Dr. in International Relations Rafael Abajo Merino, in addition to a higher military career and completing his training at the Complutense University, Oxford University and IESE-University of Navarra, in areas such as Business Administration, Quality, Organizational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Coaching, has been in constant innovation and learning in the organizations for which he has worked. All this, with the aim of improving in the area of Consulting, Management and Leadership. 

As an EFQM Certified Consultant, EFQM Certified Trainer, and Trainer and Advisor to Club Excelencia en Gestión for over 20 years, he has managed to become a leading evaluator of the EFQM Global Excellence Award and a leading manager of excellence evaluations for Club Excelencia. In that sense, he has been Director of Alliances and Projects at Club Excelencia, Director of Human Resources and Quality at Occidental Hotels, Training and Quality Manager at American Express and an Army officer for 12 years in special operations units, security and military education. 

Recently, he has been involved nationally and internationally in the development and implementation of excellence programs and strategic management implementation in educational centers, as well as in national and regional healthcare organizations and SMEs. 

• Managing Partner of OPTIMA XXI, Management Excellence and Leadership Consulting Firm. 
• Consultant, trainer and EFQM certified evaluator. 
• Trainer and Advisor to the Excellence in Management Club. 

• Director of the Center for Advanced Tourism Studies OCCITUR. Córdoba 
• Director of Alliances and Projects of Club Excellence. 
• Director of Human Resources and Quality. Occidental Hotels 
• Training and Quality Manager. American Express  
• Army officer in special operations units, security and military education.  
• Ph.D. International Relations, Oxford University, United Kingdom. 
• Degree in Business Administration. UNED 

• EFQM Certified Consultant. EFQM Certified Advisor 
• EFQM Certified Trainer. EFQM Certified Trainer