NOVA University Lisbon will award the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to the former Mayor of Cascais, Dr Carlos Carreiras, in recognition of his professional achievements and his role in the institutional development of NOVA within the Municipality of Cascais.
The ceremony will be presided over by Professor Pedro Oliveira, Dean of Nova SBE, and the laudatio will be given by Professor José Ferreira Machado, former Dean of that school.
Brief Presentation of the Honouree
Carlos Carreiras led the municipality of Cascais during the longest cycle of local government in the history of the borough (2005–2025, five years as Deputy Mayor and fifteen as Mayor of the Municipal Council).
Throughout his political career, he held several prominent roles at national and international level: Vice-President of the Social Democratic Party between 2014 and 2016; President of the Congress and the General Council of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities from 2013 to 2017; and Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities between 2017 and 2019. From 2011 to 2013, he also chaired the Francisco Sá Carneiro Institute.
He graduated from the Lisbon Institute of Accounting and Administration in 1987. He began his professional career at the age of 16 and, in 1977, entered the hospitality and consumer goods sector, working across various regions, notably in Europe, Africa and South America. In 2005, he chose to dedicate himself exclusively to public service, answering the call of local politics.
A founder of the Social Democratic Youth and a national leader of the Social Democratic Party, Carlos Carreiras is a staunch advocate of public policies focused on entrepreneurship, innovation and talent development. His work at the helm of Cascais Municipality, particularly in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing a sustainable local development strategy, earned him a nomination for the prestigious international title of World Mayor 2021.
He has been honoured by numerous national and international entities for his public service. He was awarded the First-Class National Defence Medal by Portugal’s Minister of National Defence; the First Order Decoration, the highest distinction of the Moldovan government; the Merit in the Rank of Officer and the Commander Grade of the Order of Merit, conferred by the President of Romania, Klaus-Werner Iohannis; as well as the Third-Class Merit Medal of Ukraine, granted by President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also received the Recognition Medal from AMI – International Medical Assistance.
It is equally important to highlight Carlos Carreiras’ decisive role in bringing Pope Francis to Cascais for World Youth Day 2023 — a landmark moment for the borough and a source of pride for the entire community. His leadership and commitment were instrumental to the success of this global event. In recognition of his exceptional contribution and the municipality’s demonstrated commitment, he was awarded the Order of St. Sylvester by Pope Francis.
Beyond his political and municipal activities, Carlos Carreiras has actively participated in public debate as a columnist in various media outlets and as a political commentator on national television.
He was born in Lisbon in 1961, but it was in Cascais that he found his place. Here he built his life, where he lives with his family. He is married, father of five daughters and grandfather of seven grandchildren.
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