Over the course of more than three decades dedicated to structural engineering research, Helena Maria Pires Cruz has built a career centred on understanding how wood behaves as a structural material, particularly under demanding conditions such as fire. Since joining the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC) in 1984, she has progressed from a young researcher to Senior Research Officer and Head of the Structures Behaviour Division, a role in which she leads multidisciplinary teams working on safety, durability and innovation in construction materials. Her professional path has been shaped by a sustained commitment to timber engineering, combining experimental research, applied consultancy and active participation in national and European scientific networks. Her work on the fire performance of timber structures has been especially influential. Through experimental studies on the fire resistance of timber connections, the behaviour of glued laminated timber, and the effectiveness of fire-protection treatments, she has contributed to a deeper understanding of how wood responds to elevated temperatures and how structural safety can be improved. She has also been involved in assessing fire-damaged timber elements in real buildings, providing technical guidance for rehabilitation and supporting public and private stakeholders in post-fire decision-making. Her research has informed discussions related to Eurocode development and has helped shape practical recommendations for engineers working with timber in fire-exposed environments. Beyond fire behaviour, her scientific contributions extend across timber–concrete composite systems, adhesive performance, structural joints, and the assessment of existing timber structures. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, technical reports and book chapters, and she has played leading roles in national and European research projects. Her applied work at LNEC includes hundreds of technical assessments that have had direct impact on the safety and conservation of buildings, from historic structures to modern engineered-wood systems. Throughout her career, she has also invested deeply in mentoring the next generation of researchers, supervising master’s and doctoral students in topics ranging from fire performance to composite systems and prefabricated timber construction. Her involvement in standardisation committees, COST Actions and scientific committees of major international conferences reflects her commitment to advancing the field and ensuring that Portuguese research remains aligned with European developments. Her professional trajectory has been recognised through distinctions such as a British Council scholarship for doctoral studies and leadership roles in international scientific events. Today, her research vision focuses on improving the fire-resistant design of timber structures, developing more accurate predictive models for engineered wood products under fire, and strengthening methodologies for assessing and rehabilitating fire-exposed timber elements. With her combination of experimental expertise, standards involvement and extensive applied experience, she is well positioned to contribute meaningfully to research addressing the challenges of fire in wood and to support the safe and sustainable expansion of timber construction.