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Our Team

Deeply involved with your well-being

Our experienced team of experts in counselling, therapy, mindfulness, health, hospitality, and more are active members of our community. They are deeply committed to the central values and ideals of our mission.

Maria João Cunhal

Care Manager

Maria João is defined by her humanity. Registered Europsy Psychologist in the Clinical and Health Education field, she has been practicing Psychology for 24 years. Graduated from the FPCE of the University of Coimbra in the field of Psychological Assessment, Defectology and Rehabilitation, and Post-Graduate Grade III in Clinical Psychology (Psychological Consultation, Neuropsychology and Psychotherapy.

Frederico Quelhas

Counsellor

Frederico studied Psychology at Universidade da Beira Interior, having a master degree in Clinical and Health Psychology.

Inês Capela

Counsellor

Inês conducted research in Portugal and Spain, developing mental health interventions and programs while investigating the effectiveness of those approaches to several mental health conditions. 

Teresa Ranieri

Mindfulness Teacher

Teresa has been a meditation practitioner since 1988. She has extensive training and experience in mindfulness, and holds a Master’s degree in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Interventions …

Kavous Hematian

Wellness Professional

Kavous has worked in luxury hotels and cruise ships as a wellness practitioner (Personal trainer , Yoga and Pilates instructor and holistic therapist) for the past few years.

Joana Melo

Massage Therapist

Joana specialises in traditional Chinese medicine. Trained at the Portuguese Institute of Naturology in Coimbra, she has extensive experience in acupuncture, auriculotherapy and much more …

Carina Sousa

Massage Therapist

Carina has been a massage therapist since 2016, specialized in Deep Tissue Massage, also known as sports massage. She has been an athlete since she was 5 years old, and so massage therapy and physiotherapy have always been an integral part of her life.

Cristiano Almeida

Guest Services Manager

Cristiano is the New Life Portugal’s Guest Services Manager. Born in Seia and passionate about the Serra da Estrela, his goal has always been to stay in the area and help in its development …

Adriana Monteiro

Guest Services Officer

Born and raised in Gouveia, a small and local city located in the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela. She has a degree, finished in 2018, in Tourism and Leisure taken in Escola Superior deTurismo e Hotelaria located in Seia, another local city

Joāo Paulo Brochado

Guest Services Officer

João is a young man who has been passionate about hospitality and serving well for as long as he can remember. From a very young age he became involved in the area and developed a passion for it.

Vasco

Driver

Vasco is the driver at New Life Portugal. Born in Porto and raised in Gouveia, he appreciates  all the surroundings of the Natural Park and its history.

Ana Figueiras

Senior Farmer

It brings Ana great joy to care for the gardens and the farm at New Life Portugal. Raised in the Alentejo region of Portugal, she graduated with a degree in Agronomy from the Universidade de Évora in 2015 …

Sebastien Parein

Farmer

Sebastien works as Farmer at New Life Portugal. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and has worked for more than twenty years in the fields of real estate and economics.

Hugo Loureiro

Maintenance

Hugo is a 35 years old man, born in Rio Torto, municipality of Gouveia. Since he was a Little boy, he has always a open mind to adquire knowledge in several different areas, as he says: “I always liked to know a Little bit about everything.” and today he is a maintenance technician at New life Portugal.

David

Night Vigilant

More info coming soon

Carlos Silva

Senior Chef

Carlos, hailing from Serra da Estrela, developed a deep appreciation for the region’s local products, and he endeavors to incorporate them into his daily culinary creations, mindful of their seasonality.

César Simões

Cook

Some of César’s favourite childhood memories are of helping his grandmother in the kitchen. She was an excellent cook, and these joyful times awakened his love for gastronomy …

Ana Carvalho

Cook

Ana was born and raised in Barcelos, in the north of Portugal, and has a great love for her city of birth. Yet, she always knew that her destiny lay elsewhere …

Susana Clemente

Cook

Born in Linhares da Beira, land she is so proud of and loves so much. Since she was a child she has been surrounded by friends and family who enjoy savoring and delighting every bite!

Hugo Silva

Cook

In Switzerland Hugo learned all his love for cooking and worked for many years in the kitchen improving his skills.

David Oliveira

Kitchenhand

David is 18 years old and he lives in the nearby village of Figueiró da Serra. When he was 17 years old he decided to start working for New Life Portugal so that he could start his career, become independent and face the challenges of life.

Luís Cunhal

Managing Director

Luís is the Managing Director at New Life Portugal. Born and raised in Seia, he is passionate about his hometown and the surrounding mountains. Luís graduated from the fields of Sports Science, Physical Education, Personal Training, and Hotel Management …

Maria Inês Lourenço

Chief Financial Officer

Maria is the Chief Financial Officer at New Life Portugal. Maria has a background in accounting and taxation and her responsibilities include daily accounting, producing financial reports, and supporting the financial sustainability of the centre …

Our staff have shaped our organization.

The commitment of our team to their own growth and personal integrity and willingness to share their stories with the community has resulted in a culture where empathy, respect and understanding are felt by all.