“Helena Freitas, PhD in Ecology, is Full Professor in the area of Biodiversity and Ecology at the Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra since 2003, and holder of the Unesco Chair in Biodiversity and Conservation for Sustainable Development since 2014. She was Vice-Rector of the University of Coimbra, Deputy, and Coordinator of the Mission Unit for the Enhancement of the Interior. She was a member of the General Council of the University of Coimbra, was Director of the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra and President of the League for the Protection of Nature, founder and President of the Portuguese Society of Ecology and Vice-President of the European Society of Ecology. She has been Director of Parque de Serralves since January 2022. She was founder and coordinator of the R&D unit Center for Functional Ecology – science for people and the planet, founder and scientific coordinator of FitoLab – Phytosanitary Laboratory of Instituto Pedro Nunes, is a member of Director of the Associate Laboratory TERRA – Laboratory for the Sustainability of Land Use and Ecosystem Services, and is a member of the Scientific Council of the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra. In 2019 she was selected for the Mission Board for Climate Change Adaptation, including Societal Transformation of the European Commission and was appointed Focal Point of Portugal for IPBES – Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. She is a member of the Expert Advisory Group EUCRA-European Climate Risk Assessment. She is also coordinator or participant in several national and international projects and consortia, including the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. She is the author of more than 300 international scientific publications and several science promotion and dissemination works, and regularly publishes in national and regional press. In March 2000 she was awarded the Commendation of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by the President of the Portuguese Republic Jorge Sampaio, and in November 2022 she received the “Portugal Inspirador”-Personality of the Year Award in the Sustainability category (Santander).”