IIsabel Vaz has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Luz Saúde Group since 1999, leading one of the largest private healthcare networks in Portugal, with over 12,500 employees and 28 healthcare units, including the Hospital da Luz in Lisbon. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (1990) and an MBA from Universidade Nova de Lisboa (1994).

She began her professional career as a researcher at the Institute of Experimental and Technological Biology (IBET) and later worked as a Project Engineer at the Atral Cipan Group. In 1992, she joined McKinsey & Company, an international strategic consulting firm, where she served as a Senior Consultant for seven years, participating in various projects mainly in the banking and insurance sectors.

Since taking on the leadership of Luz Saúde Group, Isabel Vaz has been a driving force in the modernization and sustainable growth of the private healthcare sector in Portugal. Between 2012 and 2022, under her leadership, the Group also managed the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Her strategic vision and management skills have been instrumental in consolidating Luz Saúde’s position as a national benchmark in healthcare excellence.

Throughout her career, Isabel Vaz has also played prominent roles in several academic and corporate institutions. She served as a member of the Faculty Council of Nova School of Business and Economics and is a member of the International Advisory Board of The Lisbon MBA at the same university. She was a member of the General Council of the University of Lisbon and has served as a non-executive director at CTT and Sonae Capital. She is currently a non-executive director at Mota-Engil and a member of the Board of COTEC Portugal.

Renowned for her leadership and contribution to the healthcare sector, Isabel Vaz is a frequent speaker at conferences on healthcare management, leadership, human resources, and the financial sustainability of health systems, at the invitation of universities and other institutions. Her career and achievements have earned her several prestigious awards. In 2015, she received the “Excellens Oeconomics” Award from Jornal de Negócios, recognizing her as Portugal’s best manager of the year. In 2017, she was honored with the Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Award by Instituto Superior Técnico, recognizing outstanding alumnae. In both 2019 and 2025, she was named one of the 10 most powerful Portuguese women by Forbes magazine.

Between 2016 and 2020, she was also listed five consecutive times among the most influential women in Portugal by Executiva magazine. In 2024, she received the Executiva Award in the “Women in Management” category, distinguishing her as the most important manager of the year.

Isabel Vaz’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in healthcare, contributing decisively to the development of Portugal’s economy and society.