Maria Joao is a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Music from the University of Oxford, Christ Church College. She holds a Bachelor of Music (BMus Hons) from the University of London, King’s College; a Licenciatura Degree (four-year undergraduate degree) in Music Sciences from the University Nova of Lisbon; and a General Degree in Music (eight-year degree) from the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatoire in Portugal.
Her work focuses on education and international cultural diplomacy. She has collaborated with more than 800 institutions across five continents, including the United Nations, the European Commission, the Ibero-American General Secretariat, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. In 2025, for example, she devised and led the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize Performance, attended by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as well as dignitaries from 56 Commonwealth nations.
A dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Portugal, she is the founder and president of Portugal-UK 650, whose Patrons are His Majesty King Charles III and His Excellency the President of Portugal. Under her leadership, Portugal-UK 650 has involved over 1,500 artists, 250 researchers and speakers, and 220 partner institutions, with whom more than 300 projects and activities have been organized. These have encompassed events at Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace attended by the highest authorities of both nations including His Majesty The King and His Excellency the President of Portugal.
Her previous appointments include Royal Opera House Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, Faculty of Music and Christ Church College; Fellow in Music at The Queen’s College, University of Oxford; Chair of Commonwealth Arts and Culture, at the Commonwealth Secretariat; Director of Education and Research at Casa da Música in Oporto, where she was responsible for international relations, research, education, performance, publications, exhibitions, music technologies, and archives, overseeing about 2,000 projects and events per year; and Board Member of RESEO, the European Network for Opera, Music and Dance Education, which brings together opera houses and performing arts centres from 25 countries.
A dedicated leader in global philanthropy, Maria Joao is the International President of ANDI New Dialogue Organization, an international NGO accredited by the United Nations that promotes social values and human rights and helps children in need worldwide, and she is a Dame of the Sovereign Order of Malta, which conducts humanitarian projects in 120 countries.
Her work has been recognized with two national honours: she is a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, awarded by His Majesty King Charles III and a Commander of the Order of Prince Henry, conferred by His Excellency the President of Portugal.
