Our Team
Meet the professionals, innovators, and experts working to build trust in the information age across four continents
Our Team by Department
Leadership
Responsible for the foundation's strategy, governance, and institutional representation.
7 Members
Clara Jiménez Cruz
CEO & Co-founder
After a decade-long career as a TV journalist, she co-founded Maldita.es. She chairs the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) and is a current member of the IFCN Advisory Board. She is also co-founder of Factchequeado. Among other recognitions, she was selected as an Ashoka Fellow in 2019 and was awarded Young Journalist of the Year by the Madrid Press Association in 2020.
Julio Montes Moreno
Director & Co-founder
Co-founder and Director of Maldita.es. For over a decade he worked at laSexta's news division, where he was one of the creators of laSexta Columna and co-editor of Debate Al Rojo Vivo. He has received the José Manuel Porquet Journalism Award and the European Press Prize. He currently collaborates on the radio show Julia en la Onda on Onda Cero.
Ximena Villagrán
COO
Guatemalan journalist specialized in media management, investigative journalism, and data. Certified in News Product Management by News Product Alliance. She was a fellow at the International Center for Journalism as a US State Department Fellow and executive director of El Intercambio, a data journalism production company in Central America.
Carlos Hernández-Echevarría
Assistant Director & Public Policy Coordinator
Journalist with 15 years of experience in television as a reporter, correspondent, and program manager. He is a member of the permanent task force of the Code of Practice on Disinformation and the EDMO working group on disinformation. He holds a degree in Journalism from Universidad San Pablo CEU and a Master's in Elections and Campaign Management as a Fulbright Fellow at Fordham University.
David Fernández Sancho
CTO
Computer engineer who leads the development of digital tools to combat disinformation. Throughout his career he has worked for public law corporations, on technology projects at the European level, and in the private sector developing web platforms and mobile applications.
Pedro Santana Torres
CFO
Graduate in Business Administration from UNIR with training in auditing and tax consulting. He has over 25 years of experience in economic and financial management in third-sector organizations, including Fundación Social Hijas de la Caridad, Asociación Norte Joven, and Fundación Pilares para la Autonomía Personal.
Rocío Benavente Pérez
Deputy Director & Sustainability and Development Strategy Coordinator
Science journalist with over ten years of experience. She holds a degree in Journalism from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a Master's in Science, Technology and Environment Journalism from Universidad Carlos III. She was previously chief editor of Maldita Ciencia and journalist at El Confidencial. She was vice-president of the Spanish Science Communication Association.
Editorial
Produces fact-checking content, investigative journalism, and disinformation analysis.
21 Members
Ana Gómez Parra
Editorial Coordinator
Journalist with over 15 years of experience. She worked for five years as correspondent and editor for Agencia EFE in Colombia, covering the armed conflict and peace negotiations with the FARC. She holds a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, Data, and Visualization from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She previously worked at El Confidencial and Newtral.
Natalia Diez
Editor
Journalist and audiovisual communicator with a social focus. She began her career at Fundación porCausa and was editor of the blog 3.500 Millones at El País. She also managed the secure mailbox at Fíltrala. Specialized in fact-checking and coverage of migration issues and religious minorities.
Cristina Armunia Berges
Editor
Journalist with a PhD in Information Sciences from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She has worked in national media newsrooms such as Cadena SER and elDiario.es, and served as an advisor in the Spanish Parliament. She is also the author of the novel "Un lugar seguro" (2023).
Álvaro García Hernández
Junior Editor
Journalist graduated from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Data, Fact-checking, and Transparency from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. He began his career at Agencia ICAL and was part of the newsroom at elDiario.es. He is responsible for Maldita Hemeroteca and public information access requests.
Paula Peña Suárez
Junior Editor
Journalist specialized in digital verification and artificial intelligence. She holds a degree in Journalism from Universidad de La Laguna and a Master's in Interactive New Media and Multimedia Journalism from Universidad de Granada. She worked for four years at VerificaRTVE, participating in TVE and RNE news programs and European verification forums.
Carmen Mesa García
Maldito Bulo Coordinator
Journalist graduated from Universidad de Sevilla with a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She worked at EFEVerde, the environmental section of Agencia EFE, and at the Scientific Culture Unit of Universidad de Cádiz. Specialized in fact-checking and development of educational materials on disinformation.
Coral García Dorado
Disinformation Investigations Coordinator
Investigative and data journalist with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, Data and Visualization from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and a Master's in International Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University. She coordinated the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) project. She previously worked in media outlets serving the Spanish-speaking community in the United Kingdom.
Laura García Merino
Maldita Ciencia Coordinator
Journalist graduated from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos specialized in science journalism. She worked at Agencia SINC of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and was editor of the Medicine and Health section at The Conversation España. Specialized in fact-checking disinformation on health, nutrition, technology, and the environment.
María Isabel Ángel-Moreno Aladro
Maldito Clima Coordinator
Data journalist with a double degree in Political Science and Journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and a Master's in Investigative Journalism, Data and Visualization. Specialized in environmental reporting and climate change. She previously worked at Europa Press and La Hora Digital.
Luisa Bernal Montoya
Maldito Timo Coordinator
Journalist graduated with an Extraordinary End of Degree Award from Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche. She holds a Master's degree in Documentary and Transmedia Reporting from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Specialized in combating online fraud through digital literacy. She previously worked at RTVE and Onda Cero.
Dayanara Champa Hualpa
Social Media Manager
Peruvian journalist graduated in Communication and Journalism from Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas with a Master's degree in Journalism and Interactive Media from Universidad CEU San Pablo. She has worked in social media management at El Mundo and Expansión. Specialized in digital strategy, audiovisual content creation, and community management.
Carmen Martínez Vidal
Investigative Journalist
Investigative and data journalist graduated from Universidad de Valencia with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Data, Fact-checking and Transparency from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Specialized in detection and analysis of disinformation campaigns, including FIMI. She previously worked in the data and visualizations section at elDiario.es.
Magdalena Torga Mellado
Maldita Tecnología Journalist
Chilean journalist graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with a Master's degree in Journalism and Audiovisual Production from Universidade da Coruña. Specialized in multiplatform content writing and technology analysis. She previously worked at Televisión Nacional de Chile and Prodigioso Volcán.
Natalia del Cerro Ruiz
Maldito Bulo Journalist
Journalist graduated from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Data, Fact-checking and Transparency from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She previously worked as a journalist at Diario de Miguelturra, producing reports, interviews, and video editing.
Fernando Barrio García
Maldito Bulo Journalist
Journalist graduated from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Data, Fact-checking and Transparency from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. He has worked at Europa Press, elDiario.es, El Independiente, and La Información, where he gained experience in SEO and audience analytics.
Alba Solla Rodríguez
Maldita Migración Journalist
Journalist and internationalist, expert in intervention with migrants and refugees. Graduate in International Relations and Journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She has worked at Reporters Without Borders Spain and Fundación porCausa, where she was part of the research team for "Migration Control Industry." Specialized in human rights and migration.
Lara Huwyler Bejarano
Maldito Bulo Journalist
Journalist graduated from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She worked for more than three years at VerificaRTVE, where she participated in television and radio programs such as Canal 24H, No Es Un Día Cualquiera, and Radio 5. She was a scriptwriter and researcher for TVE's documentary "El día de los 700 litros." Specialized in fact-checking and OSINT tools.
María Guerrero Escalante
Maldito Bulo Journalist
Journalist graduated from Universidad de Málaga with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Data, Fact-checking, Transparency and Artificial Intelligence from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She has worked at El Confidencial and elDiario.es. Specialized in data journalism and visualization.
Adilene Gómez López
Maldito Bulo Journalist
Mexican journalist specialized in migration and US-Mexico border issues. Recipient of the 1st Miguel Gil Moreno Fellowship awarded by Reporters Without Borders to pursue the Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Fact-checking and Data at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She has worked at Imagen Radio, El Financiero, and Verificado.
Gemma Masó i Casadevall
Maldito Clima Journalist
Journalist graduated from Universitat Pompeu Fabra with a Master's degree in Investigative Journalism, New Narratives, Data, Fact-checking, Transparency and Artificial Intelligence from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She has worked at Ràdio Marina, the digital cultural outlet Núvol, and in the Economics section of El Confidencial. Co-creator of the podcast El Sedàs, winner of the Best Script Award at the 2024 Premis Sonor.
Clara Poveda Martínez
Factous Journalist
Journalist and political scientist with a dual degree in Political Science and Public Management and Journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Specialized in fact-checking, political analysis, and social media. She has worked at Novelda Digital, Acero Magazine, and Los Replicantes. She leads the fact-checking space on Factous social media.
Technology
Develops digital tools, artificial intelligence solutions, and systems for disinformation detection and analysis.
7 Members
Claudia Ocaranza Abascal
Innovation and Alliances Coordinator
Mexican journalist graduated from Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey with a Master's degree in Investigative and Data Journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and a Master's in Project Management from EAE Business School. She has worked as a correspondent at Univision and journalism coordinator at PODER, where she led journalistic projects across Latin America. Co-founder of Pidala.info and fellow at the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).
Carlos Ponce Lázaro
Computer Engineer
Computer engineer graduated from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Specialized in software architecture, DevOps, and full-stack development. He has work on projects such as the Maldita.es WhatsApp bot (awarded a European Press Prize), La Buloteca, and the disinformation management system used by over 20 organizations worldwide. Winner of the International Press Institute's MediaBlend Hackathon and the ICFJ LEAP AI accelerator.
Pablo Pérez Benavente
AI Engineer
Graduate in Spanish Language and Literature from Universidad Complutense de Madrid with a Master's degree in Speech and Language Processing from the University of Edinburgh, funded by the "la Caixa" Foundation. He has worked as a researcher at CSIC and as a language technology specialist at Quantum Computing Lab. Specialized in narrative extraction and conversational models applied to disinformation.
Ana Husain González
UX/UI Designer
UX/UI designer and illustrator with over 8 years of experience in media, NGOs, and startups. Graduate in Political Science from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with a Master's degree in Graphic Design and Digital Environments from LABASAD. She previously served as Head of Loyalty and Membership at elDiario.es, where she helped increase subscribers from 13,000 to 60,000.
Alberto Reina Raposo
Documentalist
Information management and documentation specialist with a Master's degree in Libraries, Archives and Digital Continuity from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and a degree in Library Sciences from Universidad de Extremadura. He has worked as a documentalist at INTEF (Ministry of Education) and in various archives and libraries. Specialized in taxonomy development, controlled vocabularies, and semantic web.
Montserrat Rodríguez Zamorano
Doctoral Researcher
Computer engineer from Universidad de Granada with a Master's degree in New Interactive Media and Multimedia Journalism. She is currently a PhD student in Social Sciences in the area of Journalism and Audiovisual Communication at Universidad de Granada. Her research analyzes how disruptive technologies can help combat disinformation. She has worked as a software engineer at Siemens and Indra.
Rudy Estuardo Mejía
Developer
Systems Engineering student at Mariano Gálvez University of Guatemala. Has over five years of experience in web development with technologies including Symfony, Vue.js, ASP.NET Core, and MySQL and SQL Server databases. Previously worked as a programmer analyst at Homeland, CLT, and Canella, developing web applications and banking transactional modules.
Public Policy
Works on policy advocacy, institutional relations, and participation in regulatory processes.
2 Members
Marina Sacristán
Public Policy and Institutional Development Specialist
Holds a degree in International Relations from Rey Juan Carlos University, with an Erasmus+ exchange at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Has experience in international cooperation at AENA, coordinating training projects with aeronautical professionals in Latin America. Volunteer at AFS Interculture and participant in the EU Embassy Youth Dialogue in Madrid.
Salomé Petit-Siemens
Junior Public Policy Specialist
Holds a degree in International Relations, Law, and Conflict Studies from Amsterdam University College and a Master's in International Security and Digital Policy from Sciences Po Paris (Summa Cum Laude). Has experience in disinformation analysis at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and in Trust & Safety policy at Tremau. Worked as editor at DiploFoundation on digital governance.
Community
Manages relationships with the community of users, volunteers, and citizen collaborators.
2 Members
Beatriz Lara Pascual
Community Coordinator
Journalist with a Master's degree in Journalism Innovation from Universidad Miguel Hernández. Specialized in community management, membership strategies, and digital communication. She previously worked as a crowdfunding advisor at Libros.com and community manager at Wunderman and Prensa Ibérica.
Miguel Alcázar Ramos
Community Assistant
Journalist with a Master's degree in Communication and Marketing from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He has experience in communication, public relations, and marketing at companies such as PlayStation Spain, The Blend, and Duty Free. Specialized in community management and digital communication strategies.
Academic Research
Develops studies, methodologies, and scientific publications on disinformation and information integrity.
2 Members
Pablo Hernández Escayola
Academic Research Coordinator
Holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Navarra and a master's degree from Complutense University of Madrid and ABC. With over 20 years of media experience, he served as executive producer at La Sexta for 13 years, leading news programs including Más Vale Tarde and Al Rojo Vivo. He previously worked as a journalist at CNN+, Cuatro, Agencia EFE, and ABC. Since 2020, he coordinates relationships with universities and research centers specializing in disinformation and fact-checking.
Celia Ramos Vera
Academic Research Assistant
Holds a double degree in Journalism and Humanities from Carlos III University of Madrid, where she is currently pursuing a Master's in Applied Media Research. She has experience in science communication and outreach at the Centre for Human and Social Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). She has published research on photojournalism and disinformation in academic journals including Digital Journalism and Comunicar. Since 2024, she conducts academic research on disinformation, report writing, and scientific database management.
Education
Designs and implements media literacy and fact-checking training programs for diverse audiences.
4 Members
Lucía Gómez Aguilera
Education Coordinator
Holds a degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Has experience in educational and social innovation projects at elpuente Foundation and the Spanish Cultural Center in Santo Domingo (AECID). Specializing in digital divide, designs and implements media literacy programs.
Stéphane M. Grueso
Deputy Education Coordinator
Holds a Master's in Digital Economy and Creative Industries from EOI and training in audiovisual editing from DEKRA Hochschule in Berlin. Documentary director and producer, worked at TVE Berlin and led the secure whistleblowing platform FÍLTRALA. Teaches at master's programs at URJC, UC3M, and University of Barcelona.
Vivian Torres de Mello Rangel
Education Specialist
Holds a degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Humanities from the universities of St Andrews, NOVA Lisbon, and Santiago de Compostela. Also holds a master's in Digital Journalism from UOC. Former lecturer in Portuguese language and literature at USC and journalist at Jornal do Brasil.
Lucía Selas Garrido
Media Literacy and External Relations Specialist
Holds a degree in Journalism and Audiovisual Communication from Rey Juan Carlos University and a Master's in Cultural Management from Carlos III University of Madrid. Has experience in institutional communication at the Women's Institute and in cultural management and education at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and the Spanish Film Archive.
Projects & Impact
Coordinates the design, execution, and monitoring of national and international projects.
7 Members
Samuel Allan
Projects & Impact Coordinator
British professional specialized in project management, fundraising, and monitoring and evaluation. He holds a Master's degree in Advanced Migration Studies from the University of Copenhagen. He previously worked at Danish Refugee Council and Badael.
Carolina González Galindo
Production & Impact and Assistant to the Leadership
Journalist with a degree in Journalism and Social Communication from Universidad Alberto Hurtado (Chile), a Master's in Communication and Sociocultural Issues, and an MBA from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. She previously worked at CNN Chile and UNICEF Spanish Committee. Specialized in project monitoring, impact analysis, report writing, and event production.
Cristina Algarra Luján
Communication & Consultancy
Journalist and anthropologist with a Master's degree in Human Rights, Education, and Culture of Peace from the University of Granada. She has over ten years of experience coordinating social, communications, and cultural projects. She was previously director of communications at the Art Museum of El Salvador and training and production coordinator at El Faro.
Ana Velasco García
Projects & Impact Technician
Graduate in International Relations from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos with a Master's degree in International Solidarity Action and Social Inclusion from Universidad Carlos III. Specialized in European project cycle management (Erasmus+, CERV, AMIF). She previously worked at Solidaridad Sin Fronteras, Fundación CIDEAL, and Médicos del Mundo.
Patricia Rojas García-Borreguero
Projects & Impact Technician
Graduate in Psychology from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca and Master's in Global Health Research from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Specialized in European project management and funding proposal development. She previously worked at the European Kidney Patients' Federation (EKPF).
Angela Silva
Projects & Impact Technician
Peruvian anthropologist with a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Barcelona and a specialization in social project design and management. She has experience at international organizations such as UNDP and International IDEA, where she worked on projects related to democracy, political participation, and disinformation.
Daniela Garay Correa
Project Justification Technician
Colombian professional in Finance and Foreign Trade from Universidad Sergio Arboleda with a Master's in Business Intelligence & Big Data Analytics. She has experience in budget management and business operations at Internews Network, where she managed US and EU donor funds for projects across the Americas.
Administration
Manages the foundation's financial, human, legal, and operational resources.
2 Members
Ana Jiménez González
Human Resources
Professional with extensive experience in administrative management, accounting, and human resources. She has developed her career across various sectors, including organizations such as the Tripartite Foundation for Employment Training.
Merliz Gómez Ramos
Administration
Graduate in Business Administration with experience in administrative management, human resources, and data analysis. She has worked at companies such as Huawei Technologies and NTT Data, specializing in SAP consulting and operations management.