VGWB has a growing team of members and contributors: all of them are volunteers.
You can be part of our team as well! If you are interested in collaborating with us just let us know. Remember: you can help also dedicating very little time: the more we are the better it is! 🙂
Below, a short bio of some of the key people…
Board of Directors
Francesco Cavallari – Founder & President
After graduating in Computer Science at the University of Milan, Francesco joined Ubisoft where he developed commercial video games during more than 15 years. As Programmer, Producer and Production Director, he worked in several countries (Italy, France, UK and Spain) and collaborated directly with development studios all around the world. After leaving Ubisoft, he founded Video Games Without Borders to maximize video games positive contribution to society. In 2015 he spent 6 months in Africa (Burkina Faso) as part of the first VGWB project. He is currently dedicating full-time to VGWB.
Montse Villar – Founder & Vice-President
Very experienced administrative professional, specialized in Human Resources, General Services, Travel Management and Event Organization. She speaks 5 languages and she is used to work in a multinational environment (like Ubisoft, Gameloft, Eni). She is a passionate traveler, apart of taking care of her 3 “kids”.
Miriam Lozano – Founder & General Secretary
Graduated in Law at the University of LeĂłn, Miriam has more than 10 years of experience in Marketing and Trade Marketing of mainstream products (Arbora&Ausonia, Procter&Gamble, Brita). She collaborated as volunteer for many years in different NGOs and she is especially interested in childhood care. She is a volunteer clown both in hospitals and in international missions.
Stefano Cecere – R&D Director
Stefano is a game R&D and educator, focused on humanist EdTech.
Pioneering interactive digital multimedia projects since early ’90, he’s currently studying educational sciences and social technologies to improve the development of games, augmented reality apps and learning courses.
His website is stefanocecere.com
Operations
CEO of Merry-Go-Sound, dedicated to promoting contemporary music and digital awareness by featuring a range of events throughout the year. President of the Conservatory of Pavia, Italy, from 2010 to 2013. Selected by the European Commission in Brussels as Expert both in the MEDIA and in the Culture programs. Global Head of Contents at Campus Party, the greatest technological experience of the world. He studied Computer Science at the University of Milan and Composition at the Conservatory of Milan. As a passionate Entrepreneur, he invests in marketing and technology. Recipient of the “Ivano Becchi” Professional Award endowed by the Banca del Monte di Lombardia Foundation. Keyboardist and composer for the rock band Armonite. Once an amateur musician, he quickly turned to the profession of sound engineer. He quickly positioned himself as a respected player in live music. He also works in the studio with recognized and popular groups to record albums, which are widely distributed on the national scene. At the same time, Hamza pursued a career as a sound designer during which, for eight years, he worked for the game publisher Ubisoft. He is also a composer for the freelance advertising and audiovisual industry. He founded his first company in 2016 – Zone 345, a structure specialized in the audio and video games industries. In 2018, he embarked on the podcast adventure and co-founded RadioMaarif, whose productions are considered the benchmark in Morocco in terms of content. Applying global marketing experience to the world of philanthropy. Shay has unparalleled expertise in consumer marketing and is now dedicated to using that knowledge to address challenges faced by non-profit organizations operating across the world. Shay has worked in leading marketing roles for two of the world’s largest multi-national companies, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, and has lived in multiple locations across the world from Asia to Latin America. Most recently, Shay was in charge of global marketing for Coca-Cola’s soft drinks business, leading marketing strategy across more than 200 countries. Shay has a passion for travel having visited more than 100 countries over the last 25 years. When not traveling, Shay’s dogs will probably be taking him for a walk!!! Federico has a Master degree in Computer Science and several certifications in Marketing and Product Management. He has been in the video game industry for more than 15 years and has worked in three continents for several major companies, including Ubisoft and Bethesda. He was the lead developer of the award-winning game Fallout Shelter and was one of the first joiners of Supersolid, a videogame company that thanks to his contribution grew from 10 to 60 employees in less than three years. He is now a sought-after video game development expert and marketing professional providing independent and bespoke consulting services. Brand and positioning expert in the video game industry, he obtained extensive experience and training in marketing and product management, undertaken independently and with global experts Frank Merenda, Al Ries, Dan Kennedy, and Jay Abraham.
Paolo Fosso – Entrepreneur and Event Manager
Hamza Chioua – Sound Professional
Advisors
Shay Drohan – Global Marketing Advisor
Federico Cicchi – Technical e Strategy Advisor
Mar Mas – Global Communication Advisor
More than 20 years experience spanning both written and visual assignments in all media — TV, film, print and web — throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Writer, coordinator and director of special programs, galas and many live programs targeting prime-time audiences on several TV networks in Spain (Telecinco, Antena 3 and TVE). Radio and print journalist, including serving as a correspondent in the Middle East. Directed and produced documentary series in América, Spain, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Argentina and Finland. Diver and underwater camera operator, with over 3,000 dives and experience in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Red Sea. As founder of Kaisut Media, spent some 10 years in the field of environmental NGOs and marine reserves creating documentary films and other outreach, including securing sponsorship, with special emphasis on oceans and climate change. Project managed expeditions, work and volunteer groups.
Coline Pannier – Global Education Advisor
Coline is an entrepreneur and game producer. Following her Masters in Political Science and HR Strategy, she joined Ubisoft and helped create the international training Academies. After moving to Amsterdam, she worked in mobile development and co-founded inaloop games, a startup exploring circular business models for board games. Passionate about education, she also taught production management at the Breda University of Applied Sciences. She is now consulting on team organisation and game design thinking, spreading the passionate spirit of game development all around the world.
Dave Mariner – Games Industry Veteran
Dave is a serial entrepreneur and a 27-year veteran developer in the video games industry, now living in Malta. He is equally at home playing his part in software development, management, business development or community building. He is Chief Evangelist and co-founder of Karmafy, an emerging platform that connects businesses and philanthropic organisations to enable anybody to support causes they care about regardless of their own financial circumstances. With Karmafy, Dave has a personal ambition to enable 8.3 billion philanthropists by 2030. He loves to connect people, especially those trying to change the world for the better. He also believes that no-one should have to repeat the same mistakes he’s made, but should instead strive to make their own, more interesting ones. As a result, he engages with education, games, and startup communities offering mentoring, guidance, and inspiration locally and internationally.