The Alicante Forum opened this week in the INFORMACIÓN Club, where the forum’s new edition gathered a wide array of public figures and business leaders. In attendance, Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat, prepared a keynote that outlined a major project for the Valencian Community. Local representatives from the business and social sectors watched closely as Mazón spoke, eager to hear the plans and potential implications for the region.
Juan Ramón Gil, general manager of content at INFORMATION, Ana Gosalvez, Salvador Navarro, Joaquín Pérez, and Esther Guilabert from CEV, along with Tomás Mayoral, director of INFORMATION, supported the event and contributed to the overall atmosphere of a high-stakes briefing. Lydia Ferrandiz took part in the coverage, highlighting the strong media presence surrounding the presentation.
Javier Moll, president of the Prensa Ibérica publishing group, introduced the event by presenting the president of the Consell. In the front row sat Ainhoa Moll, vice president of Prensa Ibérica, and Tomás Mayoral. Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alicante, was also present, with Adolfo Utor, president of Balearia, and Salvador Navarro, president of CEV, completing the first row. Other notable attendees included Toni Pérez, president of the Provincial Council of Alicante, and Luis Barcala, the mayor of Benidorm and of Alicante, along with Pablo Ruz, the mayor of Elche, and Macarena Montesinos, the national representative in the Congress of Deputies.
Councillors Ruth Merino and José Luis Aguirre were seen speaking with Moll and Moll’s colleague during a moment before the program began. The gathering included almost all council members except for the environmental representative Salomé Pradas, who attended the plenary meeting in Orihuela to commemorate the fourth anniversary of DANA. Participating ministers included José Luis Aguirre, agriculture; Marciano Gómez, health; Ruth Merino, finance; Vicente Barrera, first vice president; Susana Camarero, second vice president; Elisa Núñez, justice; José Antonio Rovira, education; and Nuria Montes, who handled innovation. Also present were Enrique Simarro, general manager of Prensa Ibérica’s Valencian Community, and Juan Ramón Gil, head of INFORMATION Content.
A view from the INFORMACIÓN gardens captured the moment when cocktails followed Mazón’s conference, underscoring the social dimension of the forum. The post-event mood reflected a meeting of minds across journalism, business, and local government, with participants from various sectors converging to exchange ideas and foster collaboration.
In the audience, leaders from corporate relations and media production were noted: Carmelo Calvo, general manager for Corporate Relations; Adrián Ivorra, general manager of Prensa Ibérica audiovisual; Ángel Angulo, INFORMATION manager; Ángel Báez, director of Mediterraneo; and José Luis Valencia, a Levante-EMV manager, all associated with Prensa Ibérica. They formed part of a network that linked industry-specific media interests with regional business developments.
The event also showcased partnerships among professional bodies. José María García and Agustín Carrillero from ESIC were observed, along with Francisco Martínez and Tomás Martínez of CHM, indicating a broad interest from the professional and educational communities in the Alicante region. From Carmencita, Jesús Navarro Alberola and Jesús Navarro Navarro represented the company, while José Antonio García acted as business manager for PreZero, joined by Miguel Grandío and Rosario Navarro, both in management roles. From Cox Energy, Enrique Riquelme, Joaquín Monforte, and Lamberto Camacho attended, with Joaquín Pérez of CEV and Ana Gosálvez of CEV marking the continuity of regional governance and business networks.
Inside the INFORMACIÓN Club meeting hall, a front-row lineup included Enrique Simarro, Salvador Navarro, Macarena Montesinos, Ainhoa Moll, Carlos Mazón, Javier Moll, Toni Pérez, Amparo Navarro, Adolfo Utor, and Tomás Mayoral, emphasizing the close collaboration between media leadership and regional administration.
The University of Alicante also had representation beyond its rector. Vice Rector for Research Juan Mora attended, alongside vice rectors for Academic Organization and Infrastructure, Sustainability, and Occupational Safety. The university’s general secretary Esther Algarra and Juan Llopis, director of Corporate Affairs and Projects, were present, signaling a strong academic backing for the initiatives announced at the forum.
Among the political participants, the event saw the presence of PPCV secretary general Juan Francisco Pérez, together with councillors Susana Camarero and Marciano Gómez. The gathering reflected a broad spectrum of regional politics, with leaders from various parties sharing the stage at Alicante’s influential gathering.
Other notable attendees included figures from industry and commerce: Carlos Marco, CHM’s recruitment director; Francisco Martínez, CHM vice president; CHM CEO Tomás Martínez; José María García, ESIC’s academic director; and Agustín Carrillero from ESIC, illustrating a strong intersection of business education and practical market insight.
A moment of courtesy featured the Minister of Education and Universities José Antonio Rovira with Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alicante, highlighting the collaboration between regional governance and higher education. The event also brought together construction, energy, and infrastructure leaders such as Juan Manuel Baeza, Hozono Global’s construction delegate; José Masegosa, communications director; Manuel Martínez, president; Juan Beviá, construction manager; and Carlos Pérez, construction delegate. Representatives from Hidraqua, including Sergio Sánchez as regional manager for Alicante South, were present, along with industry peers Miquel Francés and Alfred Costa from Corporació Valenciana de Mitjans de Comunicació, reflecting a broad cross-section of the regional economy.
Andrés Sánchez, operations director of Prensa Ibérica, shared the stage with Maite Antón, president of the Alicante Family Business Association, underscoring the event’s focus on family-owned and regional enterprises. Other key figures included Mayte Gómez, director general of the Presidential Press Office, along with José Manuel Cuenca, the regional secretary of the Presidency, Santiago Lumbreras, and Cayetano García, regional secretaries of the Presidency, as well as Agustina Esteve, the Consell’s delegate. Local business leaders such as Juan Riera, former president of the Alicante Chamber of Commerce, and Francisco Javier Sendra, regional secretary for the Environment, joined discussions with Sebastian Fernández, housing secretary, and Jerónimo Mora, regional secretary for Innovation. The gathering also recognized Antonio Fundeun, and figures like Nuria Oliver, an engineer, contributing to the broad spectrum of topics discussed.
The forum also drew attention to the region’s political and civic leadership. Mayor Luis Barcala stood at the center of the stage, flanked by Deputy Mayor Manuel Villar and eight other councilors from the Alicante City Council. The event welcomed a wide range of attendees, including Deputy Ombudsman Carlos Castillo and Antonio Mira-Perceval, Ombudsman. Legal scholars and municipal leaders, such as Manuel Alcaraz from UA and Francisco Sánchez of the Cardenal Herrera CEU University, highlighted the forum’s educational and civic dimensions. Attendees from the Levante II delegation and FOPA, among others, reflected the interconnected nature of the regional economy and governance.
The Alicante Forum concluded with a display of unity among professionals and regional leaders. Figures from the media, academia, and multiple sectors continued conversing, their discussions signaling ongoing cooperation and shared goals for the Valencian Community and its neighbors in Canada and the United States looking to understand regional dynamics and investment opportunities.