Damian Fernandez
Chief Operating Officer - University of Design, Innovation and Technology, Spain
Damián Fernández is a senior executive with over fifteen years of leadership experience in the global education sector, specializing in operations, finance, strategic development, and international expansion. He has a proven track record of driving institutional growth, operational excellence, and large-scale project execution across diverse regions.
For more 10 years, Damián led the expansion of SEK in the Middle East, overseeing the operations of its schools and spearheading the group’s international growth strategy. Under his leadership, the group launched projects exceeding USD 200 million in value and opened six new schools across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain. His first-hand experience living and working in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia for over six years gave him deep insight into cross-cultural management and global education ecosystems.
Throughout his career, Damián has evaluated over 200 education projects in 40 countries, collaborating with investors, regulators, consultants, and operators to shape the strategic direction of institutions worldwide. His global perspective has led him to speak at leading conferences and seminars across four continents — Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
An entrepreneurial mindset has also guided his work in business diversification. He successfully launched new consulting services and B2B commercial channels that achieved a 15x revenue increase, generating USD 1.5 million.
