Maria is one the co-founders of One World Macrobiotic Festival. After graduating in Sculpture at the University of Leicester, dedicated herself to work for institutions that support children, disabled and from low income families. In 1978, Maria started her Macrobiotic studies at the Community Health Foundation in London, where she was a student of Michio Kushi, Aveline Kushi, Herman and Cornelia Aihara. After graduating, she started working as a culinary teacher and celebrity chef, such as Robin Gibb. being a mother of two daughters led her to study Rudolph Steiner’s anthroposophical education, which she considers to be an important complement to her macrobiotic education. Maria also introduced the art of Energetic Cleansing in Portugal, and is today the co-director of the Macrobiotic School in Lisbon.