The Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE) once again opens its doors to global dialogue on the major challenges of our time with another edition of the Estoril Conferences, taking place on October 29 and 30 at the Carcavelos campus. Under the theme “Reignite Democracy,” the 10th edition proposes a reflection on ways to strengthen democracy and mobilize society for more informed, inclusive and responsible collective action.
The program will be organized around five central pillars: Global Peace; Politics; Health & Preparedness; Education; and Artificial Intelligence & Technology, which will guide two days of debate and knowledge sharing.
Registration for the 10th edition of the Estoril Conferences is now open and can be completed here.
First Confirmed Speakers
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, the current leader of the Russian opposition, economist and one of the most recognized figures in the democratic and anti-corruption struggle in Russia, is one of the prominent names at this edition. She holds a degree in International Economic Relations from Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and participated alongside her husband in advocating for democratic change in the country. She currently chairs the Advisory Board of the International Anti-Corruption Foundation and in 2024 was elected President of the Human Rights Foundation, taking on a role that has projected her as a kind of “first lady” of the Russian anti-corruption movement.
Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy, is also joining the speaker panel. A politician and academic with a career strongly linked to European affairs, he served as Minister for European Affairs, Minister of Industry and Trade and Member of the European Parliament before becoming head of the Italian government, from April 2013 to February 2014. In 2024, he presented the “Much More than a Market” report to the European Council, focusing on the future of the European Single Market.
Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Iranian lawyer, writer and human rights activist, is also among the confirmed speakers. The first female judge in Iran, she was removed from office following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Shirin Ebadi founded and co-founded several human rights organizations, including the Defenders of Human Rights Centre in Tehran.
Jesús Armas, Venezuelan social activist and president of the organization Ciudadanía sin Límites. Associated with the democratic opposition and the Primero Justicia party, Jesús Armas was detained and tortured by the Nicolás Maduro regime, becoming one of the voices defending democratic institutions and the rights of Venezuelan citizens.
The 10th edition of the Estoril Conferences will also feature Annamaria Lusardi, an Italian researcher at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) and director of the Financial Decision-Making Initiative in Italy. A specialist in financial literacy, the academic brings her pioneering work in personal finance to the conference. Annamaria Lusardi is, in addition to being a leading figure in the field of financial literacy, founder of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC), where she serves as academic director, and editor of the Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing, published by Cambridge University Press.
Among the more than 30 names already confirmed are also Emilio J. Castilla, professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management; Mathew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare; Trudie Lang, a specialist in global health research and leader of The Global Health Network; Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, Minister Assistant and for State Reform, Portugal; and Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor at the Financial Times.
Also remaining among the confirmed and previously announced speakers are figures such as Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner; Helfried Carl, founder and CEO of European Capital of Democracy; Jenny Romano, co-founder and CEO of The Newsroom; Olivier Vandecasteele, founder and director of Protect Humanitarians; Karla Soares-Weiser, CEO of Cochrane; Helena Canhão, Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Portugal; Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, vice president of the Board of Directors and CEO of EDP; Francesco Billari, rector of Bocconi University in Milan; and Maria João Carioca, co-CEO and CFO of Galp.
A Space for Dialogue and Action
Marking their 10th edition, the Estoril Conferences reaffirm their role as a meeting place for different generations, perspectives and areas of knowledge.
Organized by Nova SBE, NOVA Medical School and Cascais City Council, which this year was elected European Capital of Democracy 2026, with the support of Turismo de Portugal, the Estoril Conferences once again bring together national and international leaders and experts, civil society representatives, policymakers and, in particular, younger generations.