This is the portrait of a master of many trades. In his time he has been a minister and a banker, a profession he considers his own, and he now heads the most important foundation in Portugal: the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

His appearance of serenity inspires confidence and tranquillity, hiding an inquisitive and determined spirit, which has always encouraged him to accept the challenges life offers. Born in Oporto in 1939, he would remain in the northern capital until leaving for the University of Coimbra. When discussing his childhood and adolescence, he recalls it as a period "of emotional discovery" and of his first achievements, in this case at school. He has particularly fond memories of when the news broke that World War II was over in May 1945. "It was the end of rationing and blacked-out windows. My father brought home flags of the allies to celebrate the occasion and we placed them with the Portuguese flag on top of the wireless, where we would always listen to the BBC," Vilar recalls. At the age of 15 his father sent him to England on his own to stay with some friends and learn English to add to the French that he was learning at school and further education. His fluency in these two languages would eventually prove very important, especially with his entry into the international department of the then Banco Português do Atlântico.

His time at university was packed with incidents and experiences. In 1958 General Humberto Delgado stood for presidency of Portugal, an act that would shake the establishment. In the following years the country would face the Beja Coup, the invasion of Goa, the start of the colonial war, and the Santa Maria affair. During these times of change, immersed in an effervescent academic environment, Rui Vilar, who had always been a good student, played an active role in cultural life, founding not only the "Arts Circle", but also presiding over the CITAC, hinting perhaps to later developments in his professional career. He says that he has never belonged to any politically oriented group. "On my Queima das Fitas float, pretentiously called 'Les Mains Salles', I stood amongst a range of friends, some already campaigning for the Communist Party and others who were even monarchists."

Armed with a degree in law he applied to join the Public Ministry, hoping to follow a career in magistracy. But although he was suitably qualified, he was turned down on account of information submitted by Salazar's Gestapo-like police force. Instead he did his military service, spending two years in Angola. When he returned from overseas he began working in the Ministry of Communication as a technician in the Transport Studies and Planning Office, and as an assistant in the office of Minister Carlos Ribeiro. Later, invited by Dr Vasco Vieira de Almeida, he began working at the Banco Português do Atlântico. He began his civil and political career with SEDES (Association for Social and Economic Development), which he founded and of which he was the first chairman, before being invited to join the first provisional government following the 1974 revolution.

He admits that his professional life has been aided by the luck of the draw. "I never planned anything. Things just happened: with chance and persistence playing an equal role," Vilar explains.

Between 1976 and 1978 he was Transport and Communications Minister within Portugal's 1st Constitutional Government; between 1986 and 1989 he served as director general of the European Commission in Brussels.

Rui Vilar held the position of vice governor of the Bank of Portugal between 1975 and 1984, before becoming CEO of the Banco Espírito Santo e Comercial de Lisboa. In 1989 he joined the Caixa Geral de Depósitos as CEO, a post he held until 1996.

Vilar is the man behind the creation of Culturgest, in the then new head office of the Caixa. The opportunity for such a venture arose because the bank's new premises contained a number of spaces that were not going to be used for banking. "At the same time I found it interesting to compensate for the negative impact of the building with a service offered to the city, especially to its young and student population," he reveals.

And the city is indeed grateful. Vilar confesses that he feels satisfaction in the fact that today Culturgest is one of the capital's main cultural venues. In the same breath he stresses just how much Lisbon has changed in recent years, not only with the opening of the Centro Cultural de Belém, in 1992, and of Culturgest a year later, but also with the modernisation realised during the city's year as Capital of Culture in 1994 and the new facilities provided by Expo 98. "[Lisbon] offers a varied and first-rate cultural agenda, which, in my opinion, is on a par with other medium sized European capitals."

Continuing with culture, it is interesting to note that Emílio Rui Vilar was chairman of the Audit Board of the São Carlos National Theatre for six years. He was also general commissioner for Europália between 1989 and 1992, vice chairman of the Serralves Foundation between 1989 and 1990 as well as executive director of Porto 2001, SA, in 1999.

Between 2001 and 2002 he served as CEO of GalpEnergia, just before being elected by his colleagues to the position of chairman of the Gulbenkian Foundation. On the day after being elected, however, he received some bad news concerning his state of health, causing him to withdraw his acceptance of the position. This withdrawal was not however accepted by his colleagues, in what Rui Vilar considers "a gesture of great friendship and generosity." 

The Gulbenkian Foundation commemorates its 50th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion several events have been planned in the different fields in which it operates: art, education, science and charity work. Asking Rui Vilar for a summary of the foundation's work, he refers us to a book that will be published later this year. Compiled by António Barreto, with contributions from several specialists, the book will trace the history of the foundation, evaluating its impact in Portuguese society from an independent and academic viewpoint.

Vilar believes that the foundation has developed and will continue to develop as a direct result of the circumstances surrounding it. He further considers "(the Foundation( will remain a source of exposure and modernisation, contributing towards creativity and innovation, so necessary in a world in continual flux and in which access to knowledge and new technology are decisive factors."

Of the vast and eclectic line-up of events commemorating the anniversary Vilar highlights those that "pay tribute to the memory of the foundation's founder and to the act of unequalled generosity the foundation's creation signified." Two exhibitions will be dedicated to Calouste Gulbenkian: one on his personal criteria in choosing works of art - "The Taste of the Collector"; and another on the books within his collection, revealing the bridge between western and oriental cultures this great man forged throughout his life.

Rui Vilar also highlights "the events which refer to the many elements that gave the institution its form," giving particular importance to the recently opened exhibition "The Gulbenkian Headquarters and Museum: Architecture in the 60s".

As for the major international conferences planned, Vilar mentions two: "What values for this time?" - a conference to be held in October and initiated by Fernando Gil, who died a few weeks ago; and the conference "Immigration: opportunity or menace?" which will close the Gulbenkian Forum on Immigration, organised by António Vitorino.

Vilar also refers to the exhibition on Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso and the major project "The State of the World - Cultural Forum", which will be held throughout the year and which at the same time will give an account of the world's current cultural reality, opening new perspectives.

The Gulbenkian Foundation's enormous contribution to cultural, scientific and social progress in Portugal is undeniable. Questioned as to the challenges he expects in the near future, Rui Vilar cites the need to strengthen "our capacity to adapt to change and to respond to new troubles and concerns for Portuguese society", mentioning the recognition of personal worth and supporting social reintegration, as well as the creation of conditions for creativity and innovation as two fundamental issues.

With his vast professional experience in such diverse fields as energy, banking, government and culture, Vilar finds it hard to choose one project that has touched him most, and so he picks three: in his political career, the launch and first few years of SEDES; in his business career, the changes he made to the Caixa Geral de Depósitos; and in his cultural career, his work with Europália.

Discretely, he confesses that he admires many art forms, quoting Pico della Mirandola: "I am a man and nothing that is human is alien to me". Understandably, given the post he holds he cannot mention his artistic preferences in terms of Portugal, and so he speaks of Jean Echenoz, Philip Roth and V.S. Naipaul as authors he has read recently. It is also clear that at university he read - and enjoyed - Albert Camus, at a time when France's cultural influence was prevalent.  In terms of music he speaks of the privilege he enjoyed on attending a Mozart recital in Salzburg on the day of the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth.

Married, with children and grandchildren, Rui Vilar enjoys spending free time reading and tending to his garden in Sintra.

Despite the tranquillity he inspires, his entrepreneurial spirit continues to push him towards new challenges. And who knows, maybe the fate that has accompanied him throughout his life will lead him into a new venture, one that he laments never having achieved, namely running a newspaper.