Prof. Ferreira is President of the International Longevity Centre South Africa at the University of Cape Town. Dr Ferreira was Director of The Albertina and Walter Sisulu Institute of Ageing in Africa.Her doctoral studies were in health sociology, and she has worked mainly in social demography and social gerontology.

Her career in research on ageing and research management spans 26 years. She has published approximately 100 edited books, chapters in books, journal articles, research reports, etc. She was the Founding Editor of the Southern African Journal of Gerontology (nine volumes). Ferreira has specialized in ageing in Africa and strives to contribute to the development of African gerontology.

She has been a consultant to the United Nations and the World Health Organization; was a member of the UN Technical Committee to draft the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing 2002; and was a member of UN expert groups to draft the global UN/IAG Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century and an Africa Regional Research agenda. Prof. Ferreira has participated in several advisory groups to review and develop South African government policy, legislation, etc., in particular, the Older Persons' Bill and a South African Human Rights Commission Forum for Older Person.