Maria Ana Botelho Neves

Passionate about innovation and transformation, I enjoy new challenges and therefore like to diversify my activities by starting new projects whenever possible.
At the core of everything I do is the need to contribute to new ways of creating positive environments and conditions for the emergence of human-centred innovative cultures. To achieve the desired level of success, I have developed the ability to activate people, projects, and collaborations—a talent I nurture and apply in every project and context I engage with.
With over 10 years of experience, I develop entrepreneurship and innovation programs in partnership with universities, foundations, and public entities, such as the University of Madeira, the Michelangelo Foundation, and the Lisbon City Council. I co-founded initiatives like Plan Zheroes (London), activating models to combat food waste and poverty, Criar Comunidade (Cascais), and inTransitus (Lisbon), focused on systemic design, participatory citizenship, and support for people in professional transition.
I am co-host of Matchbox Adventures, a monthly space for experimentation and collaboration, and a Fellow of the RSA and the School for Social Entrepreneurs. I have been involved with the Help Images project since its inception because I believe in its impact and recognize that such projects take time to demonstrate their place and influence in society!