João Ferrão holds a PhD in Human Geography by the University of Lisbon. He lectured at the Geography Department of the University of Lisbon before joining the Institute for Social Sciences (ICS) where, at present, he works as a senior researcher.

He has worked extensively as a researcher and consultant in the fields of Social and Human Geography, Planning and Regional Development.

He has coordinated several public policy evaluation projects for both the Portuguese government and the European Commission. He was President of the Portuguese Association for Regional Development (APDR) and an OECD consultant for rural areas’ development. He was Secretary of State of Spatial Planning and Cities (2005-9). He is a member of the Scientific Council for Social Sciences and Humanities and of the National Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development.