Meet the Team
Helle Byrn
Interior Architect and CEO, Chairman and FounderHelle´s passion has her entire life been a passion for Design and for creating beautiful spaces. Biggest project has been the foundation in 1995 of Marbella Design Academy.
Frank Ortega
Architect and Course DirectorCourse Director, Link Tutor with our UK Partner University and Tutor on the Interior Architecture Validated Programme
Gualberto Cerrón
Interior Architect and PrincipalPrincipal of the Marbella Design Academy. Contribute to the daily running of the Academy.
Charlotte Bech Byrn
Management Accountant and Finance DirectorFinance Director at Marbella Design Academy and responsible for quarterly accounting and all finance related issues.
Rachel Parker
Secretary and Student SupportRachel has a BA (Hons) in History and Sociology, Advanced Diploma in Logistics, Postgraduate Leadership and Man-Management Course and Equal Opportunities and Diversity Advisor. Rachel is a very important person at the Academy providing secretarial and administrative support to the Academy and staff members, as well as being the point of contact on Student Support, answering all enquiries and providing excellent advice and support to student administrative and pastoral issues.
Benedicte Byrn
Graphic Designer in our Marketing Department.Benedicte has a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design. She is together with Fabrice in charge of our Marketing Department and responsible for all the marketing layout of the Academy. Benedictes job as a Graphic Designer in our Marketing Department has endless creative issues to be solved. Benedicte is in charge of the creative expression of all our marketing material and she is a master in working with PhotoShop.
Fabrice Durand
In charge of our Marketing Department.BTS (Superior Technician Degree) of Advertising and Marketing. Fabrice has the very important job of being in charge of our Marketing Department together with Benedicte. It is a big job with many different aspects to be solved and carried out within our Marketing Department.
Diana Toma
Secretary in the AdministrationDiana has a degree in Communication and Business. Diana is Administration Secretary at Marbella Design Academy. Diana is in charge of the overall communication and organisation between the different Departments.
Jean Pierre M. Costa
Head of our 12 weeks Design Foundation Course at Marbella Design Academy.Jean Pierre has a Bachelor of Art degree in Graphic Design. He has been a professional designer and teacher for more than 20 years within the fields of graphic, industrial, interior and web design. With his huge knowledge within many aspects of Design, Jean Pierre is the perfect Head for our Design Foundation Course.
Natalia Rivera
Head of our 3 year Bachelor of Arts validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture at Marbella Design Academy.Natalia Rivera has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design. Natalia is a passionate fashion designer. Natalia is highly driven and very creative. We are pleased to have Natalia onboard as Head of our Fashion Design & Manufacture Department.
Alberto Leonardo
Head of our 3-year Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Graphic Design & Media at Marbella Design Academy.Alberto has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master degree in Graphic Design. Alberto has been with us for many years with big success. We are so happy to have such a skilled Head of our Graphic Design & Media Department. Alberto is highly educated with: Master of Fine Arts in Computer Art, San Pablo CEU, Spain. Bachelor in Jewellery Design EASD Valencia, Spain. Fine Arts degree, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
Caterina Sposato
Head of our 3-year Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture & Design at Marbella Design Academy.Caterina has a PhD in Advanced Technologies for the Future of Architecture & Design. We are so lucky to have an expert in Advanced Technologies for the Future of Architecture & Design who has a Doctor degree in Environmental Strategies. Caterina is a big asset for our Interior Architect students.
Elisabet Cuesta Hauge
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programmes in Fashion Design & Manufacture and Graphic Design & Media.Master in Fashion Design, Master of Fine Arts in Computer Art, Pedagogical Adaptation Certificate and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Elisabet, Eli is a multitalented and very well educated designer whom we are so fortunate to have employed as Tutor in our Fashion Design & Manufacture Department at Marbella Design Academy
Paula Rieksta
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture.Paula has a BA degree in Fashion Marketing and is a tutor at the Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture. Paula is teaching our fashion design students in how to marked them-self and their design locally and world wide as future professional Fashion Designers.
Nuria Ruiz
Fashion Technician in Fashion Making at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Fashion Design & ManufactureNuria is Fashion Technician in Fashion Making. Diploma as Technician in pattern making, cutting and tailoring from the Dona Design School of Barcelona. She has more than 10 years of experience in artisanal dressmaking focusing on clothing for shows, dance, custom clothing and with experience in other areas of costume construction.
Agustina Raskin
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture & Design.Agustina is an architect licensed at the University of Buenos Aires – FADU. She further studied at LCI Barcelona, specialising in Interior Design. Agustina is Tutor on our the 3-year BA (Hons) Validated Interior Architecture & Design programme. We are so lucky to have got Agustina on board our excellent Team.
Gianluca Emmi
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture and Design. Head of our new to be offered from 3rd October 2022, Master validated programme in Arts and Design (pending).Gianluca Emmi has a PHD and MA in Architecture. Tutor in the Interior Architecture & Design Department and Head of our new to be offered from September 2021, Master validated programme in Arts of Design. Our students are benefitting so much from Gianluca´s creative and professional talents.
Adriana Salinas
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture & DesignAdriana is tutor in 3ds Max and Vray for our Interior Architecture Students on the 3-year BA (Hons) Validated Interior Architecture programme.
Oscar Hilillo
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Graphic Design & Media Department.Oscar Hilillo has a BA in Audiovisual Communication from Universidad de Malaga, Spain and has an extensive experience in the audiovisual field. Oscar master various aspects in design. He is a skilled camera operator, graphic designer including motion graphics, video editing, post-production and FX. Oscar master 2D and 3D animation software.
Andrea Giorgi
Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programmes in Interior Architecture & Design and in Graphic Design & Media.Andrea is a tutor for our Interior Architect Students as well as for our Graphic Design Students. Andrea guide his students with focus on design as a combination of function and aesthetics with a user friendly experience.
Iðunn Ásgeirsdóttir
Tutor Assistant at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Graphic Design & MediaIðunn is a passionate and ambitious designer who always tries to push herself and others to become the best designer possible. Iðunn is an experienced designer with clients around the world, who specialises in branding, packaging, web designs and video editing.
Alessandro Karim Decaneva
Tutor at our Validated Bachelor of Arts programme in our Graphic Design & Media Department.Karim is Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts validated Graphic Design & Media programme. We are very fortunate to have Karim on board our great Team. Karim has worked as a Graphic Designer and as an Art Director in Lebanon, Europe and South East Asia, as well as teaching as an Assistant Professor at The American University of Beirut.
Lucy Banu
CookOur sweet Angel in the student restaurant - GAUDI. We are all spoild with nice lunches and wonderful cakes:-)
Isa Ríos
CaretakerOur fantastic kitchen assistant and caretaker. Isa also makes the best cup of coffee and she always has a smile on her face 🙂
Pepe, Jose Rojas Luna
Gardener and Caretaker at our AcademyPepe, Jose Rojas Luna is our Gardener and Caretaker keeping an eye on things to be maintained and improved both inside and outside the Academy. We are very fortunate to have Pepe on board. He is fulfilling his job with great passion and dedication.