UNI GRAÇA GLOESS
Driving Excellence in Gas, Logistics, Oil & Energy Supply
The People Behind UGG
At Uni Graça GLOESS (UGG), our team is made up of talented, young, and driven Timorese professionals who bring diverse expertise and fresh perspectives to our organization. With strong educational backgrounds and real-world experience, they are equipped to tackle complex industry challenges with skill and innovation.
We believe our greatest strength is our people. That’s why we carefully select passionate and capable individuals who thrive in a culture of growth, collaboration, and excellence. Together, we are shaping the future of UGG with integrity, expertise, and a shared vision for success.
Leadership Team
Steering the vision and strategy.
Caetano Efandy
Chief Executive Officer
Caetano Efandy is a dynamic business strategist, engineer, and CEO with over ten years of experience spanning marine and offshore operations, oil & gas, infrastructure, and disaster risk management. As CEO and Managing Director of Uni Graça GLOESS Lda, he has built the company into a national leader in marine services, driving strategic partnerships and operational excellence.
Efandy also serves as a Strategic Advisory Board Member for Australia Awards Timor-Leste , advising on scholarship design, workforce alignment, and education strategy. He has led national development initiatives as President of the Timor-Leste Australia Awards Alumni (TL3A).
He holds an MSc in Supply Chain Management (University of Maryland), an MSc in Maritime Operations Management (Liverpool John Moores University), and a BSc in Marine Engineering (University of Tasmania). Efandy’s expertise spans project management, strategic advisory, stakeholder engagement, governance reform, and sustainable development, recognized through awards including Australia Awards, Chevening Global, Fulbright, and YSEALI Fellowships.
Project Leadership & Engineering Team
Driving Innovation & Execution
Manuel Monteiro
Non-Executive Project Director
Manuel Monteiro holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Palapa Institute of Science and Technology, Indonesia, and a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Curtin University, Western Australia. He brings over two decades of extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, beginning in 2003 with his involvement in the early development of the Bayu-Undan Project, followed by significant contributions to the KITAN Field.
Currently serving as a Laboratory Technician on the Agogo FPSO in Angola, Mr. Monteiro also holds the position of Non-Executive Project Director at Uni Graça GLOESS Lda (UGG). In this capacity, he provides high-level strategic oversight, technical guidance, and industry insights on major projects without engaging in day-to-day operational management. His role ensures that UGG benefits from his deep technical expertise, project development experience, and international network while allowing him to maintain his current professional commitments abroad.
Gil Zairo Ximenes
Director of Project Delivery & QHSE
Gil Zairo is a seasoned environmental and project delivery specialist with more than five years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Honours in Earth Science from Queensland University of Technology, where he specialised in benthic terrain analysis. Gil has led major environmental assessments and supervised key studies, including water quality monitoring and dredging impact evaluations during the Port Tibar Construction.
He initially served as QHSE Manager for UGG’s first major project, Catalyst Removal, before advancing to Project and QHSE Manager for the STLB Release Scope. In recognition of his strong leadership, technical capability, and consistent delivery, Gil has now stepped into the role of Director of Project Delivery & QHSE, overseeing a broader portfolio across UGG and its subsidiary operations.
In this expanded role, Gil provides strategic direction to ensure all projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest environmental and operational standards—further strengthening UGG’s capacity to execute complex, high-impact projects within Timor-Leste’s energy sector.
Paul Cardoso
QHSE Officer
Paulo Amaral currently serves as the QHSE Officer at UGG, where he leads the company’s ISO certification processes and focuses on all QHSE matters related to the STLB project. He brings specialized expertise in hydrogen safety, explosion risk assessment, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling.
Paulo holds a Master’s degree in Energy Safety Engineering from Pukyong National University, South Korea, and a Bachelor’s in Energy and Power Engineering from Jiangsu University, China. He is also pursuing a PhD in Safety Science and Engineering at the University of Science and Technology of China.
With extensive experience in hydrogen infrastructure safety projects, Paulo is skilled in advanced simulation tools such as FLACS-CFD and ANSYS Fluent to assess risks, model hazardous scenarios, and develop safety management solutions.
Ivanna a mechanical engineer with a passion for innovation and sustainability plays a pivotal role in UGG’s project execution, site assessments, and engineering optimization. With over two years of hands-on experience, she specializes in project coordination, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. During UGG’s first project, Catalyst Removal, she was central to document control, ensuring meticulous review and timely submission of project deliverables to the client.
In the current STLB Release scope, she continues to oversee this critical initiative. Her award-winning research on PLA filament recycling systems further reflects her commitment to technological advancement and environmental responsibility values that align with UGG’s mission.
Ivanna Pereira
Project Engineer / Document Controller
With a background in chemical engineering from Malang Institute of Technology, Shelya has contributed to major infrastructure and environmental projects across Timor-Leste, including the Dili Drainage Master Plan and Tibar Dumpsite Rehabilitation. At UGG, she leads engineering coordination, resource management, and project execution, ensuring efficiency and timely delivery. Her expertise in water and sanitation initiatives further enhances UGG’s impact on sustainable development.
Shelya Bernard
Project Engineer
Finance, HR, QHSE & Operations Team
Ensuring Stability & Efficiency as well as Upholding Standards and Integrity
Adelviberto Nunes
Head of Local Content & Commercial Strategy
Adelviberto Nunes was appointed as UGG’s Stakeholders & Local Content Coordinator in August 2025, responsible for driving local content strategies to ensure effective knowledge transfer throughout the project lifecycle and maximize the use of Timor-Leste goods, services, and workforce in UGG’s oil and gas operations. He has now stepped into the expanded role of Head of Local Content and Commercial Strategy, leading UGG’s efforts to strengthen local partnerships, optimize commercial outcomes, and enhance the company’s impact on Timor-Leste’s economy.
Adelviberto brings extensive experience in economic development, project planning, and stakeholder engagement, having held senior roles with USAID/Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste.
He holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, as a Fulbright Scholar, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from Flinders University, Australia.
Diva Belo
HR & Business Development Specialist
Diva Belo is the HR and Business Development Specialist UGG, where she supports organizational growth through strategic human resource initiatives and business development planning. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Affairs and Management & Business from Skidmore College, USA, graduating Cum Laude with honors, and has completed study abroad programs at the University of Sydney, Australia, and IES Abroad, London.
Diva brings extensive experience in financial analysis, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and international relations, having worked with the Deputy Prime Minister II of Timor-Leste, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as a student consultant for companies including NIKE and Anthropic AI. She has also contributed to policy research, campaign strategy, and community advocacy initiatives, combining strong analytical skills with a commitment to sustainable development and organizational excellence.
Igorio Marques is UGG’s Finance and Compliance Officer, with over eight years’ experience in project finance, budgeting, and regulatory compliance. Since June 2025, he has overseen financial performance, cash flow, and policy compliance, drawing on prior roles with Palladium’s PROPEL Health and USAID Avansa SAN projects.
Igorio holds an Associate’s Degree in Commerce (Accounting & Finance) from Flinders University.
Igorio Marques
Finance & Compliance Officer
Arthur is a marine operations expert with a Bachelor’s in Fisheries Science from Jakarta Technical University of Fisheries and a Master’s in Fisheries Science from Pukyong National University, South Korea. At UGG, he oversees project execution, operational efficiency, and industry compliance. With expertise in marine resource management and sustainable fisheries practices, he plays a vital role in enhancing offshore and marine services, supporting UGG’s long-term growth in Timor-Leste.
Arthur M. Pereira
Operation Lead
