Maria Pilar Aguar Fernandez

Ms. Pilar Aguar Fernandez joined the European Commission in 2001, starting with audits of national food-safety systems. From 2005 to 2012, she managed European research programs in industrial technologies, including nanotechnology safety. She then led the JRC Unit on Chemical Assessment and Testing (2012–2017), developing testing methods for EU legislation on chemicals and health technologies. Returning to DG Research & Innovation in 2017, she oversaw health and environment research and represented the EC on the Innovative Medicine Initiative board. From 2021 to 2025, she directed DG SANTE’s Health and Food Audits and Analysis, monitoring EU food safety and health legislation enforcement. Since September 2025, she is Director of People – Health and Society at DG Research and Innovation. Ms. Aguar holds degrees in Pharmacy and Food Science, with expertise in toxicology and public health, and previously worked at Spain’s Ministry of Health.