Maria is driven by a deep commitment to diversity, dignity and to supporting people to find and strengthen their voice. For over twenty years, she has worked alongside people with learning disabilities, older people and adults who require support, ensuring their perspectives are heard, respected and truly valued.
Although Maria studied Psychology, her commitment began earlier, through a genuine interest in connecting with diverse people and understanding different ways of experiencing the world. This interest gradually evolved into a lifelong dedication to Person-Centred Practices and community inclusion. She has worked both in direct support and in leadership roles, including managing community-based day services and contributing to service development as Technical Director at Fundación Goyeneche de San Sebastián.
Maria delivers training across Spain in Person-Centred Practices and Positive Behaviour Support from a community perspective, supporting organisations and public administrations in their cultural change towards rights-based models grounded in dignity.
She currently works within the Residential Directorate of Matia Fundazioa, supporting older people and adults with disabilities to live meaningful lives as citizens. Her work focuses on reshaping residential services through more personalised and community-connected approaches that strengthen autonomy, belonging and human dignity. She has developed initiatives that foster neighbourhood connections and natural supports, such as “Auzoan” (meaning “in the neighbourhood” in Basque), and promotes shared governance through Human Rights Committees in which people take active leadership roles.
Maria also co-designed the digital tool “Neu” (meaning “myself” in Basque) to support people in leading their own life planning, and trained with CQL – The Council on Quality and Leadership to explore how people experience quality of life in their communities through Personal Outcome Measures.
She joins Citizen Network as a fellow with hope and determination. Maria believes that every person has unique gifts to contribute, and that our collective role is to create the conditions in which those gifts can flourish. Her deepest purpose guides her towards a world in which all beings — not only humans — can live free and connected.
