We spoke to Maria about her work:

'I have been working on Anglo-Portuguese relations and led the celebrations of the 650th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, which the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world still in force.

I am the president of Portugal-UK 650, whose Patrons are His Majesty King Charles III and His Excellency the President of Portugal. Portugal-UK 650 has involved over 1,500 artists, 250 researchers and speakers, and 215 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 His Majesty King Charles III, His Excellency the President of Portugal, the Chief of Defence Staff of Portugal, the Foreign Secretary, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, and others.

Several researchers and musicians from the University of Oxford have been involved in Portugal-UK 650.'

Maria João Rodrigues de Araujo MBE, ComIH is a Research Fellow in Music at the University of Oxford. She holds a Bachelor of Music (BMus Hons) from the University of London, King’s College London and a ‘Licenciatura’ Degree (a four-year undergraduate degree) in Music Sciences from the University Nova of Lisbon. She is a Doctor of Philosophy in Music (Christ Church).

Previous appointments include serving as The Royal Opera House Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, Faculty of Music and Christ Church, Director of Education and Research at Casa da Música, in Oporto and Chair of Commonwealth Arts and Culture at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

A dedicated leader in global philanthropy, she is International President of ANDI – New Dialogue Organization and a Dame of the Sovereign Order of Malta. Maria Joao 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 (National Order of Portugal), conferred by His Excellency the President of Portugal Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on 24 September.