Public private partnerships: unveiling (new) fundings possibilities to address social needs

Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network

Alfonso is the Chief Executive Officer of the European Social Network where he oversees the Network’s management and strategic direction, leads the programme of activities co-financed by the European Commission, and the annual editions of the European Social Services Conference and the European Social Services Awards. He has almost 20 years of experience in public policy formulation and evaluation, has authored and co-authored several publications, and is a regular contributor to academic journals, newspapers, and specialist social services magazines. Before joining ESN in 2010, Alfonso worked in project management and consultancy in public policy evaluation. 

He holds an MA in modern languages from the University of Granada, an MA in European Governance from the College of Europe, an MSc in Public Policy from University College London, and a Masters in Executive Management of International Associations at Solvay Brussels School for Economics and Management. Alfonso advises public administrations on social services quality evaluation and has taught on social services innovation and transformation at the Universities of Barcelona, The Basque Country, and the School of Public Administration in Galicia in Spain. Alfonso speaks English, Spanish, French, Polish and Portuguese.

Simona Pulbere, Policy Officer, ESF+ and Cohesion Policy, European Commission, DG EMPL 

Simona Pulbere is a Policy Officer at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and has almost 20 years of experience in European public administration.

With expertise in the European Social Fund (ESF), ESF+, and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), Simona has dedicated her career to addressing critical social issues such as extreme poverty, material deprivation, homelessness, Roma inclusion, and gender equality. 

Simona holds a Master’s degree in European Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish Language and Literature. 

Virginia Villar Arribas, Deputy Director for Private Sector Partnerships, World Food Programme (WFP)

Virginia Villar Arribas is the Deputy Director for Private Sector Partnerships at the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome since November 2020. She led WFP's emergency operations in Moldova during the Ukraine war in March 2022 and previously served as WFP Country Director in Burundi. 

Her extensive career includes roles with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), focusing on donor relations, resource mobilization, and emergency operations in various countries. 

Before her UN tenure, she worked for the European Union in various capacities related to international cooperation and development. She has a background in journalism and holds multiple degrees in International Studies and International Relations.