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.
Experienced development professional with over 20 years of success leading international donor-funded (EU, USAID, UN) programs across sectors such as tourism, ICT, agriculture, light manufacturing, and creative industries. Proven expertise in program and project management, human and institutional capacity development, stakeholder engagement, and public-private partnerships. Strong track record in advancing workforce development through strategic collaboration with universities and vocational institutions, developing and launching new certification and training programs, and building skills aligned with market needs. Skilled in SME development, export promotion, trade facilitation, and strengthening quality infrastructure and standards.
I am founder and Executive Director of Bantani, previously youth-worker, VET teacher and policy maker with Welsh government/European Commission and an international expert in entrepreneurship education and development. Bantani Education is a non-profit based in Belgium and working globally with a mission to transform learning. At the heart is the commitment is equipping young people and adults with transversal skills and mindset needed to be more entrepreneurial in life and work, leading to more learner engagement, active citizenship, employability and self-employment. Our skills work connects across entrepreneurial, digital, sustainability and finance skills development - integrating these in a coherent way across all sectors from pre-school to adult learning. Bantani achieves our vision by bringing extensive policy and practical experience to actions with partners from public, education, civil society and private sector, to research, test and embed high-quality learning practice and policy.
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."
I am an Ethiopian filmmaker, theatre artist, and media professional passionate about using storytelling as a tool for cultural preservation, social dialogue, and community empowerment. With a BA in Cinema and Theatre Arts and ongoing graduate studies in Media and Communication, I bridge artistic creativity with strategic communication to create impactful narratives.
Currently serving as Assistant Director of Stage and Studio Production at Amhara Media Corporation, I coordinate television, cultural, and studio productions, ensuring quality storytelling and audience engagement. My creative portfolio includes the feature film ውጥን (“Wutin”), short films such as Whispered Fractures, and theatre productions like Titon (children’s theatre) and Homa-Mir (indigenous marriage traditions of Gojjam).
Beyond the stage and screen, I have organized and hosted major cultural events including ንባበ ሕይወት and ንቂ ኢትዮጵያ book festivals, both covered by Amhara Television. I have participated in international festivals such as SmartPhilm, and received training from Canon Academy, Reuters, and American University.
My work focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices, integrating indigenous knowledge into modern media, and leveraging digital platforms to extend the reach of Ethiopian visual storytelling. I aim to foster cross-cultural dialogue, inspire youth, and use media as a catalyst for positive social change.
