Ricardo Barkala

President at the Port Authority of Bilbao

Ricardo Barkala Zumelzu was born in Portugalete (Bizkaia) on March 22, 1955. He is a Merchant Marine captain with a master's degree in Business Management from the University of the Basque Country and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Deusto. He has completed doctoral courses in applied economics and is also a graduate in advanced studies in public intervention and regional economics.

After a long career navigating large-tonnage ships (1974-1987), he began a new professional phase on land. From 1987 to 1995, he was a board member and representative in the Basque Country of the Professional College of Merchant Marine Officers (COMME), and from 1989 to 1991, he was a promoter, partner, and president of SAFE, an entity dedicated to Emergency Training Services.

His first tenure with the Bilbao City Council spanned from 1991 to 2012. During these initial twenty-one years, he held various positions, including: General Director of Lan Ekintza and Promobisa; President of the Basque Country Local Development Agencies Association (GARAPEN); President of Bilbao Dendak; City Councilor for Bilbao; Deputy Councilor for economic promotion and employment, human resources, social action, urban planning, housing, and the environment; and a member of the governing boards of BBK, Bilbao Tourist Initiatives, Lan Ekintza Bilbao, Promobisa, Matadero de Bilbao, Mercabilbao, Funeral Services, Bilbao International Exhibition, Elkarkidetza, Surbisa, and Municipal Housing.

In 2012, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor of the Basque Government, a position he held until 2015, when he began his second term with the Bilbao City Council. Between 2015 and 2018, he served in various roles, including: First Deputy Mayor; Councilor for the area of works, services, urban rehabilitation, and public space; Coordinator of sustainability and urban development policies; President of the Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium; President of Surbisa; President of Bioartigas; Board member of Municipal Housing; Board member of the Bilbao Ría 2000 Society; Representative of the City Council in AVIP (International Association of Cities and Ports); Board member of the Zorrotzaurre Concertation Board; Representative on the Board of the Port and Estuary Foundation of Bilbao; Board member of the Bilbao Maritime Museum Foundation; and Board member of the Port of Bilbao.

On July 17, 2018, he was appointed President of the Port Authority of Bilbao.

He currently also holds the positions of President and CEO of the Board of SIBPORT, Vice President of the Board of UniportBilbao, Board member of the Bilbao Ría 2000 Board, and member of the executive committee and full member of the Consorcio del Depósito Franco de Bilbao.