Currently, Lara Fernandes is SBDM Future Workplace, Smart and Sustainable Environments, EMEA South Lead at Cisco.

At Cisco since 2018, Larades has held several roles, such as Senior BDM, Public Sector Lead, Customer Experience EMEA South; Global Public Sector, Sales Senior Business Development Manager EMEAR, among others.

Lara collaborated in Philips for 6 years, as Government & Public Affairs Director Philips Iberia (2013-2014); Senior Manager EU Affairs (2013); Manager EU Regulatory Affairs(2011-2012).

Lara was also Senior Communication Officer at the European Commission, from 2007 to 2008; Lawyer at Teixeira de Freitas, Rodrigues & Associados SP, from 2004 to 2006; and Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Education (2004-2005).

She has a degree in Law from the Catholic University of Lisbon and a Masters in Commercial Law from the same university.

Lara Fernandes has been a member of the Portuguese Diaspora Council since July 2023.