Estela Mendes is an art historian. Born and raised in Lisbon, she has been teaching about the beauty of the world for many years. After working in national palaces in Portugal, Estela moved to London where she spent 5 years working at museums like Buckingham Palace, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Her background in art history gives a special view of the history of the city, using art to illustrate historical facts. She likes to walk through quiet streets and show small secrets to those who have never been to Lisbon.

José Picas do Vale started his professional career at the age of thirteen, as a fisherman. In 1989 he joined the Portuguese Navy, being stationed at the Portuguese National Maritime Museum. He graduated in History, post-graduated in Law and Rights of Impaired Citizens, and obtained a Master degree in Museum Studies. An integrated researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History, and associated researcher at the Institute of Art History, FCSH – UNL, José is conducting his Ph.D. in Contemporary History and Museum Studies with a research project on maritime museums. He’s a Fulbright Research Fellow; and Fellow of the Study of the United States Institute on Culture and Society. José has also received Scholarships from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (2009/2015); FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology (2012-2015); and a Leonard Rennie Grant from the Council of American Maritime Museums (2016). Member of ICOM – International Council of Museums; RESPATRIMONI - International Network of Researchers on Heritagization; ACHS – Association of Critical Heritage Studies; RHIP – Network of History, Industry and Heritage; HOPER – Portuguese network of Oral History; co-founded AC - Acesso Cultura; and is president of the General-Assembly of Vórtice, cultural association. He is the author of several articles on Museums, cultural projects, and Portuguese maritime history. This experience and area of expertise, give José a very particular view of Lisbon, its History and its stories.

Born in the North of England, Ian was raised around the historic docks of Liverpool where a love of Maritime history was born. He went on to study Archaeological sciences with the aim of specialising in Marine archaeology. His four years of study saw him divert from his original aim and concentrate on Roman imperial architecture and Urbanisation in the Ancient world. Working as an archaeologist for a number of years across Italy and the UK, Ian has spent 7 years working as a tour guide in Rome before the lure of the sea and sunshine brought him to Lisbon where he continues to research the urban landscape and the city’s vital relationship with the sea.