Gilberto Fernandes

On December 17-18, 2025, I had the pleasure of participating in my first Portuguese Diaspora Council annual meeting and being officially welcomed into it since becoming of one over 350 nominated members (18 in Canada) in October.

Founded in 2021, with the High Patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic and the Ministries of State and of Foreign Affairs, the Council’s purpose is to “mobiliz[e] influent Portuguese citizens to contribute for the uplift of the country’s image and reputation in the world, raising awareness of the potential of Portugal and giving shape to a mission of structuring a network of talent and expertise in the Portuguese communities, in the fields of economy, culture, science and citizenship.”

The meeting, held at the Citadela de Cascais, was a stimulating, informative, and productive networking event. I had the pleasure of meeting many talented and influential members of this widespread and diverse diaspora (there were 44 countries represented), learn about their work and contexts, and discuss potential collaborations. One question I raised at this meeting was the importance of studying, preserving, and communicating the interconnected histories of the many Portuguese communities around the world, which ultimately tie this diaspora together more than any other social or cultural factor. The timing is right and the momentum is here to create a Museum of the Portuguese Diaspora that can:

• Facilitate research, cultural production, and networking.
• Help preserve, articulate, and communicate the diverse collective memories of this global community, including the complex and sometimes unexpected ways they intertwine the histories of its host and home countries.
• Seize opportunities for intercultural and international exchanges and partnerships.
• Increase the visibility and educate diverse audiences (including the diaspora itself, Portugal’s national society and the many travellers that visit it) about the varied stories, contributions, conflicts, struggles, and achievements of this centuries-old global community.
• I look forward to continuing this conversation with my fellow councilors and anyone else interested in developing and materializing these ideas.

I look forward to continuing this conversation with my fellow councilors and anyone else interested in developing and materializing these ideas.