Mr. Casillas has more than Twenty-one years of experience in programme and project management, including ten years in the field of Twinning/Jumelage, both in DG NEAR in the Twinning Coordination Team and in the field, in an EU Delegation in the Caucasus region. Mr. Casillas also specializes in monitoring and evaluation of EU funded programs and projects.
For more than six years years, he has been one of the pillars of the Twinning Coordination Team at the European Commission, Neighbourhood Directorate-General and Enlargement Negotiations Directorate General in Brussels. As such, ha was the main focal point for MS Twinning National Contact Points network interacting daily with them, in particular regarding the eligibility assessment of public and semi-public administrations as mandated bodies and as helpdesk on rules and procedures and in solving issues with EU delegations and national authorities in IPA and ENI countries. As such, he developed a successful strategy to diversify and increase the number of MS’ participating in calls for proposals in French speaking north African countries. He has been the main trainer on Twinning and has contributed to the Twinning Manual updates since 2012. For five years, he was the Country coordinator for all Western Balkans and Turkey and for three years he was country coordinator for all North Africa, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine. He delivered trainings on Twinning in EU Member States (Greece, Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Austria) and in partner countries (Albania, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Belarus, Georgia, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco). While working in the Twinning Coordination Team, he also acquired hands on experience on TAIEX, being project officer for several events.
Mr Casillas has also been Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA coordinator at the European Union delegation in a Caucasus country where for three years, he was responsible for Twinning yearly Programming with PAO and implemented the majority of Twinning projects, such as: Strengthening capacity to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property and related rights or developing synergies between three Twinning projects related to social protection. He participated as Evaluator in 80% of Twinning calls for proposals, with four to five proposals being submitted for every call. One of his achievements, while working at the Delegation was to increase significantly the number of Twinning projects. The country was quoted as “Twinning Success story” by former Commissioner Hahn and Deputy Maternova. He also multiplyed the number of TAIEX events by three.
Mr Casillas has carried out numerous monitoring and evaluation missions, in Ecuador, Benin, Burundi and Djibouti and very recently he carried out for DG NEAR an evaluation on EU Member States legislation related to public cooperation with all 27 EU Member States.
He holds a master's degree in international politics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and has been delivering trainings on Twinning rules and procedure, proposals preparation, selection and award modalities and Twinning implementation best practices for the past six years at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht.
Mr Casillas is presently a freelance expert in Armenia.
I have been directing the Israel Italy Chamber of Commerce for the past 13 years, the Chamber is an NGO recognized both by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and Israeli Ministry of Economy. I have been very active i incrementing exchange between Israel and Italy covering the science, diplomacy, economic, investments and innovations. The Chamber is part of a net of Italian Chambers all over the world. My speciality is to match critical problems to innovation, whether medical, agricultural, scientific, and fronteer innovation. I have been scouting for innovation for the major international multinationals.
In 2021 I was bestowed the title of Knight of the Italian Republic, by the Italian President, Sergio Mattarella.
My previous work responsibilities covered the coordination and implementation of projects for fostering regional economic integration of the Western Balkans and cooperation within the association of Western Balkans Six Chamber Investment Forum. I have extensive experience in project planning, policy development, reporting, event organization, administrative and operational tasks.
International Trade Specialist | Educational Consultant | Entrepreneurship & Leadership Speaker.
Passionate about promoting the growth of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses through practical solutions in female empowerment, international trade, and access to global markets.
With over 13 years of experience combining international logistics, consulting, and education, my approach integrates:
✔ Strengthening entrepreneurial mindset and culture:
We provided training for 60+ female entrepreneurs, holding a workshop on introducing business models that sought to strengthen different concepts with the goal of encouraging purpose and introducing methodologies.
We designed the training program Accounting vs. Finance: Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset. Impacting approximately 200 entrepreneurs through the Opportunities Without Borders program.
✔ Leadership & Social Impact:
Ambassador for the international organization Mundo Rural Today. I promote partnership leadership through our Global Development Plan program. I work collaboratively for education and the economy, articulating SDG 8: Decent Work, linking public and private institutions, with SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
I belong to the mentor network of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Magdalena. I have mentored various projects, generating knowledge transfer and management in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
✔ Technical Experience:
Customs and logistics management: Optimization of operations in Free Trade Zones (ZFB Group, Hacienda La Gloria).
Educational Consulting: Development of training content in agile methodologies, applying design thinking.
🔹 "I believe in the power of education and collaboration to transform realities. Today, I help professionals and organizations connect their projects with global opportunities, while promoting equity and social innovation."
