Maria Luisa Gil
1) Conservation & Adaptive Reuse
Member of the Selection Committee
Spain
Architect from the Polytechnic School of Madrid since 1974. Expert in vernacular architecture and construction systems. For more than 45 years she has managed 2 proprietary studios and has developed more than 1,500 projects for private clients. A very important part of his professional development has been in the field of architectural restoration and rehabilitation, especially in civil architecture. 1991/1994 Architect responsible for the EU LEADER I Program of Portodemouros (Spain) – A depressed rural and agrarian territory is recovered through the recovery and enhancement of vernacular architecture 1991/1994 Projects and works of the Rio Lor Association with European funds in the Caurel region (Lugo) A depressed rural and agrarian territory is recovered through the recovery and enhancement of vernacular architecture.
Life member of Europa Nostra since 2001. 2002 Europa Nostra Award Torre do Monte MANOR (Padron/ Spain) Prolific critical columnist on architecture and built heritage. Lectures on vernacular architecture.
From 2003/2009 she restored in Santiago de Compostela, with her own family funds, the biggest paper factory of Galicia dated from 1792. Since 2009 The industrial building has been converted into one of the best hotels in Spain and is part of the Relais & Chateaux Network. It has created more than 50 permanent jobs and A Quinta da Auga is a benchmark for its meticulous and careful rehabilitation.
Pedro Ponce de Leon
Heritage Awards Jury
Jury Member
Spain
Pedro Ponce de Leon is owner and founder of the “Pedro Ponce de León, Architects”, independent office since 1980, with a deep specialisation in cultural and architectural heritage activities; large experience in the intervention on heritage buildings and monuments, from the feasibility study or preliminary analysis to the study of causes of decay, structure design, construction and restoration techniques and materials. Executive Project Design and also, in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, in management works.
Providing technical assistance as well as control and monitoring of criteria, building procedures, planning and economic audit. With more than 50 design and executive projects developed in different countries (Spain, Cuba, Albania, Greece, Mali, Western Balkan countries, etc.
Flora Bacquelaine Vidal de Llobatera
4) Citizens Engagement & Awareness-raising
Member of the Selection Committee
Spain
Flora Bacquelaine Vidal de Llobatera SPAIN She holds a PhD in Humanities, Heritage and Cultural Studies and her professional activity combines cultural management, project evaluation, university teaching and scientific research focused on cultural studies. She has been the coordinator of the Culture and Tourism Commissions in the European Association for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Euroregió Pirineus-Mediterrània until November 2024. She currently takes part as a team member of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya’s research project “Franco’s regionalism from Catalonia: centripetal practices and discourses” (PID2021-125227NB-I00), an activity that she combines with the task of collaborating lecturer in the Master’s Degree in Cultural Management at the UOC-UdG.
Irene Reyes Suero
4) Citizens Engagement & Awareness-raising
Member of the Selection Committee
Spain / France
Irene Reyes is a young professional specialising in International and European Law passionate about fostering connections between citizens and policymakers. Through her work at prestigious institutions like INTERPOL and UNESCO, she has gained valuable experience in public policy, project management, and international cooperation, focusing on the European and global landscape. Irene’s commitment to civic engagement extends beyond her professional roles—she actively contributes as an Editor at the European Students’ Association for Cultural Heritage (ESACH), where she empowers young voices in the field of cultural heritage.