Meet The Team
Flora Brytes Ximenes
Co-Founder/Vice Director
Policy Planning and M&E
Gender-Responsive Budgeting
Flora Brytes Ximenes is a distinguished Policy Planning and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist, currently serving as the Vice Director at Prospares Research and Consulting in Dili, Timor-Leste. She also holds the position of Planning and Gender-Responsive Budgeting Adviser at the Ministry of Finance under the Partnership for Prosperity (PROSIVU) program, a DFAT-funded initiative. With profound expertise in policy planning, gender-responsive budgeting, and international relations, Flora brings over a decade of experience in guiding governmental and organizational strategies toward inclusive and sustainable growth.
Flora holds an MA in International Peace Studies from American University, USA, and The UN-mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a minor in International Relations and Diplomacy from Westminster College, Missouri, USA. Her academic and professional journeys are marked by numerous accolades and certifications, including a specialization in Gender Budgeting from the International Monetary Fund and Gender Responsive Budgeting Analysis from UN Women Training Centre.
At Prospares Research and Consulting, Flora spearheads strategic initiatives that harness data-driven insights and inclusive policies to foster economic and social development in Timor-Leste. She is instrumental in developing robust frameworks for gender-responsive governance and public financial management, enhancing the capabilities of various government ministries and agencies. Her efforts have notably included co-authoring Timor-Leste’s first policy note on Gender Mainstreaming in Public Financial Management (PFM) reform and leading initiatives to weave gender responsiveness into fiscal strategies.
Flora is also a co-founder and part-time Content Writer and Quality Control Assurance at Prospares WebTech, a company dedicated to elevating digital presence through innovative web solutions and content strategies. In this role, she ensures that all digital content aligns with the company’s high standards and strategic goals, enhancing brand visibility and engagement across various platforms.
Beyond her advisory and executive roles, Flora is a respected voice in international forums, consistently contributing to global discussions on gender equality and economic policy. Her scholarly works, including a significant contribution to the book “Contemporary Economic and Social Policy for Inclusive Growth,” underline her deep understanding and advocacy for gender budgeting as a tool for social change. Her work earned her the prestigious Gender Award from the Australian Embassy in 2017, affirming her significant impact on gender reforms across the Government of Timor-Leste.
Flora’s profound influence on policy reforms and her strategic vision make her an invaluable asset to Prospares Research and Consulting, where she continues to drive impactful projects and nurture long-term partnerships with key stakeholders and clients.
Octávio de Araújo
Consultant
Natural Resources Management
M&E consultant with specialization in natural resource management, international development, and climate change adaptation. He received his BA Environmental Studies from Lake Forest College, USA in 2012 and MSc in Environmental Governance from Freiburg University, Germany in 2018.
Octavio has been working with a wide range of public and private sectors including Chicago Botanic Garden in USA, GIZ office in Germany, Cardno Governance for Development Program in Timor-Leste, Caltech Environmental Unit in Timor-Leste, Climate Change and Sustainable Ecosystem Unit of UNDP Timor-Leste Office, and National Directorate of Climate Change of Timor-Leste. He spends his free time watching BBC Earth series, cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, snorkeling in Atauro marine protected areas, drawing, and travelling around Timor.
Victor da Conceição Soares, PhD.
Consultant
Mechanical Engineering (Renewable Energy)
Former Minister of Petroleum & Minerals
Dr. Victor da Conceição Soares is a highly respected academic and mechanical engineering professional specializing in renewable energy and environmental management. Born on April 30, 1962, he holds a Ph.D. in Territorial and Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Évora, Portugal, a master’s degree from Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan, an honors degree from Widya Karya Catholic University Malang, and a bachelor’s degree from the Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia.
Dr. Soares is an Associate Adjunct Professor at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) with over three decades of experience teaching mechanical engineering courses such as energy conversion, mechanical construction materials, and bioenergy. As a leading researcher in renewable energies, he has focused on mapping wind and solar potential in Timor-Leste and analyzing bioenergy, including ethanol and alcohol content in local palm species.
His commitment to continuous professional development is evident through his participation in numerous national and international courses, seminars, conferences, and congresses, where he often serves as a moderator and speaker. Dr. Soares’s leadership roles include serving as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at UNTL, Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education for Timor-Leste. His achievements have been recognized with honors such as the Medal of Degree – Order of Timor-Leste, the Medal of Degree 3 of the National Liberation Combatants, and the Elie Wiesel Ethics Recognition from UNAMET-UN.
Dr. Soares has contributed to the development of significant political, legal documents, and strategic plans for UNTL, the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, and the Ministry of Education, highlighting his dedication to education and national development. His research outputs include numerous publications and presentations at national and international conferences, emphasizing his role as a reference researcher in renewable energies and environmental management.
Martina Rupidara Gomes, PhD.
Consultant
Public Policy
Director of the Master's Degree in Public Policy, UNTL.
Martina Rupidara Gomes holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal. She also earned a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Indonesia in Jakarta and a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Brawijaya University in Malang, Indonesia. Currently, Martina is a lecturer at the National University of Timor Lorosa’e, where she teaches in the undergraduate program at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the master’s program in Public Policy. Additionally, she serves as a senior researcher at the university.
As a dedicated researcher, Martina has made significant contributions to the fields of public policy and public administration, advancing knowledge and understanding in these areas. She has produced numerous influential research findings and publications, reflecting her expertise and commitment to her discipline. Martina is also deeply involved in supporting the academic development of her students, supervising undergraduate theses and master’s dissertations, and guiding them towards academic excellence.
Rosalino Gomes, PhD.
Consultant
Public Policy and Gender Equality
Pro-Rector for Audit & Quality Control, UNTL.
Professor Rosalino Gomes, S.Sos., M.Hum., Ph.D., was born on May 1, 1964, in Suco de Baboe-Leten, Atsabe Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality. As the eldest of 20 siblings, he developed leadership and perseverance early in life.
He began his educational journey at Farol Primary School in Dili (1970-1974), continued at SMP Negeri I Dili (1979-1982), and completed his secondary education at SMA Negeri I Dili (1982-1985). He pursued higher education at the Academy of Public Administration (APDN) in Kupang, NTT (1985-1988), and graduated from Brawijaya University, Malang, in 1999. His graduation thesis focused on the coordination functions of the Bupati in district-level development.
Professor Gomes furthered his studies with a Master’s degree in Administration and Gender Studies from the University of Indonesia in 2004. His thesis explored domestic violence from the perspectives of perpetrators within their social and cultural contexts. In 2018, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, with a dissertation on the impact of organizational culture on the effectiveness of public organizations in Timor-Leste.
Currently, Professor Gomes is an Associate Adjunct Professor at UNTL, a position he has held since 2000, specializing in Public Administration and Public Policy. His extensive academic experience is complemented by various significant roles in Timorese state institutions. From 2006 to 2010, he served as Vice-Rector III for Student Affairs at UNTL. He was the Director of the Research Center UNPAZ (CEPAZ) at the University of Peace, Dili, from 2004 to 2006, and a member of the Scientific Council at the National Institute of Science and Technology from 2021 to 2022. In 2023, he became the Pro-Rector for Inspection and Quality Assurance at UNTL.
Joctan Lopes
Consultant
Marine Ecology and Coastal Fisheries
Marine ecology and coastal fisheries, he completed his master’s at Bangor University. His work mainly focuses on developing data and digital innovation to improve fisheries stock assessments, ecosystem interactions and aquatic food systems and enhance coastal resilience and livelihoods in the Asia Pacific.
He is a published researcher with profound knowledge around ocean and climate modelling and indigenous knowledge systems – who is working alongside scientists, experts, governments, and fisheries stakeholders to co-develop adaptive tools and context-specific practices that guide inclusive, well-informed and sustainable marine resource management. Mr. Lopes is experienced in technical reviews, scientific publications, project management and data collection.
Clarisse Trindade
Consultant
Environmental Management
Environmental and Climate Change Specialist with a robust track record in Timor-Leste’s sustainability sector. Serving as Coordinator for Jurisdictional Competencies at Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo, she led efforts to develop Master Arrangements and MoUs for the Greater Sunrise project, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements. As a National Consultant for Climate Finance with Baastel, she drafted Timor-Leste’s GCF Country Programme, facilitated stakeholder workshops, and identified key capacity gaps for readiness strategies. Her expertise extends to advising on adaptation technologies and enabling frameworks at the National Directorate for Climate Change, while as Technical Advisor at Fundação Carbon Offset Timor-Leste, she provides crucial support in project implementation and strategic planning. Clarisse holds a deep commitment to environmental resilience, evident through her participation in international forums and leadership roles promoting sustainable development initiatives.
Livania Gomes
Project Officer/Trainer
Legal
Lourenço Pinto
Consultant
International Accounting & Finance
Child-Responsive Budgeting
Lourenco Pinto holds Master Degree in International Accounting and Finance (MSc) at the University of Stirling, Scotland; and a Bachelor Degree in Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the University of Flinders, Australia.
He has over 10 years of experiences working with the Government of Timor-Leste and international agencies to strengthen the Public Financial Management System. He is a one of the champions of Child Responsive Budgeting and Health Financing in Timor-Leste, as he supported the government of Timor-Leste developing tool to track state budget allocation and expenditures to Children and providing technical assistance and capacity development on health financing policy for universal health coverage (UHC).
He is currently working with the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment as the Infrastructure Sector Led to carry out study, analysis, and feasibility study on strategic investment projects with the perspective of integrated planning.
Roberto Martins
Consultant
Project Management
Eliud Gomes
Consultant
Mining Engineering
Eco-Tourism Development
Former President of Companhia Mineira de Timor Leste, S.A
Areas of expertise include research, data reviewing, analyzing and data assessing, project planning and management, budgeting, concepts, regulating, reporting, and engineering. Frequently engaged with various parties from government entities as well as private sectors including NGOs in discussing about economic development in the context of mining and environmental aspects of Timor-Leste including marine and climate change. Possesses comprehensive understanding of Timor-Leste’s public policy concerning decentralization aspect, social and economic landscape, infrastructure and urban planning aspects, environmental legal frameworks, and mining law such as Mining Code Law No 12/2021, Environmental Basic Decree Law No 26/2012 and Environmental Licensing Procedure Decree Law No 5/2011 and its 1st amendment Decree Law No 39/2022 including any other applicable laws for Timor-Leste Industry Sector.
Feliciano Dos Santos Martins
Junior Professional
Tourism Development
Feliciano Martins is a Tourism Development with a specialization in digital marketing and tourism development. He combines creativity with strategic thinking to promote destinations and empower communities. His experience includes managing social media platforms, developing content strategies, and supporting community-based projects, such as e-commerce training programs for Tourism Village Villages. By observing and identifying potential tourist attractions, Feliciano has played a key role in enhancing the visibility of destinations and fostering sustainable tourism growth.