Helena Afonso was born in Mozambique in 1967. She holds a degree in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (1985/1990) and a post-graduate degree in European Studies from the European Institute of the same Faculty. She has first practiced as a lawyer, and then has held technical, intermediate and senior management positions in the Public Administration. She has been an advisor in offices of members of the Government. She began working in the Ombudsman’s Office in 2019, as an adviser, and has been Secretary-General since February 2023.