Biography

Teresa Damásio is today a leading figure in the field of Education in Portugal and across the Lusophone world. She has served as Executive Director of the ENSINUS Group since July 2016, one of the largest Portuguese-language education groups worldwide, overseeing organizations fully dedicated to education and teaching—from early childhood to higher education—including professional training, consultancy, and applied research. In 2023, the group celebrated its 56th anniversary and includes institutions such as ISG, INETE, Escola de Comércio de Lisboa, Escola de Comércio do Porto, EPET, EPAR, Externato Marquês de Pombal, Externato Pedro Álvares Cabral, and Colégio de Alfragide in Portugal, as well as IEG and ISG in Mozambique, and IPT and ISG in Guinea-Bissau.

A firm believer that challenges are for those courageous enough to face them, Teresa Damásio has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of COFAC – the Guinea-Bissau branch, holder of Lusófona University in the country, since 2020. She also serves as Executive Director of Real Colégio de Portugal, a nationally recognized non-higher education institution providing education from nursery through secondary school.

Since September 2011, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of ISUPE – Instituto Superior Politécnico de Humanidades e Tecnologias Ekuikui II in Huambo, Angola. As she often emphasizes, “together we go further,” Teresa Damásio is a member of the Board of AEEP – Association of Private and Cooperative Educational Institutions, representing around 500 member institutions, and represents Private and Cooperative Education on the Consultative Council of the Portuguese UNESCO Commission. She actively participates in conferences and publications of organizations such as NAFSA, AIRC, and ISEP.

The Lusophone world holds great importance for Teresa Damásio. As a member of the General Council of the Portugal-Mozambique Chamber of Commerce, she has actively promoted Lusophone collaboration. Since February 13, 2023, she has also served as a consultant in Education and Higher Education for the US-based GLG – Gerson Lehrman Group, covering the markets of Portugal, Spain, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

An engaged citizen committed to her country, Teresa Damásio focuses on good governance and the well-being of all. As President of the Benfica Parish Assembly, she ensures the needs of her constituents are met with dedication. Over the years, she has held multiple political positions in service of the public good, including Member of the Portuguese Parliament, Member of the National Commission of the Socialist Party, Member of the National Political Commission of the Socialist Party, Member of the Lisbon Municipal Political Commission of the Socialist Party, Member of the FAUL Political Commission – Lisbon Urban Area Federation of the Socialist Party, Secretary Coordinator of the Sectorial Action Section at Lusófona University of the Socialist Party, and Member of the Secretariat of the Benfica Section of the Socialist Party.

A strong advocate for gender equality, she has served as President of Socialist Women of FAUL and as President of the Political Commission of Socialist Women. Teresa Damásio is internationally recognized for her dedication and contributions to Portugal, including her appointment as Portuguese Ambassador of the European Vocational Skills Week in 2019 and 2020.

In her leadership trajectory, she founded and directed DRIE – Directorate of International Relations, Internships, Employment, and Entrepreneurship of the Lusófona Group, overseeing its administration and implementing an international strategy across all university campuses.

In 2026, she assumed her role as a member of the General Assembly of Representatives of Associação Mutualista Montepio Geral, for the 2026–2029 term. She is also a Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Cooperation of Lusophony and Diasporas (CCICLD).

Teresa Damásio is a lawyer (Professional Name: Teresa do Rosário Damásio, Professional License Nº 14348L) and has been an international educator for over 20 years, with a strong focus on both higher and non-higher education. She is also dedicated to research on topics such as capacity building, brain gain policies, multiculturalism, and gender equality. She published her first book, O Estado das Coisas – Visões sobre a igualdade, o ensino e o estado do país em geral, through Oficina do Livro in November 2024.

She holds a Law degree from Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (1988–1993) and completed a Postgraduate degree in Lusophone Space: Culture, Economy, and Politics at Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (1999–2000).

Teresa Damásio has earned several international leadership and management certificates. In 2023, she completed multiple programs at Harvard Business School Online as part of the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), including Leading School Strategy and Innovation, Leading People, and Leading Learning. She also earned the Organizational Leadership certificate from Harvard Business School Online in 2023. In the same year, she completed the Women in Leadership: Becoming an Agent of Change program at MIT Professional Education, strengthening her expertise in transformative leadership and organizational development. In 2022, she obtained the Leading Change certificate at Harvard Business School Online (CSML).

She is a proud mother of three boys.

➡️ All her scientific articles and publications can be accessed on her ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0096-2686