Luís Manuel Madeira Pargana, 52 years old, teacher.

Graduated from the Escola Superior de Educação de Portalegre and holding a postgraduate degree in "Education, Local Development and Social Change" by the Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação (FPCE) - University of Porto.

Specialised in Public Administration by the Instituto Nacional de Administração (INA).

Managed cultural programmes and projects within the scope of Local Government, first as elected Councillor for Culture in the Câmara Municipal (municipal governing body) of Portalegre (2002-2005), then as Chief of Division for Cultural Facilities in the Câmara Municipal of Almada (2007-2009), and as Chief of Cabinet for the Mayor of Crato municipality (2009-2013).

Within all the aforementioned roles, had oversight of the operations and programming of municipal cultural facilities and was responsible for launching several projects, including the highlights:

"Portalegre Jazzfest" - International Jazz Festival of Portalegre;
"Quintas nos Claustros" (cultural programming at the Santa Clara Convent in Portalegre);
"Há Música nas Freguesias" (decentralised cultural project among the rural Freguesias (civil parishes) of Portalegre municipality);
"Comemorações dos 450 anos do Convento dos Capuchos" (celebration of the 450 anniversary of the Capuchos Convent in Almada);
"Festival do Crato" (summer festival organised by the Crato municipality).

Currently acting as elected Councillor in the Câmara Municipal of Portalegre.