Writer Gabriela Ruivo Trindade, 2013 winner of the LeYa award in 2013, is the president of the cultural council, scientist Tatiana Correia heads the scientific council and Ana Rei, a social worker, directs the social action council.

The general director, Diogo Costa, former Youth Mayor in the London municipality of Lambeth, told Lusa that it was important to have people with experience in these areas, as well as being part of an international network, with teams in Lisbon and France.

In a video message, the president of AILD, Philippe Fernandes, promised a "spirit to enhance cooperation and collaboration between different entities and bodies".

According to the official, the Association's objective is "to spread the Portuguese way of being, Lusophony and Portuguese culture, identify, unite and represent all Portuguese descendants", supporting and organising social, cultural and recreational works and developing educational activities.

During the presentation at the Embassy of Portugal in the United Kingdom, the Consul General in London, Cristina Pucarinho, challenged AILD to create partnerships and “work collectively”.

The Association, she said, must now "give concrete content and work to leverage the capabilities of this innovative project."

This is the second AILD delegation outside Portugal, after the one established in France in September.

The statistics of the British Home Office accounted for until June 30 the registration of 418,070 Portuguese as residents in the United Kingdom, the fourth largest European nationality after Poland, Romania and Italy in the country.