Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa was born in Leiria in 1964. She holds a degree in Law from the Portuguese Catholic University of Lisbon and has pursued a diplomatic career since 1991, serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in multiple capacities, both in Lisbon and abroad.

Between 2017 and 2025, while seconded to the European External Action Service of the EU, she served as Ambassador of the European Union to Venezuela (2017–2021) and to Cuba (2021–2025).

2016–2017 – Ambassador of Portugal in Windhoek,
2013–2016 – Ambassador of Portugal in Tripoli, also serving as Special Envoy of the Portuguese Government to Libya in 2015–2016,
2011–2012 – Deputy Director-General for Foreign Policy,
2008–2011 – Consul-General in Caracas,
2006–2008 – Director of Services in the Directorate for Middle East and Maghreb Affairs,
2005 – Adviser in the Office of the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of the XVII Constitutional Government,
2004 – Adviser and legal deputy to the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities of the XVI Constitutional Government,
2002–2004 – At the Embassy in Dili,
1999–2002 – At the Embassy in Rabat,
1995–1999 – At the Embassy in Maputo,
1991–1995 – At the State Secretariat, Directorate-General for European Affairs,
1991 – Passed the external competition for entry into the diplomatic career as Attaché of Embassy.