarian scenarios. A well-rounded, versatile professional with a combination of analytical, monitoring and evaluating and advisory competencies gained through roles at Médecins sans Frontiers, (MSF), Médecins Du Monde (MdM) and Amnesty International (AI). Specialist in humanitarian protection and programme evaluation
with  extensive hands-on field and HQ experience in participative methodological design and management of evaluations.

Ester Gutierrez

With over a decade of experience in humanitarian assistance, Ester has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and communities affected by violence, natural disasters, and armed conflicts. She has held key leadership roles, including Country Director, Project Coordinator, and Humanitarian Officer, working with renowned organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Humanity & Inclusion (HI), and most recently, ECHO. 

Ester holds a degree in International Relations and a master’s degree in international Cooperation and Risk Management, providing her with a strong foundation to navigate and address complex global challenges. 

Currently, she balances her role as a mother with medical studies and consulting projects, embracing challenges that continually shape her perspective. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and exploring her passion for writing. 

Jelena Milovanovic

Serbian qualified lawyer specialised in EU fundamental rights law from two Belgian universities. Expert on gender, I worked as a field legal advisor for a humanitarian medical organisation, and protection expert and analyst on breaches of human rights law in two African contexts and in the Middle East. I am working on standards and enjoyment of rights, in terms of analysis of existing legal and policy framework, identification of gaps and main barriers to access to rights, goods and services.

Lucia Blanco

More than 10 years of experience in humanitarian aid in coordination of medical assistance projects. Different contexts have developed a broad ability to adapt, be dynamic and respond quickly to different emergencies. Managing very diverse teams has honed an affinity for inclusive teamwork in order to deliver sustainable impact at the local level. Further studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution in Germany and Humanitarian Action (NOHA) in the Netherlands. A brief stint in the private sector consisted of financial analysis and coffee export. Within the export process, I acquired training in coffee cupping ☕. To date, Costa Rica, my pets and the coffee of my homeland remain a big part of what represents me outside of my working life.

Mayte Valdez

Mayte Valdez is an accomplished professional with 20 years of experience in international development and cooperation. She has managed a wide array of projects across Latin America and the Middle East, addressing humanitarian crises during and after emergency situations caused by armed conflicts and adverse impacts of natural hazards.
Since 2019, Mayte has focused extensively on climate action and sustainable development, integrating environmental, gender, and protection themes into humanitarian and development initiatives. Her leadership has driven the operationalization of NGO climate and gender policies, the design of global emission reduction plans, and the development of practical tools to embed environmental sustainability into projects.
In recent years, Mayte has collaborated with governments and multilateral organizations to advance climate governance, shape decarbonization strategies, and organize high-level dialogues and events addressing climate change challenges.
With a strong academic background in international cooperation, peacebuilding, and climate change, Mayte brings a blend of technical expertise and practical experience to foster meaningful impact.

Valeria Ruiz

Valeria Ruiz is currently pursuing a master’s degree in development studies, specializing in environmental initiatives and sustainable development. As a project assistant and communications support intern, she supports impactful projects that drive transformative change in communities worldwide. With a background in international relations, Valeria combines academic expertise with practical skills in sustainable development, resource management and policy analysis. Passionate about creating meaningful change, Valeria is dedicated to helping organizations unlock their potential, foster collaboration, and deliver sustainable outcomes for those most in need. 

Jaume Rado

Jaume is a passionate transformational leader, consultant, and co-founder of In-Proximity. His career has taken him to some of the world’s most complex and high-risk environments, where he has worked alongside communities, organizations, leaders, and governments to create solutions for critical challenges. These experiences have shaped him into a steadfast advocate for connection, innovation, and meaningful impact. Driven by a deep belief in the power and responsibility individuals have to work toward a better future, Jaume co-founded In-Proximity with Juan, positioning the organization at the forefront of change, innovation, collaboration and impact.

Juan Goyanes

Juan is an international consultant and Co-founder of In-Proximity, with nearly 20 years of programme and risk management experience specializing in humanitarian organizations and human rights defenders. He combines a strategic understanding of field operations with a strong technical background in data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS) and development of innovative methodologies to improve decision-making and build resilient systems for organizations working in high-risk contexts.