ABOUT
MAV-Vérgez Consulting is a consultancy specialising in Children’s Rights and Protective Environments. It offers consultancy services in human rights to promote safe environments for children and people in vulnerable situations. It also advises organisations on the prevention of and response to violence in different contexts (social, labour, educational, sports, health, ecclesiastical, etc.). It also works on Equality Plans and Prevention of Harassment in the Workplace.
MAV-Vérgez Consulting is a consultancy specialising in Children’s Rights and Protective Environments. It offers consultancy services in human rights to promote safe environments for children and people in vulnerable situations. It also advises organisations on the prevention of and response to violence in different contexts (social, labour, educational, sports, health, ecclesiastical, etc.). It also works on Equality Plans and Prevention of Harassment in the Workplace.
MAV-Vérgez Consulting collaborates with various organisations and projects of great social relevance: participation in the implementation of the LOPIVI (Spanish Child Protection Legislation) and in the design of policies for organisations such as HOLISTIC from Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Exploradores de Madrid, the Family, Youth and Social Affairs Department of the Comunidad de Madrid, the Ministry of Social Affairs Agenda 2030, Orden Hospitalaria de San Juan de Dios, Fundación Amigó y Entidades Amigonianas, Cáritas Española, Provivienda, Móstoles City Council and Alcalá de Henares City Council, INJUCAM, and other educational and social entities.
At the international level, we collaborate with organisations such as the Council of Europe, Panamerican Development Foundation (PADF), British Council, Global Child Protection Services, GCPS, Partners in Health, which reinforces our commitment to the protection of the rights of children and people in vulnerable situations at a global level.
TEAM
María Vérgez
CEO
María Vérgez has a degree in Law, with extensive experience in international relations and children’s rights. She holds a Master’s degree in International Cooperation and International Relations and has dedicated her career to child protection.
María has nine years of experience in Latin America, where she worked with UNICEF and was Country Director of Save the Children in Ecuador. For more than a decade, she has been Regional Director of Safeguarding for the British Council, overseeing child protection practices in 55 countries in the Americas and the EU.
María Vérgez
CEO
Licenciada en derecho con amplia experiencia en relaciones internacionales y derechos de infancia.
Tiene un máster en Cooperación Internacional y Relaciones Internaciones y ha dedicado su carrera a la protección de la infancia.
María cuenta con nueve años de experiencia en América Latina, donde trabajó con UNICEF y fue Directora de País de Save the Children en Ecuador. Durante más de una década, ha sido Directora Regional de Safeguarding del British Council, supervisando las prácticas de protección en 55 países de América y la UE.
Since 2020 she has been working as an independent consultant and is the founder of MAV-Vérgez Consulting where she continues her work on child protection and people in vulnerable situations on a global scale. She is a trainer of trainers and a qualified consultant for the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub since November 2021.
María is also President of the Board of Directors of Asociación Paz y Desarrollo and has been invited to present her candidacy for the ASEME Women Entrepreneurship Awards 2024.
Sonja Uhlmann
Senior external consultant
Senior safeguarding and education specialist with over 20 years of international experience leading safeguarding strategy, investigations, training, and risk management across multicultural educational environments. Holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Child Protection Studies from the University of Birmingham, specialist certification in the investigation of harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse cases, and executive training in Strategic Management and Social Leadership from IESE Business School. Proven expertise in stakeholder engagement, policy implementation, compliance oversight, and organisational capacity building. Experienced in advising schools, leadership teams, and international networks on safeguarding frameworks, child protection, and inclusive practices, with a strong track record of delivering practical, context sensitive solutions and driving organisational cultural change across Europe and global operations.
Eva Fumagallo
Project Assistant
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Law, a Master’s in Criminality and Social Intervention with Minors, and another in International Development Cooperation. She has worked for UNICEF Spain and the British Council, where she gained experience in child safeguarding and violence prevention against children.
Additionally, she has conducted workshops on violence prevention for children and adolescents and participated in the development of prevention strategies. She also has experience in the management and development of European projects.
Eva Fumagallo
Project Assistant
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Law, a Master’s in Criminality and Social Intervention with Minors, and another in International Development Cooperation. She has worked for UNICEF Spain and the British Council, where she gained experience in child safeguarding and violence prevention against children.
Additionally, she has conducted workshops on violence prevention for children and adolescents and participated in the development of prevention strategies. She also has experience in the management and development of European projects.