Joaquim Manuel Gaião

I'm currently working at CTIC - the Portuguese Leather Technological Centre, based at Alcanena, Portugal.

Since 1996 I’m full time Director of the Physical-mechanical Laboratory and full time Responsible for the Acoustics and Noise Department since 2006.

Since September 2009 I have an active participation as a specialist member, on the European Technical Committee for the Standardization CEN/TC 289 - Leather, on Work Groups WG2, WG3 e WG4.

As specialization related to leather and teaching,  I have a Superior Course in Leather Technology of the Escuela Superior de Teneria - Igualada (Barcelona) – Spain and I’m a professional trainer accredited by IEFP – Portuguese Training and Employment Institute.

From 1996 until 2001 I was teacher of Leather Technology on 12º Grade Technical-Professional Course at Alcanena’s Secondary School.

Since then, as a trainer I’ve lectured more than 25 different courses on Leather Technology, Tannery Processes, Standardization and Leather Testing, Production Control, among others. I was responsible for planning and developing the syllabuses and materials for most of these courses.

I participated with technical support and cooperation in several leather sector surveys, as well as with technical support on CTIC participation in several R&D projects funded by the European Union, and CTIC participation in several R&D Portuguese projects.

Currently, among other activities, I'm directing the CTIC’s I&D department.