Vera Bonvalot Biography

Vera began her professional career working in the IT sector and pharmaceutical laboratories. In her thirties, she sustained a brain injury that profoundly changed her life.

For many years, she has dedicated her work to improving the rights and quality of life of persons with disabilities, particularly people living with cognitive disabilities resulting from acquired brain injury, an area that remains insufficiently understood and underrepresented in public policy.

She is the Executive Director of the Portuguese NGO NOVAMENTE, which supports people and families living with acquired brain injury and helps individuals rebuild their lives following life-changing injuries.

Vera also serves as Vice-President of the Brain Injured and Families European Federation (BIF), a European organisation representing, supporting, and defending people who have acquired disabilities as a result of unexpected brain injuries.

In Portugal, she was elected by Portuguese disability organisations as President of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Within the European Disability Forum (EDF), Vera has steadily taken on greater responsibilities since joining in 2013 as a representative of BIF. During her most recent mandate as a member of the EDF Executive Committee, she worked to ensure that all disability groups are heard and represented at the European level.

She firmly believes in the principle, “Nothing about us without us”. For Vera, diversity within the disability movement is essential to ensuring that all persons with disabilities are represented and included. Her commitment is to continue strengthening the voice of persons with disabilities in Europe and to ensure that no disability, including invisible disabilities, remains unseen.

Vera has been a member of the EDF Board since 2013 and has spoken at numerous conferences, seminars, and expert panels across Europe. She was recently elected by Portuguese NGOs to represent and defend the human rights of persons with disabilities within World Health Organization-related processes. She is also a delegate member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).