She is the first woman in the country to hold the National Defence portfolio. Previously, she was director of the National Defence Institute, deputy director of this body, and headed the School of Sociology and Public Policy at ISCTE-IUL. She was also deputy director of the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (2015) and the IPPS – Institute for Public and Social Policies (2018/2019). She has a postgraduate degree and a Master's degree in Sociology and a PhD in Social and Political Sciences from the European University Institute in Florence.

Last updated: March 2023