Sílvia Bernardo

Sílvia Bernardo holds a pre-Bologna bachelor’s degree (2005) in Social Communication from ISCSP, the Social and Political Sciences Institute of the University of Lisbon.

She also has a postgraduate degree in Social Gerontology and is currently a PhD Fellow of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Grant ref. 2024.00964.BDANA. She is pursuing her doctoral studies in Sociology, hosted by IPS Innovative Prison Systems and the University of Beira Interior. Her research explores the experiences and realities of older women in prison in Portugal, focusing on how the system perceives and treats this minority population.

In her current role as a Research Fellow, Researcher, and Consultant at IPS, Sílvia contributes to research projects and consultancy initiatives, leveraging her expertise in the criminal justice system, particularly with vulnerable populations, while continuing to support the team responsible for developing JUSTICE TRENDS Magazine.

Previously, she served as the Head of Partnership Liaison and Communications, overseeing the publication’s development since 2017. Before joining IPS, she worked as a journalist in broadcast media and as a communications manager in the private sector.