Isabel Baptista

Executive Board Member at SPMS – Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, Portugal  

Isabel Baptista is an international expert in cybersecurity, public policy, and digital governance with over two decades of experience across European diplomacy, national strategy, and technology consulting.

Most recently, she served as Counselor for Digital and Cybersecurity at the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union (2025–2026), leading the coordination and monitoring of European public policies on digital resilience and governance. Prior to her diplomatic posting, Isabel spent eleven years at Portugal's National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS), where she served as Head of the Development and Innovation Department. In this role, she spearheaded multidisciplinary teams, directed national capacity-building and resilience initiatives, and established strategic partnerships across public, private, and academic sectors.

Isabel began her career in IT consulting and systems management. A active voice in the field, she regularly lectures at higher education institutions, publishes on digital transformation, and has completed advanced executive training in leadership at AESE Business School and critical infrastructure protection at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. She holds a Master's in Information Security and Cyberspace Law from Instituto Superior Técnico and the University of Lisbon Law School, and is a recipient of an official Commendation (Louvor) from the Director-General of Portugal's National Security Office.