José Manuel Durão Barroso was President of the European Commission and was previously Prime Minister of Portugal. Since January 2021 he is Board Chair of Gavi, the vaccine Alliance and since 2024 Chair of International Advisors of Goldman Sachs. After university, Barroso (*1956 in Lisbon) embarked on an academic career,... Read more
José Manuel Durão Barroso was President of the European Commission and was previously Prime Minister of Portugal. Since January 2021 he is Board Chair of Gavi, the vaccine Alliance and since 2024 Chair of International Advisors of Goldman Sachs.
After university, Barroso (*1956 in Lisbon) embarked on an academic career, working successively as a teaching assistant on the Law Faculty of the University of Lisbon, in the Department of Political Science of the University of Geneva, and as a visiting professor at the Department of Government and School of Foreign Service in Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.). In 1995, he became head of the international relations department of Lusíada University (Lisbon). Since 1985 ee was elected member of the Portuguese Parliament (Assembleia da República) several times and served as Chairman of its Committee on Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. He was successively State Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Administration, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation and Minister for Foreign Affairs. During his tenure he played a key role as mediator of the peace accords for Angola in Bicesse (Estoril, Portugal) in 1991. He also launched the talks with the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, under the auspices of the Secretary General of the United Nations which ultimately led to the independence of East Timor.
Between 1999 and 2004 Mr Barroso was President of the PSD, Social Democratic Party, and Vice President of the European People’s Party. Under his leadership, the PSD won the general election in 2002 and he was appointed Prime Minister of Portugal. He remained in office until July 2004 when he was nominated by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament to the post of President of the European Commission for two terms. In 2012 José Manuel Barroso received the Nobel Peace Prize, on behalf of the EU, in recognition of over 60 years of peace, reconciliation and democracy.
After his presidency he has started to give guest lectures at Princeton and Berkeley Universities as well as at the Universities of Geneva and Lisbon. From 2015 to 2017 José Manuel Durão Barroso was the first President of the UEFA-Foundation for Children. In 2016 he became Non-Executive Chairman of Goldman Sachs International and Advisor to Goldman Sachs. Since 2024 he is Chair of International Advisors of Goldman Sachs. Since 2021 José Manuel Barroso is Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Gavi is a public–private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in poor countries, supporting the immunization of almost half the world’s children.
He has been awarded numerous honorary degrees and has received over 60 decorations, prizes and distinctions. He is the author of numerous publications on political science, international relations and the European Union. Mr Barroso is a dedicated European and a much sought-after keynote speaker. His opinion and views on Europe are as much in great demand as his expertise as Board Chair of Gavi, the vaccine Alliance.
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You can book José Manuel Barroso through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with José's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
José Manuel Barroso's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for José tailored to your event.
José Manuel Barroso speaks on Brexit, Economics, Economics & Finance, Euro, Europe. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with José to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book José Manuel Barroso for events worldwide, subject to José's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether José Manuel Barroso is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what José can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief José Manuel Barroso on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what José can offer.
José Manuel Barroso delivers keynotes in English, Spanish. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
José Manuel Barroso's areas of expertise include Brexit, Economics, Economics & Finance, Euro, Europe. To get a clear sense of José's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
José Manuel Barroso can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Brexit, Economics, Economics & Finance, Euro, Europe is relevant. Details of José's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what José Manuel Barroso is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with José Manuel Barroso, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check José's current availability for your dates.