2026 Edition

Speakers

Discover the inspiring lineup of speakers joining the Estoril Conferences 2026, bringing their unique perspectives, expertise and conviction to one of democracy’s most urgent conversations.

POLITICS

GLOBAL PEACE

EDUCATION

HEALTH & PREPAREDNESS

AI & TECH

Organization

Nova School of Business & Economics

Helena Canhão

Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Professor of Medicine & Rheumatologist

Portugal

Helfried Carl

Founder & CEO of the European Capital of Democracy, Diplomat & Political Innovator
Austria

Jenny Romano

Co-Founder & CEO of The Newsroom, AI and Media Innovation Entrepreneur

Italy

Jesus Armas

President, Ciudadanía Sin Límites
Venezuela

Karla Soares-Weiser

CEO of Cochrane

United Kingdom

Maria Luís Albuquerque

European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Economist & Former Minister of Finance
Portugal

Olivier Vandecasteele

Founder & Director, Protect Humanitarians
Belgium

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Former President of Portugal

Portugal

Sir Richard Roberts

Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs [Nobel Laureate]

United Kingdom

Miguel Stilwell D’Andrade

CEO of EDP

Portugal

Emilio J. Castilla

SNTU Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management

Spain / USA

Portugal

Helena Canhão

Helena Canhão is Portugal’s Secretary of State for Science and Innovation. She is a medical doctor, rheumatologist, and Full Professor of Medicine at NOVA Medical School, where she previously served as Dean. Helena holds a PhD and Habilitation in Medicine, with a specialisation in Rheumatology, from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, and a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences and Clinical Research from Harvard Medical School. She has also served as a Senior Consultant in Rheumatology at Hospital Curry Cabral in Lisbon. Her academic and scientific work focuses on epidemiology, rheumatic diseases, ageing, digital health, health innovation, and implementation research. She has coordinated research structures including the Comprehensive Health Research Centre and the EpiDoC Unit, and has been involved in several national and international research projects. Helena has authored or co-authored more than 200 indexed scientific papers and has received distinctions including the Bial Clinical Medicine Prize and the Bial Grand Prize.

Austria

Helfried Carl

Helfried Carl is the Founder and CEO of the European Capital of Democracy and a Co-Founder of The Innovation in Politics Institute. He studied Political Science at the University of Salzburg and earned a Master’s degree in International Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University SAIS. Helfried has had a distinguished diplomatic career, serving as Austria’s Ambassador to Slovakia and holding senior positions within the Austrian Parliament and the Austrian Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively on international cooperation, democratic governance, and public innovation. Today, he is recognised as a leading advocate for strengthening democracy through citizen participation and institutional innovation, working with policymakers, cities, and organizations across Europe to promote democratic resilience and engagement.

Italy

Jenny Romano

Jenny Romano is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Newsroom, a technology company developing AI solutions to strengthen information integrity and combat misinformation. With a background in digital sales and solution engineering at Google and Salesforce, she has worked at the intersection of technology, media, and innovation throughout her career. Jenny studied International Economics at Bocconi University and completed further studies at HEC Paris and CEMS. Through The Newsroom, she collaborates with leading media organizations to help journalists research, validate, and present information more effectively using transparent AI tools. Recognized among Europe’s top social entrepreneurs, she has been named one of the most influential women in AI and is a recipient of the She Shapes AI Award. Her work focuses on promoting trustworthy information, responsible AI adoption, and a more informed society.

Venezuela

Jesus Armas

Jesús Armas is the president of Ciudadanía Sin Límites, an organization that promotes freedom and democracy in Venezuela. Jesús leads the core programming of Ciudadanía Sin Límites, including an online crowdsourcing platform that maps and records power and water supply failures in Caracas. Tracking the number of hours per week that citizens have gone without water, payments provided to water providers, and the quality of water that is delivered, Ciudadanía Sin Límites puts pressure on failing service providers through protests and media advocacy to ensure that the right to clean water for citizens is upheld. Since 2018, Jesús has created a network of 400 citizens to fight for water and sanitation access and his interventions have helped thousands of citizens gain access to drinking water and energy. This approach has created a neighborhood network where community members share information and propose solutions and goals for their communities. Ciudadanía Sin Límites also provides direct support to 1,200 children and families living in five low-income communities, facilitating opportunities for community members to secure positions in food preparation, receive advice and guidance from nutritionists, and participate in training opportunities focused on democratic values.

United Kingdom

Karla Soares-Weiser

Dr. Karla Soares-Weiser is the Chief Executive Officer of Cochrane, the world’s trusted producer of scientific evidence. Appointed in 2025, she is leading Cochrane into its next phase with a focus on equity, collaboration, and collective impact. From 2019 to 2025, Karla served as Cochrane’s Editor-in-Chief, driving transformative changes in evidence synthesis and delivering timely, high-quality insights to policymakers and governments worldwide. She co-led the planning of the Evidence Synthesis International Collaborative (ESIC), supported by the Welcome Trust, which set out a shared roadmap for a stronger and more equitable global evidence ecosystem. With over 30 years of experience in research, academia, and leadership, Karla is committed to tackling global health challenges and reducing inequities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Fluent in four languages, she is known for fostering international partnerships and championing evidence-informed decision-making. A board-certified psychiatrist with a Master’s in Mental Health Epidemiology and a PhD in Evidence-Based Health Care, Karla combines scientific expertise, cultural awareness, and strategic leadership. Throughout her career, she has built collaborations, shaped strategies, and mobilized collective action to deliver lasting impact in health and equity worldwide.

Portugal

Maria Luís Albuquerque

Maria Luís Albuquerque is the European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union. An economist with extensive experience in public finance, financial markets, and economic policy, she holds a degree in Economics from Universidade Lusíada and a Master’s degree in Monetary and Financial Economics from ISEG. Prior to joining the European Commission, she served as Portugal’s Minister of Finance from 2013 to 2015, where she played a key role in the country’s economic recovery and fiscal adjustment following the sovereign debt crisis. Earlier in her career, she held several senior positions within the Portuguese Treasury and Debt Management Agency, contributing to the management of public debt and the implementation of financial strategies during a critical period for the Portuguese economy. Following her time in government, she served on the boards of leading financial institutions and international organisations, further strengthening her expertise in financial governance and regulation. Widely recognised for her knowledge of European financial policy, capital markets, and economic reform, Maria Luís Albuquerque is regarded as one of Portugal’s most influential figures in finance and a prominent voice in shaping the future of Europe’s financial system.

Belgium

Olivier Vandecasteele

Olivier Vandecasteele is the founder and director of Protect Humanitarians, a nonprofit organization that supports frontline humanitarian workers by promoting best practices in staff care, mental health, and legal assistance. In 2022, Olivier was detained in Iran for over a year, where he was subjected to ill treatment and challenging conditions, a detention that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Human Rights Council has deemed arbitrary. This inspired him to establish Protect Humanitarians, which was launched after his release in 2023, and work towards prioritizing the protection and psychological safety of humanitarian workers. Olivier has organized global events reaching over 8,000 people, established an emergency fund to assist local NGOs impacted by such incidents, and provided support to humanitarian workers in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, and the DRC.

Portugal

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was born in Lisbon, on 12 December 1948. He is a Catholic and has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. A Law Graduate, he received a Doctorate in Legal and Political Science in 1984. He was a tenured professor at the Faculty of Law of Lisbon University, and has taught throughout his career in various institutions of further education, in Portugal and abroad. He was a journalist, as editor of the Expresso newspaper between 1980 and 1981, and worked on the Seminário newspaper from 1983 to 1987. Subsequently, he appeared on the media as a political commentator on TSF radio and, later, the TV stations RTP and TVI. He works with various civic institutions and associations, as well as in the social sector, as founder, sponsor, director, or simply as a volunteer. In 1976, he served as a deputy to the Constituent Assembly. He was part of the 8th Constitutional Government as Secretary of State of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and later, as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. He has supported the PSD (Social Democratic Party) since it was founded and was its president from 1996 to 1999, contributing decisively to government stability as leader of the opposition. In the international realm, he encouraged the PSD to join the European People’s Party, in which he attained the position of Vice-President. He has held various positions in local government, including Municipal Deputy, Metropolitan Deputy, Councillor and President of the Municipal Assemblies of Cascais, Lisbon, and Celorico de Basto. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was elected President of the Republic for the first time on 24 January 2016 and took office on 9 March. He was re-elected for a second term on 24 January 2021 and took office on 9 March of the same year.

United Kingdom

Sir Richard Roberts

Sir Richard Roberts was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his pioneering work on DNA sequencing and genetic engineering. His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology and led to decisive progress in many fields including cancer research. He is the Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs (Massachusetts) and has been an active supporter and member of the Patient Innovation Advisory Board. He also serves as a Dean’s Advisory Board member at Nova SBE.

Portugal

Miguel Stilwell D’Andrade

Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade is Chairman of the Executive Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of EDP, S.A. He is also CEO and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of EDP Renováveis, S.A. Miguel holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a Master of Engineering with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde. He began his career as an analyst in mergers and acquisitions at UBS Investment Bank before joining EDP in 2000. Since then, he has held several senior positions within the group, including Director of Corporate Development and M&A, Executive Board Member of E-Redes, CEO of Naturgás Energia Group, CEO of Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico in Spain, CEO of EDP Comercial and EDP España, Board Member of EDP, and Chief Financial Officer of EDP. Under his leadership, EDP operates across Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, with a strong focus on renewables, networks, and client solutions.

Spain / USA

Emilio J. Castilla

Emilio J. Castilla is the NTU Professor of Management and Professor of
Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of
Management, where he has taught since 2005 after previously serving
on the faculty of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Barcelona, a
postgraduate diploma from Lancaster University Management School,
and a PhD in Sociology from Stanford University, completed in 2002
under Mark Granovetter.
His research examines the sociological aspects of work and
employment, focusing on how social and organizational processes
shape recruitment, hiring, development, and job mobility, as well as how
teamwork and social networks affect performance and innovation. He is
best known for identifying the "paradox of meritocracy" — the finding
that organizations that believe they operate meritocratic systems can
paradoxically exhibit more bias in performance-based rewards. His work
has appeared in journals including Administrative Science Quarterly,
Organization Science, the American Journal of Sociology, and the
American Sociological Review. He is the author of The Meritocracy
Paradox: Where Talent Management Strategies Go Wrong and How to
Fix Them (Columbia University Press, 2025), which earned him a spot on the
Thinkers50 2025 Talent Award Shortlist. He currently co-directs MIT's Institute
for Work and Employment Research.

Pedro Vicente

Pedro C. Vicente is a Professor of Economics at Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), where he is also the founding scientific director of the knowledge center NOVAFRICA. He specializes in development economics and Africa. Pedro has published in leading economics journals such as the American Economic Review. His research has entailed substantial fieldwork efforts in African countries. Pedro Vicente has a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago.