4VOICES TEAM

CORMAC WALSH (Academic & Training Director)

As an executive coach based in Barcelona, Cormac specialises in communication training, public speaking, English pronunciation skills for non-native presenters and professional development. For over 15 years, he has trained thousands of people in the corporate world and top business schools on how to improve and hone all aspects of their communications skills.

Cormac is also the Deputy Director of Anne Sullivan International School, a private school close to Barcelona, a TEDx speaker and trainer, an entrepreneur and a former National Director of Toastmasters in Spain. As the co-founder of Educate to Communicate, Cormac believes that communication skills can radically change lives and that the younger people begin learning those skills the better! He has lived, worked, taught and trained in Ireland, the US, the UK, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Spain.

GABRIELLA OPAZ (Business Development Director)

Native to Chicago, Gabriella is an executive leadership coach specialising in intercultural communication, emotional intelligence, public speaking and conscious leadership development. For over 15 years, she has applied her extensive expertise in fields of mindfulness, diversity, equity, inclusion, mediation and strategic leadership to her work with major universities, startups, corporations and organisations internationally.

Based in Portugal, Gabriella is the co-founder of Educate to Communicate, a certified yoga instructor, a SIY (Search Inside Yourself) leadership coach, an award-winning speaker and author, and a TEDx speaker and trainer. Gabriella has a Bachelor’s in Psychology (graduating summa cum laude) and a Master’s in Education, focusing on human-centric learning models, from the University of Minnesota. She also has an English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching certificate from Hamline University.

CARRIE FRAIS (Marketing & Communications Director)

Carrie is a London-born broadcast journalist based in Barcelona with more than 25 years’ experience. She has worked as a presenter, reporter and producer for some of the world’s leading broadcasters, including BBC Television and Radio, ITV News, Sky News, Sky Sports and Euronews. Alongside her media career, she is also a sought-after voiceover artist, events host and regular podcast presenter.

Beyond journalism, Carrie is a certified Behavioural Scientist coach, trained in the methods developed by Vanessa Van Edwards, helping individuals and organisations improve communication, presence and influence.

She is also the co-founder of MumAbroad.com, one of Europe’s leading resources for international families, and FiG Communications, a creative agency. In addition, she edited and co-authored the anthology #LivingTheDream: Expat life stripped bare, an exposé on the more challenging realities of expat life.

CATRIONA GROVES (Operations Director)

A UK native, Catriona worked for many years in the international television industry in London, collaborating with broadcasters and television and film production companies all over the world, primarily those in Europe, Asia and the United States. In 2005 she relocated to Barcelona with her family where she continued to work within the media industry before becoming a freelance marketer, specialising in market analysis. In 2017 she co-founded FiG Communications, a marketing, communications and creative agency, with fellow 4Voices co-founder Carrie Frais.

Catriona has a Master’s in Mathematics from Cambridge University and speaks both Spanish and Catalan. She is also involved with the Barcelona theatre and events management scene, recently stage managing a sell-out original musical.

DR JANE MITCHELL (Advisory Board)

Originally from the UK, Jane has been based in Barcelona since 2003. She is Associate Director and Head of Content at MumAbroad, dedicated to creating an online community for English-speaking families living in Spain, France, Italy and Germany. She interviews guests on all aspects of life abroad from relocation and setting up a business to multilingualism and education, chatting with headteachers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and other experts in their field. Jane is also a writer for The Good Schools Guide International, a UK based online publication, where she contributes independent reviews of international schools in Barcelona.

Having lived outside of the UK for 30 years Jane has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a teacher, writer, designer and mother living abroad. She taught Film Studies at the American University in Cairo, before obtaining a PhD from SOAS, University of London, on the Role of Women in Egyptian Films. Jane is also a published author and recently contributed a chapter on ‘identity’ to the anthology #LivingTheDream: Expat life stripped bare.

JOSH GABEL (Advisory Board)

DR JILL JENKINS (Advisory Board)

Jill is a multicultural, internationally trained and credentialed Clinical and School Psychologist who has 25 years of worldwide experience in working with students, parents and teachers on all types of issues, from common day-to-day difficulties to severe learning and emotional conflicts. Her expertise is in psychological assessment of learning challenges, giftedness and behavioural / emotional challenges.

Jill also provides therapy, as well as consultation to parents and schools. Her work is exclusively with the expat, international community located in the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She holds licences / certificates of practice in the USA, UK and Spain, and has been one of the first to be awarded the prestigious EuroPsy title, allowing her professional recognition in 38 EU countries.

Jill is the Founder and President of Barcelona Network of English Speaking Therapists. She is the Founder and Director of a multidisciplinary child development team, Positive Parenting Plus, which provides assessment and therapy to international schools throughout Spain. A strong advocate for child protective services, Jill provides pro-bono consultation to international schools, religious establishments and consular services that she is affiliated with.

MAURICIO ROLO (Advisory Board)

Scholarship Manager, ESADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Education has always been Mauricio’s passion and a central part of his life. From an early age, Mauricio has been immersed in the field of education, beginning with primary and high school and continuing through higher education.

Mauricio brings extensive experience as an international coordinator with a solid background in education management. Additionally, he specialises in business development, with expertise in negotiation, marketing management, business planning, international business and entrepreneurship.

Mauricio thrivse on challenges and enjoys fostering connections between educational institutions to develop innovative programs. His interests also extend to the nonprofit sector. Mauricio serves on the board of a mental healthy foundation, a nonprofit guardian organisation dedicated to improving and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with mental illnesses.

EMMA BUCKLE (Advisory Board)

Partnerships, Outreach & Development Director, LEARNLIFE

Emma Buckle is an energetic mum of young boys aged 11, 8 and 3 years old. Born in South Africa, and having lived in Pakistan and India as a child, she later grew up in the UK during her childhood. She is a global citizen but considers Barcelona, where she has been based for over 18 years, very much to be her home.

With a background in journalism and International Relations, Emma is in her element when she is connecting with people and helping to surface their stories. Emma joined a founding team at Learnlife in 2019, where she currently leads Partnerships, Outreach & Community Building. Having worked in education for the past 15 years, she previously collaborated with IESE Business School, Wall Street English and Pearson, among others.

Alongside her professional projects, Emma is a keen actress and amateur spoken word poet and she enjoys using her passion for the theatrical domain to help give voice to others, especially those whose voices are often undermined or forgotten. Emma is thrilled to have recently joined the 4Voices Advisory Board and hopes to support this organisation in its mission to help young people find their voice and identity.