Born in the Republic of Zimbabwe, in Harare (1967)
Degree in International Relations (University Lusíada, Lisbon, 1991)
Master in Environmental Citizenship and Participation with the master thesis “Earth Sciences for Society – The International Year of Planet Earth: Impacts and Changes in Portugal” (2012); PhD student in Geography (Environment and Natural Resources), at the University Nova of Lisbon (2015/2017)
Since 1994:
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Responsible for the Science Sector – Natural and Exact Sciences and Human and Social Sciences – of the Portuguese National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Lisbon;
1994 – 2000:
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Program Specialist of the Portuguese National Committee for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) created under the aegis of the Portuguese National Commission for UNESCO – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, promoting projects at a national and international level and coordinating activities related with marine research, capacity development, ocean and coastal areas;
2002 – 2005:
- Focal Point for Gender Equality;
Since 2005:
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Focal Point for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) and responsible for the coordination of the National Platform Education for Sustainable Development 2014+, following the UNESCO strategy based in the Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development and the 2030 Development Agenda;
- Focal Point for the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity (2011-2020);
Since 2007:
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Member of different Scientific Councils, in the framework of the International Years and Decades proclaimed by the United Nations and supported by UNESCO: Planet Earth (2007-2009), Astronomy (2009), Biodiversity (2010), Chemistry (2011); Forests (2011), Mathematics of Planet Earth (2013), Crystallography (2014), Light (2015) and Soils (2015), Global Understanding (2016);
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Author and co-author of several scientific articles (Episodes, Lyell Collection, etc.) and scientific papers;
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Participation in TV documentaries and programs including radio programs and collaboration with newspapers magazines and interviews, children books, National Magazine of Stamp Collectors, during the International Year of Crystallography / Light (IYL) and Soils (IYS) and co-responsible for the creation of the respective postage stamps;
Since 2011:
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Member of the Portuguese National Committee for the International Geosciences Program of UNESCO (IGCP);
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Coordinator of the Portuguese National Forum of Geoparks. In this field, since 2006, has participated in all European Conferences of Geoparks (and also in the Global Conference, held in Canada, in 2014);
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Representative of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) to UNESCO Headquarters, for diplomatic meetings with the Permanent Delegations of the Member States with a seat at the Executive Council of UNESCO, to explain the importance of the creation of a UNESCO Scientific Program dedicated to Geoparks (2013);
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Member of the Working Group created by the Director-General of UNESCO with the task to create the guidelines and statutes of the proposed “International Geosciences and Geoparks Program” (IGGP) and especial contribution to the creation of the statutes and guidelines of the new Program “Global Geoparks of UNESCO” (2013/2015);
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Coordinator of the Portuguese National Network of Biosphere Reserves;
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Member of the Portuguese National Committee for the Program “Man and Biosphere” (MAB);
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Member of the Portuguese Committee for Mathematics of Planet Earth;
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Member of the Coordination Committee of the UNESCO Chair “Geoparks, Sustainable Regional Development and Healthy Lifestyles” held by the Portuguese University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (Vila Real, Portugal), with a especial scope regarding capacity building in African Portuguese Speaking Countries and Latin America and Caribbean Countries;
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Member of the Executive Committee of the Regional Section (Portugal-Spain) of the International Year of Global Understanding (2016);
- Member of the Executive Committee and Continental Coordinator for Europe of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG).
Commendations/ Awards:
2015 | Praise given by the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO (Flávia Schlegel) for the invaluable contribution to realizing the “International Geosciences and Geoparks Program” (IGGP) and the creation of the new designation of “UNESCO Global Geopark”;
2014 | Commendation given by the State Government of Ceará and Regional University of Cariri – URCA and Araripe Global Geopark of UNESCO for the outstanding services and efforts voluntary dedicated to the Araripe Geopark in the promotion of the Educational Program “GEA – Mother Earth”, State of Ceará, Brazil;
2010 | Commendation given by the International Astronomical Union in recognition of the performance and outstanding contribute to the success of the International Year of Astronomy (2009), in Portugal;
2009 | Award given by the International Corporation IUGS-UNESCO to the Portuguese National Committee for the International Year of Planet Earth for the outstanding performance and contribution to the motto “Geosciences at the service of Society”.
