Maria Ibáñez

Communications | Project & Cultural Management | Sustainability & Environment

Greater Madrid Metropolitan Area

About

I’m a communications and project coordination professional with over fifteen years of experience across cultural, social, and environmental fields, working in both public and private organisations at national and international levels — including five years based in Stockholm, Sweden. Throughout my career, I’ve contributed to, led, and in some cases, co-founded projects that connect disciplines and people across borders. Highlights include the creation of the Nordic CC Film Festival, a transmedia audiovisual festival in Stockholm developed in collaboration with Nordic and European partners; and Independent Music Hub, a platform to support the internationalisation of music professionals, with editions held in Lisbon, Berlin, and Stockholm during my time at UFI. I’ve also worked with international teams in embassies, cultural institutions, NGOs, and private companies. While my background is rooted in the cultural sector in recent years I’ve focused on environmental communication, contributing to EU-funded projects related to nature conservation and ecosystem restoration, as I currently do at Fundación Global Nature. In parallel, I’ve developed personal initiatives such as Abejas en la ciudad, a creative and educational project aimed at raising awareness around the importance of pollinators and urban biodiversity. I believe in the power of communication to bring people together around shared goals. I enjoy connecting ideas, people, and narratives in a way that drives positive impact.

Experience

  • Co-Founder, Project Coordinator and Communications at Abejas en la ciudad
    May 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 2 mos

    Non-profit project aimed at raising awareness about the importance of bees and promoting the benefits of urban beekeeping. As founder and coordinator, I lead the project's overall direction and take charge of all communication and outreach efforts: • Creating, implementing, and evaluating awareness-raising initiatives on urban beekeeping, including workshops, talks, and interviews. • Defining and executing the communication strategy: managing social media, planning digital marketing actions, producing, editing, and translating interviews and overseeing website content. • Coordinating project activities. • Exploring and promoting initiatives at the intersection of urban beekeeping, environmental education, and culture—seeking collaborations that bring beekeeping closer to society through artistic and creative approaches.

  • Community and Social Media Manager at Fundación Global Nature
    Jun 2022 - Jul 2025 · 3 yrs 2 mos

    Global Nature is a private non-profit foundation dedicated to the protection and preservation of nature. At the foundation, I was responsible for both the strategic planning and hands-on execution of communications across social media and other digital platforms, aiming to grow our community, foster engagement, and amplify the impact of our environmental campaigns and programs. My role combined community management and content creation with broader strategic responsibilities: • Designing, producing, and publishing social media content (posts, videos, stories, infographics) for daily communication around key topics: climate change, forests, wetlands, biodiversity, and regenerative grazing. • Managing online communities and engaging with audiences across platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook), including responses, monitoring, and moderation. • Writing, proofreading, and editing campaign materials to ensure clarity and consistency across all channels. • Exploring new digital tools and channels to expand reach and diversify audiences. • Analyzing social media metrics and adjusting strategies based on performance insights. • Planning and running paid social media campaigns to boost visibility and engagement.

  • Business Development, Communications and PR at Rudo.
    May 2021 - Jul 2022 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Rudo was a small artisan company focused on creating fizzy drinks made from natural ingredients, fermented with water kefir and honey. The project was founded by Rubén Briongos, who is also the creator of Trasmonte, linking both initiatives through a shared focus on sustainability. I collaborated with Rudo, taking charge of various tasks related to business development and communication, including: • Offering advice on business strategies to help improve efficiency and explore growth opportunities. • Assisting in the development and organization of the project, ensuring everything ran smoothly. • Managing communication efforts, including social media and creating content to promote the brand. • Reaching out to other artisans and creatives who shared the brand's vision, building relationships and helping to strengthen the brand’s presence. • Supporting creative initiatives to connect the brand with its audience

  • Web Content Review, Translation and Events Assistant at Lehmann + Silva
    Feb 2020 - Mar 2022 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    I worked for the Portuguese contemporary art gallery Lehmann + Silva (now Lehmann) as a Spanish web content editor and booth coordinator at ARCO Madrid. My responsibilities at Lehmann + Silva included: • Editing and coordinating the translation of web content, artist bios, and exhibition texts into Spanish, supervising a team of five translators. • Developing relationships and building networks with potential clients, creating a database to support email marketing campaigns and increase sales. • Supporting the art gallery director in managing the booth, coordinating the gallery’s presence, and liaising with artists during the art fair. • Handling visitors' inquiries and providing support during the fair. • Informing the general public and potential clients about the displayed artworks. • Assisting in the assembly and dismantling of the booth at Arco Madrid 2020 and Arco Madrid 2022.

  • International Communication and Marketing Specialist (Academy area). at Structuralia
    Dec 2020 - May 2021 · 6 mos

    Structuralia is an online higher education school for engineers and architects. There, I worked to increase brand awareness in non-Spanish-speaking markets: • Developing and executing marketing campaigns targeting non-Spanish-speaking countries to enhance brand visibility. • Monitoring and analyzing campaign performance, preparing monthly reports with insights and recommendations. • Coordinating efforts with service providers to ensure smooth execution of campaigns. • Managing the translation and adaptation of marketing materials for diverse markets.