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João, born on June 1st, 1977 in New Haven, Connecticut, to Portuguese parents, discovered his passion for the sea at the age of seven while is grandmother would take him to the beach in Praia Grande, Sintra to bodyboarding. The rugged Atlantic weast coast became the foundation for what would envolve into his lifelong career.
As the first Portuguese and European surfer to qualify for the World Surf League´s (WSL) Big Wave Championship Tour, João reached the Top 5 in the 2012/2013 season. Was a highlight and nominated for the Big Wave XXL Awards in following seasons, having caught the biggest wave of his career in Nazaré in 2022. He holds a degree in Economics froam NOVA School of Business and Economics(NOVASBE), and in 2000, founded the Surf Academia in Praia Grande and Carcavelos.
João is also a co-founder and former manager of the World Surfing Reserves movement created by the Save The Waves Coalition (STW), helping designate Ericeira as the world´s second World Surfing Reserve. In 2021, he was part of the team that led STW´s Surf Protected Area Network program in the Azores.
His contributions were key in establishing big wave paddle surfing in Nazaré, where he qualified to compete individually and as part of the Portuguese team in the World Surf League (WSL) Nazaré Tow Challenge for 7 seasons. He was inducted in the Nazaré Surfer´ Hall of Fame in 2016. Today, João serves as President of the Hope Zones Foundation, continuing his mission to protect and preserve the Ocean through surfing.
Moritz is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and ocean enthusiast with deep passion for sustainnable architecture and innovation. He has co-founded and invested in numerous successful ventures, many of witch have been acquired by prominent companies. He also co-owns the MOMA1890 Hotel in Munich, Germany with his brother.
Driven by is fascination with environmentally-conscious architecture, Moritz is focused on creating solutions that enhance commmmunities and protect the environment, ensuring a better quality of life for future generations.
Moritz serves as Vice President and Treasurer of Hope Zones Foundation, leveraging his entrepreneurial expertise to drive economically sustainable solutions for Ocean conservation.
Toni began her career in the finance industry in Germany, where she was born and raised. Today she runs a Family Office that invests globally across a diverse range of assets. After relocating to Portugal with her family, her time in the mountains shifted to a newfound love for the Ocean. She is passionate about Ocean conservation and is proud to be part of Hope Zones Foundation, working to protect this vital ecosystem.
Toni has always been driven by a desire to contribute to meaningful causes. In Germany, she founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children froam immigrant backgrounds succeed academically. She holds a law degree and an Executive MBA from Henley.
Maria Luísa Macedo was born in Lisbon in November 1950. From a young age, she spent her summers by the sea in Sintra, at her grandparents' house, Morais Sarmento and Almeida Ribeiro. Her deep connection to the ocean was shaped by these experiences, especially as her parents had met and honeymooned at Praia das Maçãs, making her love for the sea inseparable from her life story.
She lived and studied in the United States, where her children were born, and later earned a Master's Degree in Conservation of Graphic Documents. Upon returning to Portugal, Maria Luísa settled once again in Praia das Maçãs, working at the National Library and the National Archive of Torre do Tombo before concluding her career at the Library of the Academia das Ciências de Lisboa.
She now lives in the home she bought 30 years ago in Praia das Maçãs. It is here that she generously provided a space for Hope Zones to establish its headquarters, furthering her lifelong commitment to preserving one of the most meaningful elements in her life: the sea.
Jorge Braga de Macedo is an academic with a strong passion for addressing national, European, and global challenges through interdisciplinary approaches, blending economic, institutional, and historical perspectives.
While leading the VoW project at Nova University, Jorge watched his son João tackle big waves in California, and he views Hope Zones in a similar light—a venture that merges academia, business, and policy, enriched by the involvement of family and friends.
Andreia Lacerda was born in Lisbon in 1977 and spent her early childhood in Armação de Búzios, Brazil, where the sea played a vital role in her life. Her father owned a small fishing trawler to supply their family restaurant with fresh, local, and seasonal fish, fostering a deep respect for sustainability and the coastal ecosystem—a value instilled from an early age.
After returning to Portugal, Andreia pursued a career in the commercial sector, specializing in high-quality imported seafood like tuna, wild salmon, salmon roe, and caviar. Through her work with top chefs in Portugal, she became acutely aware of the challenges of sourcing fresh, seasonal, and sustainable products.
Today, she manages the Surf Academia João Macedo, reconnecting with her roots and deepening her bond with the ocean. For Andreia, joining Hope Zones is an opportunity to embrace the challenge of ocean conservation and contribute to creating a sustainable path forward.
Born in Lisbon, Inês has always been passionate about working on projects that promote local and educational development in multicultural contexts.
She holds a degree in Educational Psychology from ISPA in Lisbon and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Inês has contributed to development projects in Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, and Brazil, focusing on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of mining.
She is now active in public education, working on projects that integrate recent neuroscience research to enhance education for sustainability and civic engagement.
Mário is the founder and CEO of BRO Cinema, an independent production company in Lisbon specializing in content for cinema and multi-platforms. His internationally acclaimed documentaries include I Love Kuduro and Complex Parallel Universe, with the latter winning Best International Film at the Artivist International Film Festival.
Mário has produced content showcased at prestigious venues such as MOMA and TIF. He is also a dedicated advocate for social causes, creating impactful campaigns and founding the Prison Yoga Project Portugal.
Through Hope Zones, Mário seeks to use storytelling to inspire action toward marine conservation.
Murilo, a financial trader, is deeply connected to the ocean. Born in Santo André, Brazil, he moved to Portugal in 2017 and has since become a regular at Nazaré's big wave surfing scene, training with João Macedo. For Murilo, big wave surfing is a transcendental experience, deepening his connection to nature.
His support for Hope Zones stems from a shared belief in celebrating and preserving the ocean, a core value of the organization.
Nic Von Rupp, born in 1990 in Sintra, Portugal, is a renowned big wave surfer. Having competed and won various national and international surfing titles, Nic is now focused on pushing the boundaries of big wave surfing worldwide.
His environmental awareness grew during his time with Surf Academia João Macedo, and he is now a key figure at Hope Zones Foundation, using his platform to inspire action toward sustainable conservation in both local and global policies.
Miguel Blanco is a professional surfer and environmental activist from Ericeira, Portugal. After a decade of competitive surfing, including national titles and international podiums, he shifted his focus to free surfing and environmental advocacy.
Miguel actively supports local and global organizations, including Save The Waves Coalition and Hope Zones Foundation, dedicating his efforts to ocean conservation and sustainability.
A former elite World Tour surfer, Eric Rebiere is a multiple European and Spanish surfing champion, now a key figure in the Nazaré big wave community. Born in Brazil, Eric has been instrumental in promoting surfing businesses focused on sustainability.
His involvement with Hope Zones aligns with his passion for sharing the power of the ocean with others and supporting conservation efforts.
Maya Gabeira, a Brazilian big wave surfer, is renowned for her record-breaking achievements, including riding the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman.
Her commitment to ocean conservation is reflected in her work with OCEANA and as a UNESCO Champion of the Ocean and Youth.
Maya's involvement with Hope Zones allows her to support local conservation efforts in Nazaré, the place that has become her second home and where she continues to push the limits of big wave surfing.
