The Board consists of widely recognised professionals who work on a voluntary basis to oversee the fulfillment of the Foundation’s aims.
Our Trustees
Ricardo Urdiales
President
Lawyer
Dr. Marisa Martín
Trustee
Chief Executive & Medical Director
Susan Hannam
Vice-President
Graduate in Health and Social Care
Rafael Olalla
Trustee
Deputy Chief Executive, Financial Director, Communication and Fundraising
Fernando Gil
Secretary and Treasurer
Lawyer
Statutory Auditor
Juan Antonio Astorga
Trustee
Enfermero.
Ex – Presidente del Colegio de Enfermería de Málaga
Liz Parry B.E.M.
Trustee
Retired newspaper Editor
J. Fraser Ingram
Trustee
Chief Operating Officer,
Yorkshire Building Society.
Our Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is composed of professionals of recognised prestige and expertise within each of the Foundation’s fields of activity. It possesses no legal powers or responsibilities; its role is to provide specialist advice to the Board of Trustees on specific matters. The term of appointment is four years, and the position is unpaid.
Members of the Advisory Board:
Alfonso Pinedo
Doctor of Medicine
Emilio Alba
Professor of Oncology
Director of the Medical Oncology Clinical Management Unit at the Málaga Regional and Virgen de la Victoria University Hospitals
Curro Herrera Gaona
Journalist and Entrepreneur
Graduate in Communication Studies, University of Wales Executive MBA,
Chamber of Commerce AMP (Advanced Management Programme), IE Business School
Juan Antonio Vargas Ramírez
Pharmaceutical Entrepreneur and Healthcare Consultant
Our Honorary Trustee
Antonio Banderas
Actor, Film Director, and Málaga-born Philanthropist
He holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Málaga and Dickinson College, Pennsylvania. He is a Board Member of the Instituto Cervantes in New York and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Chairman of the Lágrimas y Favores Foundation, established in 2010 with the mission of supporting university students and providing care for cancer patients through the Cudeca Foundation
Our Ambassadors
Actor, Journalist, and Presenter.
Supporter of Cudeca since 2007, actively contributing his expertise as both a journalist and a host for numerous charitable fundraising events. His involvement includes hosting gala dinners, benefit concerts at the Cervantes Theatre, and various editions of the “Fernando Martín Pinto” Charity Golf Tournament.
Actress and TV Presenter
She has been a dedicated supporter of the Cudeca Foundation since February 2022. Her commitment includes serving as the face of our charity shops, participating in all our major events, and fronting promotional videos for crowdfunding initiatives, the Walkathon Cudeca, membership drives, and the “Magic of Life” event. She plays a vital role in encouraging public engagement and is always ready to mobilise others in support of Cudeca’s mission.
Actress, TV Presenter, and Model
Proactive volunteer and supporter of Cudeca since 2009, both personally and in her professional capacity within the media. She provides extensive advocacy through television appearances, social media, and numerous charitable fundraising events. Key examples of her involvement include promoting Cudeca Charity Shops, hosting gala dinners, and fronting major initiatives such as the Sunflower Campaign, the “Become a Regular Donor” drive, and various corporate, sporting, and cultural events.
Born in Quivicán, Cuba, Chucho Valdés is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest pianists. To date, his extraordinary career has been recognised with eight Grammy Awards, comprising five Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammys.
Chucho has been a dedicated and constant supporter of the Cudeca Foundation since 2007, when he performed as a guest artist at the very first benefit concert held by his father, the legendary Bebo Valdés. Since then, Chucho has generously and altruistically donated his music on countless occasions in support of our “Special Kind of Caring.”
María del Carmen Campos Palero
State Civil Servant. Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. Member of the International Association of Foreign Diplomats in Spain (AIDE) and the Arab Diplomatic Ladies in Spain.
A dedicated supporter of the Foundation since its inception, she has played a pivotal role in communication and fundraising efforts in Madrid. Her contributions include the Gala Dinners at the Hotel Ritz, the AIDE International Diplomatic Bazaar (Kermés), and the Charity Table at the Queen’s Birthday Party at the British Consulate in Madrid.
National & International Honours
Spanish Honours:
Order of Civil Merit – Commander by Number (Encomienda de Número)
Order of Isabella the Catholic – Commander (Encomienda)
Order of Civil Merit – Commander (Encomienda)
Order of Isabella the Catholic – Officer’s Cross (Cruz de Oficial)
Order of Civil Merit – Officer’s Cross (Cruz de Oficial)
Order of Civil Merit – Cross (Cruz)
Order of Isabella the Catholic – Dame’s Ribbon (Lazo de Dama)
Lithuanian Honours:
Order for Merits to Lithuania – Medal
Portuguese Honours:
Order of Prince Henry – Medal
Key British English Nuances:
State Civil Servant: This is the correct British term for Funcionaria del Estado.
Honours: In the UK, we use the term “Honours” or “Decorations” to refer to medals and orders.
The Queen’s Birthday Party (QBP): In British diplomatic circles, the official event held at embassies/consulates for the monarch’s anniversary is universally known as the “Queen’s Birthday Party” (or King’s, depending on the era).
Commander / Officer’s Cross: These are the standard English translations used by the UK Foreign Office for the various grades of international orders.
Commander by Number: This is the specific technical translation for Encomienda de Número.
Funcionaria del Estado. Protocolo del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación. Miembro de la Asociación Internacional de Diplomáticos Extranjeros en España (AIDE) y de las Damas Diplomáticas Árabes en España.
Colaboradora activa desde los inicios de la Fundación, ha realizado una importante labor de comunicación y recaudación de fondos en Madrid a través de las Cenas de Gala en el Hotel Ritz, Bazar Diplomático Solidario Kermés de la AIDE, y la Mesa Solidaria en el Aniversario de la Reina de Inglaterra en el Consulado Británico en Madrid.
Condecoraciones de España:
Orden del Mérito Civil – Encomienda de Número – 18/06/2016
Orden de Isabel La Católica – Encomienda 06/12/2010
Orden del Mérito Civil – Encomienda – 10/10/2007
Orden de Isabel La Católica – Cruz de Oficial – 24/03/2006
Orden del Mérito Civil – Cruz de Oficial – 19/07/2004
Orden del Mérito Civil – Cruz – 11/07/2003
Orden de Isabel La Católica – Lazo de Dama – 06/12/1997
Condecoraciones de Lituania:
Orden del Mérito – Medalla – 06/06/2005
Condecoraciones de Portugal:
Orden del Infante Don Enrique – Medalla – 22/09/2006
Executive Committee
Ricardo Urdiales
President
Dr. Marisa Martín
Chief Executive & Medical Director
Rafael Olalla
Deputy Chief Executive & Financial Director
Antonio Guerra
Human Resources Director
Management Committee
Executive Committee and Management Team:
Assumpta Eceiza
Head of Finance and Corporate Services
Daniel Sánchez
Head of Communications and Fundraising
Daniel Beaudet
Head of Retail (Charity Shops)
Inmaculada Ruiz
Head of Volunteering
Laura Domínguez
Head of the Training and Research Institute