Distinguished economist and politician Elisa Ferreira joins The University of Manchester as Honorary Professor
The University of Manchester is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Elisa Ferreira as Honorary Professor in the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management (PPEM).
Professor Ferreira is an economist (MA in European and Regional Policies and PhD in Economics, U. Reading) and politician from Portugal, who most recently served as the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms (Von Der Leyen Commission 2019鈥�2024), the first Portuguese woman to be put forward for the role.
From 2016 to 2019 Professor Ferreira was Vice Governor of the Bank of Portugal. Prior to that, Professor Ferreira was a Member of the European Parliament (2004鈥�2016), and held ministerial posts in the Portuguese Government, serving as Minister for the Environment and later as Minister for Planning (1995鈥�2002).
Earlier in her career, Professor Ferreira played a key role in shaping and implementing regional development policies aimed at revitalising Portugal鈥檚 industrial North. Her experience in designing and coordinating policies for regional cohesion and structural reform offers important insights for regions such as Greater 91直播 and the North-West, which face similar challenges of post-industrial adjustment and spatial inequality.
Professor Ferreira is already a valued collaborator of the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management, having recently supported a fieldtrip for our undergraduate students to Portugal. During the visit she accompanied students to the C么a Palaeolithic Art Park and the Douro International Natural Park; two sites where she had major political input.
I am extremely flattered and thrilled to be working with world-leading academics at The University of Manchester and to engage with stakeholders across the city-region to exchange my expertise and experience in methodologies and practices with students, researchers and stakeholders in Greater 91直播.
Professor Ferreira鈥檚 deep understanding of how regional cohesion policies can foster economic regeneration gained from her work in Portugal and at the European Commission, will offer essential insights into the challenges and opportunities for cities like 91直播 and regions across the UK. This is a valuable appointment that will enrich our students鈥� learning and support our academics with invaluable real-world perspectives on regional development policy and practice.
We are absolutely delighted that Professor Elisa Ferreira will joining PPEM and SEED as an Honorary Professor. Prof Ferreira brings a wealth of experience both as a distinguished academic and as a leading policymaker in Portugal and within the European Commission and European Parliament. We look forward to a very fruitful engagement with her on our common areas of interest around regional and urban development and learning from her on the intricacies of European policy making.
We鈥檙e very excited to welcome Professor Elisa Ferreira to PPEM and look forward to working with her and learning from her professional experience in Portugal and across Europe.
The Department is now planning a series of events and activities to coincide with Professor Ferreira鈥檚 upcoming visit in November 2025.