Born in Barcelona, Jordi Portabella i Calvete holds a degree in Biology from the University of Barcelona and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering. Since mid-2021, he has been Director of the Sustainability Area of Futbol Club Barcelona.

Previously, he developed his professional career as General Director of the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i Innovació, Director of the Research and Knowledge Area of the Fundació Bancària La Caixa, as well as Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the Barcelona City Council. Previously, he was also a member of the Catalan Parliament.

He has written many articles related to science and sustainability for educational centres, magazines and several media and has collaborated for five years in the supplement ‘Science and Life’ of La Vanguardia and in Catalunya Ràdio with his own space for popularising science. He participated in the board of directors and editorial board of the magazine ‘TOTS’ of the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia, published in four languages and distributed worldwide.

He has written the book ‘Històries de Can Fanga’ and has participated in several collective books.

He is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Science and Art of Barcelona, Gold and Brilliant Medal of Tourism of Catalonia and Gold Medal of the Fira de Barcelona.