Social Council of the UPV

Mónica Bragado became President of the UPV’s Social Council in July 2013, making history as the youngest woman to hold such a position and the first to do so at any public university in the Valencian region. She broke new ground from the outset, succeeding businessman and former employers’ association president Rafael Ferrando. She has led the university's main channel of societal engagement over two terms, extended by two additional years due to various circumstances. The Social Council oversees, advises, and supports the UPV in its engagement with society.

An innovative Social Council

An industrial engineer by training (UPV, 1994), Bragado reflects in this interview on her time in office, which will end in September. Looking back over the past twelve years, she says:
“I believe we’ve been bold and innovative. We’ve taken risks. We've been a university and a Social Council willing to launch initiatives others wouldn’t dare—like setting up an investment fund for technology-based projects born at the UPV, or launching UPV Fundraising to channel private capital into the university and invest in initiatives we see as strategic,” she explains.

Although she never felt personally discriminated against, she recalls that only 10% of her class were women during her time as a student. That may be why one of the projects she is most proud of is UP! Steam, which promotes STEM and Arts among young girls, has reached its sixth edition.

She also highlights the Líderes Chair (formerly the Chair for Business and Management Culture) as a key tool for promoting graduate employability.

Among the most challenging moments of her presidency, she recalls the deaths of Miguel Burdeos, during the torrential rains, and Juan López Trigo.

The end of an era

With more than 30 years of professional experience in the industrial sector, Bragado is currently Director of Business Development for Europe at Celestica, a Canadian multinational. She also serves as a board member of an industrial company in the Valencian Region. Though she will step down as President of the UPV Social Council in September, she has no intention of slowing down. She already has a new project in mind—“one I’ll devote myself to completely”—though she’s not ready to reveal the details.

The person who will succeed her will be appointed during a plenary session of Les Corts in the second half of September. The nomination will be made by the President of the Generalitat, following consultation with the Rector of the UPV.

Photograph: Vicente Lara Sáez

Video: Amparo Berbegal Juan

Text: Carmen Revillo Rubio

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