Francisco de Sousa Fernandes graduated in Civil Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico (School of Engineering) in 1997. He is native of the parish of Sagrada Família in Luanda.
After an internship at the Sociedade de Empreitadas e Trabalhos Hidráulicos (Society for Contracts and Hydraulic Works), he began his career in 1999 in the area of budgeting and cost control at Engil S.A.
In the same field, he held the position of Controller and responsible for various management areas at Eng. Luís Gomes S.A.
In the area of construction management, he held the position of construction manager at Marques S.A., Engil S.A. and Eng. Luis Gomes S.A., having also worked as production manager at Eng. Luís Gomes from 2009 to 2010.
Other activities include the participation in various courses, seminars and training in the fields of engineering, safety and hygiene at work, energy certification and management, as a designer and qualified expert on the energy certification system.
He is a Senior Member of the Portuguese Engineers' Association and holds a postgraduate degree in Business Management and Administration from the University of the Azores (2003). Additionally, he is a Qualified Expert on the Energy Certification System (EC-RCCTE) by ADENE — Energy Agency and Holder of the Certificate of Professional Competence no.80/2006 as Senior Technician for Safety and Hygiene at Work — Level 5.
By joint order of the President of the Government of the Azores, Carlos Manuel Martins of Vale César, and the Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures, José António Vieira da Silva Contente, Francisco de Sousa Fernandes was appointed Director of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory on December 21, 2011.