About us…

Phil Speirs
Founder and editor

Most of Phil’s friends thought dropping out was an easy option to avoid ‘real work’. Little did they know that many years on the road, exploring foreign lands and delving into mystic cultures, would eventually lead to the setting up of La Chispa, and more hard work than he had ever imagined. Having settled in southern Spain in 2001 and launching La Chispa soon after, Phil has long had an interest in the alternative scene: ecology, natural health and finding a way to live more lightly on the planet. La Chispa has provided the perfect opportunity to bring together this interest with experience in publishing and a passion for communication and information. Based in the rural hills around Coín, Málaga with partner Kate and two children, Phil is trying to practice what he preaches, having started an organic box delivery scheme in the local area, researching eco-building techniques for personal use and getting to grips with a small Permaculture garden. The compost toilet is next on the list.

Sara Shaikh
Assistant Editor

Sara has been an avid reader of La Chispa since moving to Málaga in 2006, and now with her journalistic background, interest in alternative living and linguistic abilities, is very excited to have joined the editorial team. Her work experience includes publishing articles in Spanish magazines as well as being Section Editor for online magazine lecool.com and Neo2. A passion for communication has led her to work as a graphic designer and translator for 10 years. She was born in London and has lived in the UK and California where an interest in the environment, eastern philosophy and healing practices deepened. However with a Spanish mother she was brought up speaking both English and Spanish, and has lived in Spain for 14 years. These days she often has a feeling of dejá vu, mainly as a result of having lived in the USA where an aggressive form of capitalism dictates the lifestyle of most of its population. She sees how trends are repeated here, how quantity is drowning quality and people’s desires in life are changing. Luckily she lived US culture from a Californian perspective and was also privy to an environmental education, an awareness of how to soften our impact on the planet as well as other methods of making life more worthwhile (or at least less empty). She sees La Chispa as an excellent way of spreading such a perspective in Andalucía and is happy to be a part of this process.

Kate Vaughan
Proof reader and reality checker

Having agreed to ‘give it a try’ living in Andalucía with partner Phil Speirs and to set up an alternative magazine together, many years later she is still here and slightly startled to fine herself enjoying it. Nurturing the children and the vegetable patch, Kate still finds time to bring her keen eye to the editorial, making sure ts are crossed, is are dotted and some of the wilder articles are tamed into making sense. As Chispa has continued to grow, Kate’s role in the magazine has increased, managing the office and admin and being responsible for the online editorial - keeping the events calendar up to date and buidling series of online articles. As she has got more involved in the local community has been the driving force behind Chispa helping to promote eco-activities organised by local environmental groups, such as tree planting and cleaning up areas of natural beauty.

Mario and Viviana Morán - BGreen deseño
Magazine and web design team

Mario and Viviana, our Argentinean design team, bring the articles in Chispa to life. Since they took over the design of the magazine in early 2007 positive comments about the magazine from our readers have multiplied. Their work developing the Chispa web site into the premiere portal for natural and holistic living has created a fantastic visual vehicle for the content of la Chispa.

Kim Henry
Staff writer
Following her BA Honors degree in Drama from Manchester University, Kim Henry traveled from India to Bosnia working with different NGO’s and Community Arts Companies. Throughout her travels she wrote for a variety of publications specializing in alternative health and eco-issues. She now lives in Las Alpujarras with her partner and daughter where she runs the children’s theatre company, 'Luv 2 Act', and writes for La Chispa.

Our distributors
La Chispa would be half the magazine it is if it wasn’t for the help of the many people who help out to distribute the magazine in their local area. It may only be a few hundred copies but it has helped spread the reach and impact of La Chispa and created an extended family

Lindsay Espinoza
Long term collaborator and one-time assistant editor, Lindsay is a body harmony practitioner but still finds time to distribute the magazine heading East of Málaga.

Diana Moryaga
Partner in Taller del Sol, eco-architects, Diana distributes the magazine in Velez-Málaga and Torre del Mar.

Isobel Gilton
Yoga fusion dance instructor and all-round wise woman, Isobel distributes the magazine in Nerja and surrounding area.

Pixie
An inspirational representative of La Chispa in the Alpujarras, Pixie is also the La Chispa accountant, multi tasking to keep the magazine afloat.

Iccha
Chi kung, oriental dance and massage practitioner, Iccha helps get La Chispa out in Ronda.

Jessica McGregor Johnson
A life coach and writer, Jessica is based in Almuñecar where she helps with La
Chispa.

Louise Sutton