Maria João Pena holds a PhD in Social Work, MA in Sociology and bachelor degree in Social Work.  Professor at bachelor, master and doctorate program in Social Work. She is a researcher in CIES-IUL (Centre for research and studies in Sociology). The research interests are in Theory and Epistemology of social work , social work practices with children and families, at school and in disability.

PhD in Sociology from Iscte- Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL) in 2023. I studied the political appropriation of the notion of resilience and its role in transforming the European social model in the aftermath of the 2007/8 financial crisis and the global pandemic crisis in 2020, presenting a dissertation with the title: Everything is not gonna be alright: contributions to a critical perspective on social resilience. Graduated in Sociology in 2004 and finished a Master in Urban Studies in 2010, in both cases from Iscte-IUL. I am currently an integrated researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (Cies-IUL), integrating the line of research “Inequalities, Work and Well Being”, and guest assistant professor at Iscte-IUL, integrated in the Department of Political Science and Policies Public (ESPP). I am a researcher in studies in the areas of poverty and social inequalities, social protection, employment, and education, with an emphasis on evaluating policies aimed at reducing poverty and increasing the qualifications of disadvantaged social groups. I am co-author of articles in national and international publications, such as: “Labor relations under hardship in Europe: contributions for social resilience theory” (2023), “Fighting poverty in times of crisis in Europe: Is resilience a hidden resource for social policy?” (2022), “Welfare State Development in Portugal: From “Stage Zero” to the Post-Crisis “Leftist” Compromise against Austerity” (2019), “Crisis and Poverty in Portugal: resilience or social protection?” (2018), “Resilience: Moving from a “heroic” notion to a sociological concept” (2017), among others. My main research interests are: poverty, social inequalities and resilience; public policies; economic sociology and political economy; and education.

Teresa Pina is a guest assistant professor for the Master's in Disability Studies and Human Rights, at the Department of Political Science and Public Policies at ISCTE-IUL (Lisbon Universitary Institut). She graduated in Law (Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon) and she has a master's degree in Human Rights (School of Law/Birkbeck College, University of London) and a PhD in Public Policies from ISCTE-IUL. She has collaborated with several human rights organizations and in Portugal, she directed the Portuguese section of Amnesty International.

João Henriques is a Visiting Professor at Iscte-IUL's School of Sociology and Public Policy, and  Sintra School of Social and Business Sciences. He has a PhD in Sociology at Iscte-IUL, funded by FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology). His initial academic training is in the area of ​​Civil Engineering (Bachelor and Master), and later in Sociology (Master) and Data Analysis (Post-graduation). His master's and doctoral research topics focused on European identity and social cohesion in the EU. He is a researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES) where he has participated in studies in various thematic areas, such as social inequalities, environment and sustainable development, social cohesion, education, employment, family and work, and communication fo science.

Maria Inês Amaro is PhD in Social Work and MA in Communication, Culture and Information Technology. Professor at the bachelor, master and doctorate in Social Work at University Institute of Lisbon. She co-ordinated Social Work bachelor and master degree at Catholic University of Portugal. Supervises master and PhD dissertations and thesis in Social Work. She is researcher at the CIES-IUL, Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology and reviewer of UCE (Catholic University Press) for Social Work publications. She founding member of the European Association for Social Work Research was part of the host committee for the 6th European Conference for Social Work Research (Lisbon, 2016). Has research interests in the areas of theory and practice of Social Work, Social Policy and Social Work, Society and Technology and Labour and Social Exclusion. Consultant in the area of social planning and evaluation. Author of books, chapters and articles in the above-mentioned fields. Since 2019, commissioner at the Institute of Social Security, where is Head of Social Development Department, with national responsibilities over the impkmentation and development of public policy in the fields of children and youth, cooperation with third sector and charities, and social intervention. President of the National Commission of the National System for Child Early intervention; of the National Council for Adoption (years 2024-2026); evaluation jury for Programa Escolhas (projects to prevent and combat youth delinquency), 2023 edition; is member of the National Council of Cooperation; Single Operational Group, for the reception of asylum-seekers; of the National Council for Migrations; of the Commission for Inclusive Policies for People with Disabilities; of the executive group for the Implementation, Monitoring and Assessment of the National Strategy for the Integration of People Experiencing Homelessness, and, among others,of the Follow-up Commission of the National Strategy for Fighting Poverty; is the national oficial link to civil protection.