Lina María Arenas
Wien
Summary
Experience in project management, budgets, and ample understanding of office procedures. Analytical and trained in customer satisfaction and process improvement and optimization. Ample experience in data handling, statistical analysis, presentation of results and manuscript publication. Outstanding communication skills, organised and results-driven approach. Experience in Experience working in demanding positions. Formal training and experience managing teams and projects in multidisciplinary and international settings.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Project Assistant
UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Vienna, Austria
08.2025 - Current
- Coordinated project schedules and resources to ensure timely completion of deliverables.
- Streamlined communication processes between departments to enhance collaboration and efficiency.
- Developed comprehensive project documentation to support team alignment and stakeholder engagement.
- Mentored junior staff in best practices for project management and operational workflows.
- Analyzed project performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and drive decision-making.
- Implemented process improvements that increased overall project efficiency and effectiveness.
- Supported senior management in strategic decision and daily agenda management, as well as travel arrangements and general administrative tasks.
- Streamlined project management processes by implementing efficient tracking and reporting systems.
- Ensured accurate project documentation by meticulously reviewing reports, meeting minutes, and status updates.
- Enhanced team collaboration for improved project outcomes through regular communication and coordination efforts.
- Completed multiple tasks simultaneously to optimize project completion.
- Provided assistance with preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts and presentations
- Researched and analyzed data to support project-related decisions.
- Handled administrative duties, filing, and errands.
- Provided technical support to project stakeholders to help meet project objectives.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to customers.
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts.
- Tracked project and team member performance closely to quickly intervene in mistakes or delays.
- Sourced, vetted and managed vendors needed to accomplish project goals.
- Facilitated workshops to collect project requirements and user feedback.
Project Administrator
DIGIT Lab, Business School, University of Exeter, UK
Exeter, UK
09.2022 - 04.2025
- Position Summary: Multiple agenda management and organisation. Key contact point for internal and external enquiries seeking information. Work independently in a busy environment, prioritise tasks, decision making, planning and managing. Budgetary management, guidance and advice. Development and updating of filing systems, both electronic and non-electronic. Maintenance of project databases. Analysis (statistic and qualitative) of data, consolidation and preparation of tables and graphs for academic and board presentations. Updating of websites, press releases, and social media channels. Preparation of project communication Follow up of Key Performance Indicators (KPI), pending and deadlines. Grant management and allocation of funds and work within the group. Correspondence management. Work flexibly, attending meetings and events as required. Drafting and sending of correspondence for the correct running of project activities. Use initiative to handle queries.
Administrator
Truro and Penwith College, Truro- UK
Truro, UK
11.2020 - 06.2022
- Position Summary: Assessment of web-based administrative data to provide attendance reports upon team requests. Point of contact for staff and stakeholders and daily communication via email/person/phone. Team support and collaboration via Teams and Intranet platforms.
Post Doctoral Research Associate
University of Exeter, Falmouth UK
Falmouth, UK
01.2020 - 10.2020
- Position Summary: Collection, preparation and analysis of data. Database management, budget management and obligation reviews. Scrutiny of data and methods to comply with ethical regulations. Digital image analyses for data acquisition. In charge of statistical analyses, and manuscript preparation and proofreading ahead of publication. Project managing including budgeting, management of data. Preparation of reports and press releases as needed. Organisation events and outreach activities for public engagement.
- (short term contract)
Administrator - Quality and Performance Programme Manager
Semper Altius School Network - Cumbres Bogotá
Bogotá
08.2016 - 06.2019
- Position Summary: Project manager for the creation of institutional processes, procedures, guidelines and communication protocols as well as yearly performance indicators. Development of best practice, continuous improvement and process integrity policies. Collection and preparation of metadata for statistical analysis. Production of reports and graphs for board presentation. Manager of the quality and service standards. Scheduling of events, award ceremonies, appointments, travel arrangements, and staff training sessions. Running of day to day activities according to an institutional calendar. Multidisciplinary liaison and collaboration with institutional departments to provide outstanding customer service and effective completion of team targets. Creation of institutional engagement events and promotion. First point of contact for staff, and stakeholders via email, telephone, in person, and post. Establishment management protocols, management of record archives including confidential files.
Graduate Research Associate
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Cambridge, United Kingdom
01.2012 - 07.2016
- Position Summary: Project managing including budgeting, management of expenditures and allocation. Management of academic data using Microsoft Excel and various statistical packages including R and SPSS. Collection, preparation and analysis of data. Database management and scrutiny of data and methods to comply with ethical and financial regulations. Digital image analyses for data acquisition. In charge of statistical analyses, and manuscript preparation and proofreading ahead of publication. Preparation of reports and press releases as needed. Organisation events and outreach activities for public engagement.
Science Instructor
Semper Altius School Network - Cumbres Bogotá
Bogotá
08.2010 - 12.2011
- Position Summary: Designing syllabuses, dynamics and classes. Marking exams, development of student skills through the discovery of personal abilities. Organisation of STEM activities. Organisation of Institutional marketing fairs and internal and international events.
Administrative assistant
University of the Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia
08.2008 - 07.2010
- Position Summary: Statistical analysis of university publication records, impact factors and multidisciplinary team success assessments for board presentation. Design of schedules, staff improvement and personal development programs. Organisation events, meetings, minute taking and other activities. Follow up of pending matters, and management of confidential records and archives.
Education
Ph.D. - Biology
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom05.2016
M.Sc. - Biological Sciences
University of the Andes
Bogotá, Colombia07.2010
B.Sc. - Biology, Business Management
University of the Andes
Bogotá, Colombia07.2008
Skills
- Highly organized and methodical
- Self motivated, proactive solutions driven approach
- Attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience in project management, event and collaborative work tools
- Formal training in process optimization and implementation
- Deadline oriented
- Proactive approach
- Documentation management
- Requirements gathering
- Database entry
- Expert user of Microsoft Office Suite and ERP software as well as online platforms for data storage and webpage design for dissemination
- Empathetic and approachable
- Flexible and adaptable
- Scheduling and calendar management
- Schedule management
- Billing and invoicing
- Team support
- Administrative support
- Project management
- Telephone etiquette
- Meeting scheduling
- Spreadsheet development
- Research
- Database administration
- Operations support
- Presentation development
- Meeting coordination
- Adaptability
- Time management abilities
- Complex Problem-solving
- Professionalism
Certification
- Quality and Standards Services According to ISO 9001:2015 Internal training program – Semper Altius School Network June 2016 - Dec 2016
- Project Management, Principles and Practises Specialisation University of California, Irvine, United States May 2020 - Sept 2020
Languages
English: C2 level - Fluent
Native or Bilingual
Spanish: Native Speaker
Native or Bilingual
German: Course in Progress
Elementary
Timeline
Senior Project Assistant
UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization
08.2025 - Current
Project Administrator
DIGIT Lab, Business School, University of Exeter, UK
09.2022 - 04.2025
Administrator
Truro and Penwith College, Truro- UK
11.2020 - 06.2022
Post Doctoral Research Associate
University of Exeter, Falmouth UK
01.2020 - 10.2020
Administrator - Quality and Performance Programme Manager
Semper Altius School Network - Cumbres Bogotá
08.2016 - 06.2019
Graduate Research Associate
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
01.2012 - 07.2016
Science Instructor
Semper Altius School Network - Cumbres Bogotá
08.2010 - 12.2011
Administrative assistant
University of the Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
08.2008 - 07.2010
M.Sc. - Biological Sciences
University of the Andes
B.Sc. - Biology, Business Management
University of the Andes
Ph.D. - Biology
University of Cambridge
Data management and Writing Skills
- Publications:
- Arenas L.M., Toscani A.O., and Stevens M. (2014) Color contrast and stability as key elements for effective warning signals. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2:25. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2014.00025
- Arenas L.M., Walter D., and Stevens, M. (2015) Signal honesty and predation risk among a closely related group of aposematic species. Scientific Reports 5:121. doi: 10.1038/srep11021.
- Stevens, M. Arenas, L.M., and Lown, A.E. (2016). Color in camouflage, mimicry, and warning signalling. In: Handbook of color Psychology. Eds: Elliot, A.J., Fairchild, M.D., and Franklin, A. Cambridge University Press.
- Arenas L.M., Stevens, M. (2017) Diversity in warning coloration is easily recognized by avian predators. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 30: 1282 – 1302.
- Flechas, S.V., Ortega, Chinchilla, J.E., Arenas, L.M., Amézquita, A.(2018) The Function of Supplementary Notes in the Communication System of Johnstone’s Whistling Frog, Eleutherodactylus johnstonei. Herpetological Review, 2018, 49(4), 626-632.
- Briolat, E.S., Arenas, L.M., Hughes, A.E., Liggins, E., & Stevens, M. (2021): Generalist camouflage can be more successful than microhabitat specialisation in natural environments. BMC Evolutionary Biology. Volume 21, article number 151.
- Hughes, A.E., Briolat, E.S., Arenas, L.M., Liggins, E., & Stevens, M. (2023): Varying benefits of generalist and specialist camouflage in two versus four background environments. Behavioral Ecology, Volume 34, Issue 3, May/June 2023, Pages 426-436.