Program

Alexandre Quintanilha Born in Mozambique, he is a physicist, researcher and Emeritus Full Professor at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) of the University of Porto, widely recognised for his contribution to the development of science in Portugal and for his international standing.

He graduated in Mathematics and Physics from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he also completed a master’s degree in Theoretical Physics and a PhD in the same field. He later obtained his habilitation in Biophysics from the University of Porto.

His scientific career initially developed in the United States, where, for around twenty years, he taught and carried out research at the University of California, Berkeley. There, he distinguished himself as a professor of cell physiology and biophysics and as director of an Environmental Studies Centre at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

In the 1990s, he returned to Portugal, where he played a decisive role in the modernisation of national biomedical research. He was the founder and director of the Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC) and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (INEB), institutions that helped establish Portuguese research in cutting-edge fields. He also chaired the consortium of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S).

At the same time, he held prominent roles in the promotion of scientific culture, chairing the scientific council of the Pavilion of Knowledge – Ciência Viva.

His work also extended to the civic and political sphere, having served as a Member of the Portuguese Parliament and Chair of the Education and Science Committee, as well as a member of the National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences.

His career stands out for his ability to bring together research, teaching, innovation and public service, making him one of the most influential figures in contemporary Portuguese science.

Bachelor of Laws and postgraduate degree in Economic and European Criminal Law from the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra (2001).

General Coordinator of the Task Force for the Resolution of Pending Cases at AIMA, 2024–2026.

Chair of the Board of Directors of the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (2023–2024), the public entity responsible in Portugal for handling immigration, migrant integration, and asylum applications;

Chair of the Board of Directors of Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, E.P.E., (2020–2023), the entity responsible, among other duties, for the central health information systems during the COVID-19 pandemic;

Deputy Secretary of State for Administrative Modernization in the 21st Constitutional Government (2018–2019), responsible for the Simplex Program and with delegated powers regarding the Agency for Administrative Modernization, I.P.;

Deputy Secretary-General for Internal Administration, responsible for electoral administration (2018);

Secretary-General and Legal Advisor at the Order of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents (2011–2015, 2016–2018, 2019–2020).

Currently Partner & Head of Health & Public Sector at NTT DATA Portugal, Ricardo Constantino has more than 20 years of experience in business consulting, management and technology.

Throughout his career, he has led multiple digital transformation projects in the healthcare and public sector areas, contributing to the reinvention of public services and to the improvement of healthcare delivery.

He has extensive experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating projects in strategy, processes, digital transformation, information systems design and development, digital platform integration and application maintenance programmes.

In the healthcare sector, he was responsible, among other projects, for the design, creation and operation of the SNS Invoice Validation Centre (CCF), the creation and operation of the SNS Information Exploitation Unit (UEI), and the implementation of the largest medical imaging solution in Portugal.

He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico and attended the Senior Management Programme for Healthcare Institutions at AESE.

Tamara Hussong Milagre is a distinguished leader in hereditary cancer advocacy, dedicated to improving the lives of families affected by Hereditary Cancer Syndromes.

As the founder of “Associação EVITA – Cancro Hereditário” in 2011, she pioneered efforts to support and empower patients within this community.

At European level, Tamara serves as a prominent representative of the European Patient Advocate Group within the prestigious European Reference Network GENTURIS, focused on Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes. Her involvement extends to critical areas such as “Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC)” and key working groups on “Organisation of Care” and “Education, Training and Development”.

Tamara is currently actively involved in the core guideline group on “Counselling on Reproductive Options for GENTURIS Patients”, aiming to provide comprehensive support to patients within the GENTURIS network.

Tamara’s expertise has been enriched through her participation in prestigious educational programmes, including the European School of Oncology (ESO) Masterclass and the rigorous EUPATI course. She graduated from the EURORDIS Leadership School on Healthcare & Research in 2019, acquiring leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of healthcare and research dynamics.

In addition to her advocacy work, Tamara collaborates closely with Infarmed, the Portuguese medicines agency, and participates in key multi-stakeholder platforms, such as the European Multi-Stakeholder Sounding Board of the EFPIA Oncology Platform and the European Cancer Organisation, strengthening her global influence.

At national level, Tamara drives progress as a founding member of the working group dedicated to Hereditary Cancer Syndromes of the Portuguese Society of Oncology. She actively contributes to initiatives focused on “Early Detection” and genomic medicine through her involvement in several organisations and initiatives, including the Stakeholder Group of the Portuguese Centre for the Cancer Mission and the PT_MedGen initiative.

Tamara’s outstanding contributions to hereditary cancer advocacy were officially recognised in November 2020, when she received the prestigious Medal of Scientific Merit from the Portuguese Minister of Science. Her unwavering dedication and global impact distinguish her as a true influencer in the field.

Chair of the Senior Board of the Portuguese Public Finance Council (CFP) since March 2019. A jurist and economist, she has an academic and professional background marked by interdisciplinarity between Law and Economics, with a particular focus on Public Finance, budgetary policies, and the sustainability of State finances. She holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, and later completed a degree in Economics at Nova School of Business and Economics, strengthening her expertise in the economic analysis of public policies. She is an Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon and Principal Researcher at the Research Centre for Economic, Financial and Tax Law (CIDEEFF). Throughout her academic career, she has published several books and scientific articles in the fields of Public Finance, Fiscal Federalism, Financial Law, and European Integration, and is recognised for her contribution to the study of budgetary governance. Institutionally, in addition to chairing the CFP since 2019, she was a member of the European Commission’s High-Level Group of Experts on Pensions in 2018 and has collaborated as an expert in several European projects, namely MoveS, related to social policies and mobility. She is also a full member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, reflecting the recognition of her scientific and academic merit.

João Eurico Cabral da Fonseca earned his bachelor’s degree in medicine (1992), his Ph.D. (2004), and his postdoctoral qualification (2010) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL). He completed his residency in rheumatology in 2000. In 2010, he completed a postgraduate program in health management at AESE – Lisbon School of Management and Business. He is a Full Professor, Director of FMUL, and Director of the Rheumatology Service at the Santa Maria Local Health Unit (ULS), Lisbon Academic Medical Center. He is also Director of the Institute of Clinical Semiotics at FMUL and of the Rheumatology Research Unit at FMUL. He coordinates Modules III.IV, III.V, and 5th-year Internal Medicine and Surgery. Head of Rheumatology. His research has focused on diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment markers for inflammatory joint diseases, with a special interest in the synovial membrane. He is the author of more than 400 scientific articles indexed in PubMed and a member of the editorial board of several scientific journals.

Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport of the European University of Madrid, where she also serves as Vice-Dean for the Health Sciences area.

Her professional activity combines university management, teaching, and scientific research, with a career marked by the integration of academic leadership, pedagogical innovation, and research in health sciences.

In the scientific field, she conducts research in Medicine, collaborating with national and international teams on health research projects. Her scientific output includes work in pharmacology and cardiology, with a particular focus on assessing the clinical effects of therapies and researching cardiovascular diseases.

In parallel, she holds academic leadership and strategic management roles, coordinating executive training initiatives, scientific conferences, and innovation projects, particularly in the application of Big Data technologies and advanced data analysis to support decision-making in healthcare.

Her work also extends to the European University in Portugal, where she participates in the development of academic and scientific projects focused on digital transformation and innovation in the healthcare sector.

Consultant in Health Regulation and Policy;
President of the National Association of Liberal Professionals (ANPL);
Southern Europe Section Regent of the Academy of Dentistry International;
Member of the SEDES Observatory for Health and Social Action and of the Board of SEDES Porto.

Professional and Academic Experience

2001–2020 – President of the Portuguese Dental Association (OMD);
2011–2020 – President of the National Council of Professional Associations (CNOP);
2011–2013 – President of the FDI World Dental Federation;
2006–2009 – President of the Council of European Dentists (CED);
2019–2020 – President of the Federation of European Dental Competent Authorities and Regulators (FEDCAR);
2011–2020 – Member of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council (CES);
2017–2020 – Member of the Portuguese National Health Council (CNS);
2015–2019 – Member of the Advisory Board of the Portuguese Health Regulatory Authority (ERS);
1991–1995 – Assistant Professor of Health Policy in Europe at Universidade Moderna do Porto;
1988–1990 – Second Lieutenant Dental Officer in the Portuguese Air Force;
1987–2017 – Dentist in private practice.

Conferences and Publications

Speaker at numerous national and international scientific and professional congresses, courses and seminars. Author of a wide range of opinion articles and a regular contributor to Portuguese and international general and specialist media.

Academic Qualifications

1987 – Degree in Dental Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine of the University of Porto.

Postgraduate Education

November 2022–July 2023 – Strategic Thinking and Development for Health and Care Regulators, Erasmus University Rotterdam – Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, the Netherlands;
October–November 2022 – 21st Postgraduate Course in Public Regulation and Competition, Centre for Public Law and Regulation Studies (CEDIPRE), Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra;
February–July 2022 – 7th Postgraduate Course in Bioethics, Private Law Research Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon, Portugal;
October 2020–July 2021 – Healthcare Management, Nova School of Business & Economics, Carcavelos, Portugal, first edition;
September 2008 – Mastering Health Care Finance, a partnership between the Institute of Health Economics and Management – Harvard Medical International and Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal;
February 2009 – Upgrading NGO Lobbying Practices, European Training Institute (ETI), Brussels, Belgium.

Honours and Distinctions

2014 – Honorary Doctorate from the University of Porto, Portugal;
2015 – Municipal Gold Medal of Merit awarded by Porto City Council, Portugal;
2014 – Honorary Member of the American Dental Association (ADA), United States;
2014 – Honorary Member of the General Council of Dentists of Spain;
2011 – Honorary Citizen of the City of Montevideo, Uruguay;
2017 – Macao Conference Ambassador for the Macao Special Administrative Region, China.

Ema Paulino is a community pharmacist and the owner of a pharmacy in Almada, Portugal. She is currently Managing Director and Professional and Scientific Coordinator at Ezfy. Since June 2021, she has served as President of the Portuguese National Association of Pharmacies.

She previously served on the National Board of the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society until June 2021, as President of its Lisbon and Southern Region Branch from 2012 to March 2019, and as a Board Member of the Portuguese National Association of Pharmacies from 2003 to 2012.

Until September 2021, she was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), where she served as Professional Secretary. She had previously held several positions within the organisation, including Interim CEO, Vice-President and Secretary of the Community Pharmacy Section, as well as President and Project Coordinator of the Young Pharmacists Group.

While studying Pharmaceutical Sciences, she served as President of the Portuguese Association of Pharmacy Students (APEF) and as Coordinator of the Health Information, Promotion and Education Office at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (GIPES).

Ema is also a Board Member of the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) and the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG).

Graduated in Business Management from the Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG), he began his career in the banking sector, serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Banco Comercial e de Investimentos, S.A., and as Head of the Real Estate Financing Division at Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD).

He also gained significant international experience between 2013 and 2019, representing CGD’s interests in Mozambique. During this period, he additionally served as Portugal’s representative on the European Mortgage Federation’s Committee on Economic Affairs.

Ph.D. in Sociology (specializing in Demography), awarded in 1993 by the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCSH-UNL)

Assistant Professor at FCSH-UNL since 1993 and a full-time researcher at the “Portuguese Institute of International Relations” at UNL. Scientific coordinator (2024–2026) for studies to be conducted as part of the “New Long-Lived Societies” project of the Economic and Social Council (CES).

She served (2012–2022) on the Higher Council of Statistics (CSE) as a member recognized for her scientific merit and independence, and has been a member (since 2014) of the European Statistical Advisory Committee (ESAC). She has been a member of the ESAC Executive Board (since 2015), serving as coordinator of the network of European statistics users.

She held various public offices between 2000 and 2009 in the Ministries of Education and Science.

From 2009 to February 2019, she directed Pordata—the Database on Contemporary Portugal, a project of the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

She is the author and co-author of numerous studies on contemporary Portuguese society, demographic aging, and statistical literacy.

She holds a degree in Business Management from Universidade Livre de Lisboa and has developed a distinguished career in financial supervision, social security, pensions and economic regulation.

She was President of the Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (ASF), and also served on the National Council of Financial Supervisors, the Board of Supervisors of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), and the General Board of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB).

Throughout her career, she has held senior positions in public and private institutions. She was a consultant to the Board of Directors of Banco de Portugal, a board member of the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE), Secretary of State for Social Security, chief executive officer of the Pension Fund Management Company of Banco de Portugal, and held management positions in banking and the financial sector.

She has participated in several national committees dedicated to the reform of Social Security, pensions and ADSE, as well as in advisory bodies of CMVM, the Portuguese Association of Insurers and the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal.

She has also developed extensive academic, associative and civic activity, collaborating with universities, professional bodies and social sector institutions, while also carrying out volunteer work in solidarity organisations.

With advanced training in financial risk management, corporate finance, asset management and senior business management, she is the author of the book Pensions – Restoring the Social Contract to Restore Generations and of numerous technical publications on social security, pension systems, the social economy and public policies.

He holds a degree in Business Administration, a Master’s in Public Health from the Sérgio Arouca National School of Public Health at ENSP Fiocruz, a Master’s in Technology and Innovation Management from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, and a PhD in Public Policy from the Federal University of Paraná.

A medical specialist in Immuno-Haemotherapy, he is currently Director of the Blood Service at ULS Santa Maria and Professor of Clinical Transfusion Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon.

He graduated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto and has developed a career marked by the leadership of blood services and the implementation of quality systems in healthcare institutions.

He served as Director of the Blood Service at Hospital de Évora and coordinated the Immuno-Haemotherapy Services networks in the Alentejo and Algarve regions, promoting certification and continuous improvement processes that led to the achievement of ISO 9001 certifications.

He was also Director of the “Laura Ayres” Regional Public Health Laboratory of the Algarve, contributing to the strengthening of quality and response capacity in laboratory and public health services.

Alongside his clinical and management activity, he has held teaching roles in postgraduate programmes dedicated to international quality systems, sharing his experience in the areas of management, certification and organisation of healthcare services.

Recognised for his career in transfusion medicine and quality management in healthcare, he currently serves as President of the Coordinating Council of SEDES, placing his experience at the service of strategic reflection and the development of policies for Portuguese society.

Full Professor of Biodiversity and Ecology at the University of Coimbra, where she coordinates the Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) and holds the UNESCO Chair in Biodiversity and Conservation for Sustainable Development.

She holds a PhD from the University of Coimbra and the University of Bielefeld, Germany, and completed her postdoctoral research at Stanford University, in the United States, consolidating an internationally recognised scientific career.

She holds leadership roles in several research institutions, also coordinating FitoLab at Instituto Pedro Nunes and representing Portugal on the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

She has developed leading research in the fields of biodiversity, functional ecology, nature conservation and sustainability. Throughout her career, she has played an active role in the scientific community, having chaired the Portuguese Society of Ecology (SPECO) and currently serving as Vice-President of the European Ecological Federation.

The international recognition of her work culminated in 2024 with the award of the prestigious Ernst Haeckel Prize, the highest distinction granted by the European Ecological Federation, recognising outstanding scientific contributions to ecology.

She is also a Commander of the Order of Prince Henry, a distinction that recognises her contribution to science, research and the international profile of Portugal.

Geographer and geographic information scientist, associate professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT) at the University of Lisbon; researcher at the Center for
Geographic Studies and member of the TERRA Associated Laboratory, and co-coordinator of GEOMODLAB.

Ph.D. in Regional and Urban Planning from the University of Lisbon, with a dissertation that involved the development of a GIS plug-in for network analysis based on graph theory and complex networks, enabling the calculation of advanced accessibility and connectivity metrics. He coordinated an H2020 project and led work packages and tasks in several Horizon Europe projects.

Former visiting researcher at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (UCL) and visiting fellow in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge. His research areas focus on analyzing the complex interactions between people and their environment, whether physical, digital, or hybrid. More specifically, his research aims to generate robust scientific evidence to support more informed decision-making regarding sustainable urban development and the promotion of healthy spaces and population well-being.

Paulo’s professional and academic interests center on the development and application of advanced methodologies and technologies, such as neurocomputing, neurourbanism, smart and cognitive cities, digital twins, wearable sensors, citizen science, remote sensing, virtual reality, and the Metaverse.

He holds a degree in Management from ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management, has been a Statutory Auditor since 2012, and was a member of DTTL’s Global Advisory Council (GAC FY14). With more than 25 years of experience in Audit & Assurance, he has worked with some of the largest business organisations operating in Portugal across a wide range of sectors.

António Vitorino served as President of the National Council for Migration and Asylum and has built a distinguished career spanning politics, law, public administration, academia, and international organizations.

He was Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from 2018 to 2023. In Portugal, he served as a Member of Parliament for the Socialist Party across six legislative terms and held the positions of Minister of the Presidency, Minister of National Defence, and Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

He also served as a Judge of the Constitutional Court, Deputy Secretary to the Governor of Macau for Administration and Justice, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, and Member of the European Parliament, where he chaired the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Holding a Law degree and a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Sciences, he has been a practising lawyer since 1983. He has pursued a significant academic career at several Portuguese universities and is currently a Professor at Sciences Po in Paris.

In the private sector, he was a partner at the law firm Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira & Associados and has served on the boards, supervisory bodies, and advisory committees of various companies and institutions. His experience combines political leadership, legal expertise, and a strong international perspective, with a particular focus on justice, migration, and governance.

António José Martins Seguro was born on 11 March 1962 in Penamacor, a town of which he is an Honorary Citizen and where he acquired, from an early age, a deep appreciation for community, hard work, and solidarity. He is the youngest of three children of Domingos Sanches Seguro (1926-2017) and Maria do Céu Martins Seguro (1927-2011), whose examples of dedication and integrity shaped his sense of responsibility and public service.

He is married to Maria Margarida Nave Nunes Maldonado Freitas (2001) and has two children, Maria (2002) and António (2006), with whom he resides in Caldas da Rainha.

He was educated in Penamacor (primary school, Escola Preparatória Ribeiro Sanches, and Externato Nossa Senhora do Incenso) and completed his final year of secondary education in Castelo Branco (Escola Industrial e Comercial).

He holds a degree in International Relations from the Autonomous University of Lisbon, a Master’s degree in Political Science from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE–IUL) and is currently a doctoral candidate in Political Science at the School of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ISCSP–UL).

Prior to his election as President of the Republic, he served for nineteen years as a university lecturer in the fields of Political Science and International Relations at the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL) and, for nine years, at the School of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP – University of Lisbon).
Alongside his well-known passion for teaching and engaging in dialogue with students, António José Seguro devoted a significant part of his career to academic research and reflection, with particular emphasis on studying the quality of democracy, the role of assemblies within systems of government, ethics in public life, citizenship, and European integration.

He began his political activity at a young age, emerging as a leading figure in several civic and political initiatives, ranging from socially oriented youth associations in his home town to serving as President of the Portuguese National Youth Council and of the European Youth Forum.
In February 1981, he joined the Socialist Party, within which he held various positions, notably Secretary-General of the Socialist Youth, Director of the Policy Studies Office, and Secretary-General. He also served as President of the PS Parliamentary Group in the Assembleia da República.
He was a Member of the Assembleia da República for several legislatures, establishing himself as an advocate of democratic dialogue. In 2007, he led a reform of the Portuguese Parliament, which profoundly transformed the functioning of both the Portuguese Parliament and political system, strengthening governmental scrutiny by enhancing the oversight powers of the opposition and rendering the Assembleia da República more transparent and effective in the legislative process.

He also served as a Member of the European Parliament, consolidating a pro-European vision grounded in solidarity between States and in the affirmation of Portugal within the common European project. He acted as co-rapporteur of the report on the Treaty of Nice.

He was President of the Municipal Assembly of Penamacor and a member of the Municipal Assembly of Gouveia. He served as a member of the 13th (1995-1999) and 14th (2001-2002) Constitutional Governments and of the Council of State (2011-2014).

As a political leader, he fostered a culture of responsibility, transparency, and high ethical standards, underscoring that citizens’ trust is the greatest asset of public life. He fought against social inequalities, championed policies aimed at creating opportunities, and affirmed the centrality of human dignity in all public decisions.
For António José Seguro, politics has meaning only insofar as it tangibly improves people’s lives, protects the most vulnerable and addresses injustice.
Between 2016 and 2026, he pursued a career in business, investing in agricultural and tourism activities in his home town.

His trajectory has been marked by a strong connection to his roots and to people, by a commitment to developing the country’s interior regions, and by a vision of development that brings together economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. His career combines political experience at local, national, and European levels, academic reflection, and business activity, illustrating an integrated vision of Portugal and of its role in Europe and the World.

António José Seguro was elected President of the Portuguese Republic on 8 February 2026 with 3 502 613 votes – the highest number of votes ever obtained by a candidate in a presidential election – corresponding to 66.84 % of the votes cast.
In assuming the Presidency of the Republic, António José Seguro brings with him a lifetime dedicated to public service, grounded in strong ethical values, a humanist vision of politics, and an unwavering commitment to freedom, democracy, and the dignity of every citizen.