Javier Martínez is Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, the Netherlands. He is the department’s Education Portfolio Holder and currently chairs the ITC Examination Board. Trained as an architect at Rosario National University (Argentina), he completed an MSc with Distinction in Geo-information for Urban Planning at the University of Twente and a PhD in Human Geography at Utrecht University.

His research, publications and teaching focus on applying GIS, mixed methods and indicators to inform policy on urban poverty, community well-being, quality of life and intra-urban inequalities. Early in his career (1999–2001), he designed Rosario’s Urban Indicators System and contributed to UN-Habitat’s Global Urban Indicators Database. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) and on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Community Well-Being and Applied Research in Quality of Life. His work has been published in journals such as Habitat International, Cities, Environment and Urbanization, Applied Research in Quality of Life, and the International Journal of Community Well-Being. His contributions have been recognised with the Best Annual Social Indicators Research Paper Award.

He co-edited two books: the Handbook of Quality of Life and Sustainability (Springer, 2021) and GIS in Sustainable Urban Planning and Management: A Global Perspective (CRC Press, 2018). He is the University of Twente Principal Investigator for the Horizon Europe project WISER: Wellbeing in a Sustainable Economy Revisited. Since 2022, he has also been a Research Fellow at the University of Twente’s DesignLab, working on transdisciplinary citizen-science projects that explore the use of AI and VR in responsible-futuring workshops, co-design climate-adaptive blue–green urban spaces with vulnerable groups, and advance children’s citizen geoscience. 

Across research and collaboration, Javier works through a mixed-methods, geographical lens—integrating GIS with qualitative approaches such as go-along interviews and participatory mapping—to connect spatial analysis with practice and support policies that reduce inequalities and improve everyday urban life.

Mariano Rojas holds a PhD in Economics from The Ohio State University. His research focuses on happiness, well-being, quality of life, social progress, and economic development in Latin America. With over 140 academic publications, he has made significant contributions to these areas, authoring three books: The Scientific Study of Happiness (Fondo de Cultura Económica), Can Economics Bring Happiness? (RBA), and Well-being in Latin America: Drivers and Policies (Springer). He has also edited 11 books, including The Economics of Happiness (Springer), Handbook of Happiness Research in Latin America (Springer), and Measuring Progress and Well-Being: Proposals from Latin America (FCCT).

Mariano Rojas served as President of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies and coordinated the Measuring the Progress of Societies initiative in Mexico, which served as the Latin American correspondent for the OECD’s Global Project. He is also a member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers.

Francesco Sarracino is senior economist in the Research Department at STATEC, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies of Luxembourg. He leads the Research Unit on Well-being and Entrepreneurship, and serves as deputy director of the Research Division. He is also invited professor at the University of Strasbourg (France). His work focuses on identifying evidence-based policies to promote socially and environmentally sustainable development, and enhance people's well-being. Francesco holds a PhD in development economics from the University of Firenze (Italy). He is a member of the World Wellbeing Panel, and of the board of directors of the International Society for Quality of Life Studies. He also contributes to expert groups on quality-of-life measurement for the United Nations, the OECD, and the European Commission. Francesco is among the organizers of regular international conferences and seminars on subjective well-being and social progress. His works have been published in journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Oxford Economic Papers, World Development, Ecological Economics, International Productivity Monitor, Journal of Happiness Studies, Social Indicators Research, Small Business Economics, and Journal of Business Ethics.

Graciela Tonon has a Ph.D. in Political Science (USAL, Argentina), Master in Political Sciences (UNSAM, Argentina) and Bachelor in Social Work. She did Postdoctoral studies at the University of Firenze, Italy.   She is the  Director of the Research Center in Social Sciences (CICS-UP) at the University of Palermo and Professor of Social Science Research Methodology and Quality of Life and Happiness.  She is Full Professor of Community Social Work and Children at Risk and Director of the Institute of Social Sciences UNI-COM at the Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora.   She received the ISQOLS Tribute for recognition and deep appreciation for vision, dedication and pioneering efforts in establishing ISQOLS.   She is Editor of the International Quality of Life Handbook Series, Springer-ISQOLS; Associated Editor of ARQOL and the Director of the Journal de Ciencias Sociales University of Palermo, Argentina. She has published extensively in English and Spanish. Currently she is  Co- Vice President of Academic Affairs and Member of the Board of Directors of ISQOLS.  Fellow of the Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) (2013-2029) and Network Co-coordinator and member of the Children Understanding of Well-being Network (CUWB) since its origin in 2015. She is also a member of the Argentine Olympic Committee.  Her fields of interest are  Quality of Life, Human capabilities, Research Methodology, Young people, Children, Community, Inequalities, Public Policy.