Our team

Guillermo Castro Herrera, a Panamanian researcher and humanist, has been an Associate Academic Director of FCDS since 2000. His executive background includes positions as head of the Gorgas Commemorative Institute for Health Studies (1997­1999) and as Technical Secretary for the Panamanian Social Cabinet (1995­1997).

He has a master’s degree and a PhD in Latin American Studies from the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM). He is also a graduate from Universidad del Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, where he got a degree in Letters.

Dr. Castro is President of the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Environmental History, 2006­2010; a member of the Advisory Committee of the International Sustainable Development Center; associate researcher, "Justo Arosemena" Center for Latin American Studies, Panama; associate researcher, Political Ecology Workgroup, Latin American Council of Social Sciences; associate researcher, Hegemonies and Emancipations Workgroup, Latin American Council of Social Sciences.

Isabel Cristina Donato Miranda works for FCDS as a Project Manager in the Academic Department. She graduated in psychology from Santa María la Antigua University, and has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.

Donato Miranda counseled young offenders as part of her professional practice in the Legal Psychology Department of the Legal Medicine Institute. She is an active member of the Panamanian Association of Psychologists, and is in charge of planning monthly educational workshops.

Raúl Alberto Adames Franceschi has been the legal consultant at FCDS since 2005. He is a practicing lawyer, graduated from the University of Panama, with 20 years of experience in the various aspects of the legal world: civil and labor law, managing contracts, lawsuits, notarial work, labor and legal counseling. He served as Secretary General and Vice Minister in Charge of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare during the period 1990­1994.

He has a postgraduate degree on Mediation from the University of Panama. He has attended update seminars and courses such as: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Franklin Covey; Situational Leadership; Deep Interpersonal Conflict Management: Processes and Changes; and Application of ISO 9000 Standards to Service Companies.

Manuel Lorenzo M. runs the Panama Business Accelerator at FCDS. He is an engineer, graduated from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores in Monterrey, Mexico. He took an MA course in Business Management at INCAE Business School in Alajuela, Costa Rica, and has attended the Building New Ventures seminar at Harvard Business School.

He has ample experience in IT and technology development for business. He has been a businessman, an investment banker, a manager and consultant for several Panamanian and foreign companies. Additionally, he has taught IT, finance and technology at three national universities: Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP), Universidad Santa María la Antigua (USMA) and Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología(ULACIT).

Janelle Castrellón­ Quintero is currently a Project Facilitator for the International Technopark of Panama at the City of Knowledge. From her position, she contributes to knowledge transfer by taking steps oriented toward users, support groups and society as a whole, while starting processes that may eventually lead to the implementation or development of new innovating, business, training or informative actions.

She graduated in Marketing and Advertising, and got an MBA with emphasis on International Marketing from Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT - Laureate Universities). She also has professional experience in administrative areas, customer service, management and planning, evaluation and preparation of projects, besides her advertising competence.

Gabino Ayarza Sánchez graduated from Instituto Politécnico Nacional de México (Mexico) as a Communications and Electronics Engineer specialized in Communications. He got a master’s degree from Universidad Latina de Panamá on Business Administration with emphasis on Banking and Finance. After that, he got a PhD in Business Sciences from Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología, which is part of the Laureate International Universities Network. He has taken several certification courses related to Business and Organizations. He has vast experience in Communication and Information Technologies in the private sector, where he held high management positions in various organizations. With regards to higher education, he has been a lecturer on Management Information Systems, Formulation and Evaluation of Investment Projects and Management Strategy. He has been a member of the Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) since 1984, and of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) since 1997.

Ben Austin Bravo Pérez has been responsible for administrative and financial management at FCDS since 2005. His experience in the institution dates back to 2003, when he was chief of Internal Services. He is a Certified Public Accountant, graduated from Santa María la Antigua University. He has a postgraduate degree in Senior Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration with focus on Banking and Finance from Universidad Latina. In addition, he took a course on taxation at Columbus University.

He has a 28­year career in the private sector in various areas related to accounting, finance, logistics, budget, and administration.

Jorge Ramón Arosemena Román has been the Executive Director of FCDS since its inception, back in 1997. A Panamanian sociologist, he studied Civil Engineering at the University of Panama, got a degree in Classical Literature and Philosophy, and a master’s degree in Sociology, both from Saint Louis University, USA. He is a full professor of Sociology at the University of Panama, where he has taught since 1971 and held the positions of General Secretary and Academic Vice President.

Between 1987 and 1993, he was a project coordinator for CADESCA (SELA), where he promoted regional development projects (Central America), particularly with the European Union, North European countries, and the Inter­American Development Bank.

In the public sector, he has been General Manager of the Panama Tourist Bureau, Vice Head of the Cabinet, Vice Minister and Minister of Education.

He publishes journals and research papers related particularly to Education and Development

Irene Perurena has been the Director of International Organizations and Cooperation at FCDS since the year 2000. A psychologist graduated from Santa María la Antigua University, with a Masters degree on Peace Studies and Government from the University of Notre Dame du Lac (USA), Irene Perurena has vast experience in public management, human right defense and promotion, and citizen involvement and transparency.

As part of her career, she was a consultant for the Presidency of the Republic between 1994 and 1999; executive director of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Panamanian Episcopal Conference, and a member of the Central American Expert Committee of the European Commission’s Pluriannual Human Rights program and of the Panamanian chapter of the Transparency International Advisory Committee.

In addition, she is currently an honorary consultant for the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding relationships with the European Commission, IDB, OAS, and cooperation agencies. Meanwhile, and perhaps because of the short distance to the Panama Canal, she has come to lead one of the teams that cross the interoceanic waterway in a cayuco (dugout boat) every year.

César Antonio Pérez Carrasquilla is responsible for managing and rendering internal accounting and administrative services at the City of Knowledge Foundation. He is a Certified Public Accountant, graduated from the University of Panama. He took higher studies on Management Development at ADEN (Alta Dirección Escuela de Negocios) and got a diploma on Taxation from Columbus University.

He has 17 years of professional experience in private companies, in various areas related to Accounting, Finance, Audit, and Administration.

Eduardo A. Sarmiento R. joined the City of Knowledge Foundation team in 2004, in the area of Communication and Information Technology, after 17 years of experience in regional and global banking, administrative, audit and accounting systems in publishing houses, law firms and banking institutions such as Publicar de Panamá, The Marc Harris Organization, and Lloyds TSB Bank.

He has studied information systems, banking security and technology platforms, business management, organization electronic security, policies for money laundering prevention and detection, design and implementation of contingency plans and business recovery.

Walo Araújo has a Law degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1991). He took postgraduate courses on International Cooperation (1994) and Cultural cooperation (2000), both at the University of Barcelona. In the last 15 years, he has specialized in international cooperation for development, and worked as a Program Director for the Spanish International Cooperation Agency in Panamabetween 1996 and 2008. Within this field, he has shown special interest in work related to indigenous peoples, interculturality, and culture in general as a human development factor. After 2000, he has also focused on matters related to cultural policies and management. Additionally, he has worked on communication and information, as well as on publishing project development. He has produced two documentaries and participated in the teams responsible for creating several exhibitions on history and contemporary art. He currently participates in the team producing the Panama: a Bridge of Life exhibition for the Museum of Biodiversity. He has directed the Panama Art Biennial since 2005.

Alma R. Tejada D. has a degree in Bilingual Office and Secretary Management and has been part of the FCDS professional team since 1996. She has held various positions for the foundation ­first as an Executive Secretary; then as Administrative Service Management Coordinator for Panama International Technopark (PIT); then she was in charge of the User Service Office, and currently as Business and user Service Manager.

Tejada D. has solid bilingual training and frequently attends congresses and training seminars to keep up to date on new executive management and customer service strategies. She currently studies Psychology at Universidad Latina.

Ariel Jones, a finance expert with seven years of experience in analysis and consulting, is a project evaluation specialist. He advises the companies that participate in the FCDS Panama Business Accelerator. He is also a finance manager and consultant for the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) Technical Cooperation Agreement.

Holder of a master’s degree in Statistics from the University of Panama and another one in Business Management from Southern New Hampshire University, Jones has been a facilitator of finance, statistics and business plan development for various higher education institutions. He teaches at Universidad Abierta y a Distancia de Panamá and at Universidad Latinoamericana de Comercio Exterior. Ariel Jones often attends courses and seminars on project financial and structural evaluation techniques, such as the Internet­Based Export Information System: a technical cooperation program between IDB/MIF and PROEXPORT of Colombia, aimed at developing market studies in various sectors of interest for Colombian exporters.