I am an Occupational Therapist by training, with a Master’s degree in Psychology and ongoing doctoral research in Political Economy at the University of Coimbra. My academic path has developed across the fields of mental health, social policy, Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), and socioeconomic inclusion. My PhD is part of an interdisciplinary programme jointly taught by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, ISCTE-IUL and ISEG-UL, in partnership with the Centre for Social Studies. Before beginning my doctoral studies, I completed a postgraduate specialisation in Mental Health for Occupational Therapists at the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, where I researched the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the occupational performance of women involved in a solidarity economy and mental health network. I previously completed an MA in Psychology, with a specialisation in Clinical Psychology and a phenomenological approach, focusing on income-generation practices in social and solidarity economy networks through the perspective of Franco Basaglia. My undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy also concentrated on work and income generation based on solidarity economy within the psychosocial care network. Alongside my academic training, I have developed professional experience across civil society, local government and parliamentary work. I served as Technical Director of the NGO Associação Vida, Arte e Reinserção between 2016 and 2019, as Councillor for Solidarity Economy in the city of Curitiba from 2018 to 2021, and as Political Advisor and Project Manager in the Legislative Parliament of Paraná from 2019 to 2022. Since March 2023, I have worked as Advisor on public, international and government affairs. My research experience includes funded fellowships and project work on citizenship, mental health, solidarity economy, migration, human rights and urban policy. I have contributed to academic publications, conference papers, technical reports, public utility booklets and public-facing materials. My publications include work on Franco Basaglia and phenomenology, solidarity economy, governance, and urban regeneration. I have also participated in the organisation of academic and public events, teaching activities, and networks related to mental health and solidarity economy in Brazil and beyond.