Rafael is the co-founder and CEO of HisKen Ventures S.L., an international consulting and business development advisory firm. His clients include international development organizations, universities, large corporations, and governments. With extensive experience in academia, government and university management, entrepreneurship, corporate management, and as an international lecturer, Rafael is a recognized expert in Information Technology and its economic development impact.
Rafael worked for Microsoft for 17 years, championing public-private partnerships. Overseeing a global partnership team, Rafael pioneered innovative engagement models between intergovernmental agencies, local governments, and development consultants. His most recent work focuses on Latin America, Central Asia, the European Union, and sub-Saharan Africa. As a technologist, he advises on Security and Data Protection, Internet of Things, Smart Cities and Territories, Cloud Computing, Digital Governance, FIWARE, and more. Other topics of interest and expertise include technology market dynamics, corporate diplomacy from the technology Industry perspective, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Rafael is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Spanish Network of Sustainable Development, attached to the United Nations SDSN Network, Associate Professor for graduate courses at the IE School of Global and Public Affairs in Madrid, and a collaborator with the Ibero-American Network for Data Protection Authorities.