Speakers
ANDERS H. EIDE - Ambassador of Norway to the European Union
H.E. Anders H. Eide is the ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the European Union, and therefore heads the Mission of Norway to the EU. He has been in this post since the 30 August 2023. Eide has previously served as ambassador of Norway to Poland, and has held various positions in the foreign service since 1999. He has a law degree from the University of Oslo.
JOHN BELL - EU Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Dr. John Bell is the European Commission’s ‘Healthy Planet’ Director leading DG Research & Innovation policy transitions on Climate Change, Bioeconomy, Food Systems, Environment, Biodiversity, Water, Circular Economy, Oceans and the European Green Deal.
MOISÉS SAVIAN - Brazil's Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming - Secretary of Land Governance, Territorial Development and Socio-Environmental Affairs
Moisés Savian is an agronomist with a Master's in Geography (UFSC) and a PhD in Agroecological Plant Production (UDESC). He currently serves as Secretary of Land Governance, Territorial Development, and Socio-environmental Affairs at Brazil's Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming. His career includes roles as a professor at the State University of Santa Catarina (2011–2018), Environmental Policy Manager at the Ministry of the Environment (2014), Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries for Lages (2014), and a professor at the Federal Institute of Brasília (2022).
JOANA CHIAVARI - Amazônia 2030/Climate Policy Initiative
Joana Chiavari is the Research Director at CPI/PUC-Rio, leading the Climate Law and Governance Program and Climate Finance agenda, while supporting strategic projects. She has collaborated with CPI since 2012, providing analyses to strengthen Brazil’s policies, focusing on land use, infrastructure, clean energy, and climate finance. Joana is also a lecturer for the LLM program in Environmental Law at PUC-Rio and a member of the Strategic Group of the Brazilian Coalition on Climate, Forests, and Agriculture. A qualified lawyer in environmental and climate law, she holds a PhD in Sustainable Development from the University Ca’ Foscari of Venice and a Master’s in Environmental Management from the University Sant' Anna of Pisa. She previously worked at the IEA, IEEP, and FEEM.
IMA VIEIRA - Zoobotanical Park Emilio Goeldi Pará Museum
Ima Vieira is an agronomist with a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Stirling, Scotland. She has been a Researcher at the Emílio Goeldi Pará Museum (MPEG) since 1988, where she served as Director from 2005 to 2009. Currently, she is an advisor to the Presidency of Financier of Studies and Projects (FINEP) and a professor in Pará's graduate programs in Environmental Sciences and Botany. A member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, she received the Scientist Woman Commendation award from the Government of Pará in 2019. She has held leadership roles with the Brazilian Communications Company (EBC), Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development (IDSM), Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC), the National Environmental Council (CONAMA), and the Steering Committee of the Amazon Fund (COFA).
BRAULINA BANIWA - National Articulation of Indigenous Women
Braulina Baniwa holds a Master's degree in Social Anthropology and is currently a PhD candidate in Social Anthropology. She is an Indigenous Scientist, researcher, and specialist in Indigenous Socio-Bioeconomics, as well as an advocate for human and environmental rights. She is the co-founder of ANMIGA – Women of the Amazon Biome Land.
EMILIANO RAMALHO - Mamirauá Institute
Emiliano Ramalho has an undergraduate degree in Biology and a doctorate in Conservation Ecology from the University of Florida. He has been a researcher at the Mamirauá Institute since 2004, also working as a coordinator of research and monitoring activities. He is the leader of the Providence project and the Research Group in the Ecology and Conservation of Felines of Amazonia.
MARIA AUGUSTA ARRUDA - Brazilian National Laboratory of Biosciences
Maria Augusta Arruda is Director of the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBIO-CNPEM). A former Senior Lecturer at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and a Public Health Researcher at Fiocruz (Brazilian Ministry of Health). She spent over a decade at the University of Nottingham (UK), where she led the Brazil-Nottingham Drug Discovery Partnership and held roles such as Head of Researcher Development and Chair of the Race Equity Network. Maria Augusta holds a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology, is an Affiliate Fellow of the University of Cambridge’s Robinson College, and a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society and devoted to the implementation of Research Culture interventions for high performance in Science.
EDUARDO COUTO - Brazilian National Laboratory for Biomaterials
Eduardo do Couto e Silva holds a Ph.D. in Physics and is an alumnus of the Kavli Institute at Stanford University/SLAC National Laboratory. Since 2018, he has served as Director of the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR) at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), focusing on industrial biotechnology and sustainability. He is a member of Mission Innovation Integrated Biorefinery, part of the Clean Energy Ministerial. From 2015 to 2018, he led CNPEM’s Biotechnology/Biomass Innovation unit. His career includes over 20 years at world-class laboratories such as the European Laboratory for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland/France and the SLAC National Laboratory of the US DOE, where he held leadership roles in large-scale scientific projects. He also worked at the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE), advising on public policies for science, technology, and innovation.
BRUNO CÉSAR PROSDOCIMI NUNES - Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation - Coordination for Programs and Projects in Bioeconomy
Zootechnician and Master in Animal Productivity and Quality, both from the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering of the University of São Paulo (FZEA/USP). He worked as a Rural Extensionist for the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo (SAA/SP). He is currently a Technologist at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), heading the Coordination of Programs and Projects in Bioeconomy (COBIO).
CRISTIANE FONTES - WRI Brasil
Cristiane Fontes is the Executive Director of WRI Brazil, leading the adaptation of the organization's global strategy to promote low-carbon economies. She started her career in media and environmental NGOs, later managing climate change programs at the British Embassy, where she received an award. She also coordinated the Brazil Initiative for the Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA) at the Ford Foundation and worked as a consultant on environmental projects. Most recently, she led programs at the UK-based Global Canopy and developed personal research and media projects on Indigenous narratives and climate justice.
DANILO FERNANDES - Federal University of Pará
Danilo Araujo Fernandes holds a degree in Economics from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), a Master's in Economic Theory from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), and a PhD in Socio-Environmental Development from UFPA's Amazon High Studies Center. He is a professor and researcher at UFPA’s Amazon High Studies Center and a member of its graduate programs in Sustainable Development and Economics. He also collaborates with the Urban and Regional Planning program at UNIFESSPA. His research focuses on bioeconomy, the history of economic thought, and sustainable regional development policies for the Amazon.
FERNANDA GARAVINI - BNDES
Fernanda Garavini is the Head of the Amazon Fund at BNDES, a role she assumed in February 2023, following the reestablishment of the fund's governance. The Amazon Fund, the largest and most successful REDD+ initiative globally, focuses on combating deforestation in the Amazon. Under her leadership, the fund saw record-breaking project approvals and calls for proposals, totaling R$1.3 billion, with new donors such as the UK, US, Switzerland, and Japan joining Norway and Germany. Garavini has over 15 years of experience at BNDES, having worked in various divisions, including sanitation, culture, indirect operations, and planning. She holds a degree in Economics from UFRJ and a Master’s degree in Administration with a focus on Strategy from COPPEAD in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
MAURO COSTA - Natura
Mauro Costa holds a degree in Agronomist Engineering and a Master’s in Tropical Agriculture. With over 22 years of experience across NGOs, government, universities, companies, and research centers, he has focused on building relationships, developing people, and creating sustainable business opportunities. His expertise includes extension services, research with Indigenous Peoples, traditional and family agriculture, fair trade, and establishing new supply chains. For the past 17 years, Mauro has worked at Natura, where he is Senior Manager of Sustainable Sourcing, overseeing the strategic planning and implementation of sociobiodiversity chains and managing partnerships with communities and other stakeholders.
ANDREAS DAHL-JØRGENSEN - Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative
Andreas Dahl-Jørgensen is the Director of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) and a Deputy Director General in Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment. NICFI is Norway's flagship climate initiative working with partners to stop and reverse tropical deforestation. Andreas has previously been head of finance for an Indian rural solar energy start-up and worked on climate policy and carbon finance, including at the World Bank. He holds an MA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) and a BSc in International Business from Copenhagen Business School.
CARLA FERNÁNDEZ-DURÁN - Inter-American Development Bank - BID
Carla Fernández-Durán is the Senior Specialist for Partnerships and Mobilization at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Brussels, a role she has held since 2020. She leads partnerships with the European Union, Belgium, France, and the OECD, focusing on strategic positioning and innovative financial instruments. Prior to the IDB, she spent seven years at the World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid, managing projects on democratic transitions and sustainable development across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Carla holds degrees in Law and Political Science from Universidad Pontificia de Comillas and has completed courses at Georgetown University and Harvard School of Government. She is a member of the Spanish Leadership Network of the Fundación Rafael del Pino.
JORGE VIANA - President of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency - ApexBrasil
Jorge Viana is the president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). He was born in Rio Branco, capital of the Brazilian state of Acre. He graduated in Forestry Engineering from the University of Brasília (UnB). His first term was as mayor between 1993 and 1996. In 1999, he was elected as governor of Acre, being re-elected and remaining in office until 2006. In 2011, he was elected for the Brazilian Senate, where he remained until 2019.
ALEXANDRE GOULART - Sustainable Connections Institute - CONEXSUS
Alexandre Goulart is a Brazilian economist and anthropologist with a focus on intercultural training for indigenous peoples and traditional communities in environmental management and sustainable markets. With an MSc in Economic Development, Territory, and Environment, he has worked since 1994 with communities such as "seringueiros" and "quilombolas" in the Amazon. He aims to connect Brazilian producer organizations with international fair trade markets, supporting "socio-bioeconomy" value chains and enhancing the sustainability of indigenous and traditional rural communities. His experience includes roles with DfID, The Nature Conservancy, and the Acre State Indigenous People's Secretary (SEPI), as well as consulting for UNDP, UNESCO, FAO, GIZ, and Greenpeace. In 2010, he coordinated the International Seminar on Participatory Cartography and Management of Indigenous Territories in the Amazon, featuring over 50 case studies.
PATRICIA COTA GOMES - Institute of Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification - IMAFLORA
Forestry engineer and master in tropical forest management. She was a coordinator for Origens Brasil®, a network awarded by the UN that aims to promote ethical business in the Amazon, fostering transparency and value in the market for bioeconomy products from traditional communities and indigenous peoples. She is the deputy executive director of Imaflora and has received two honors from the UN for her work with the Amazon and forest peoples (Food Heroes and Climate Champions).
ADEVALDO DIAS - Brazilian National Council of Extractivists Populations - CNS and Chico Mendes Memorial
An activist for socio-environmental causes, particularly in the conservation of natural resources in the Amazon and the protection of territories of indigenous peoples and traditional communities; a specialist in environmental management; president of the Chico Mendes Memorial; co-developer of sustainable community business initiatives in Amazonian sociobiodiversity; and a participant in the coordination of the Gosto da Amazônia commercial arrangement, managed by ASPROC, which ensures the delivery of sustainably managed fish directly from protected areas in the Amazon to Brazilian gastronomy.
PAULO REIS - Association of Amazon Socio-Bioeconomy Businesses – ASSOBIO
Paulo is the co-founder of Manioca and Amazonique, companies specializing in food and beverages derived from Amazon biodiversity. Since 2013, he has been involved in projects related to the development of the Amazon. He is also the co-founder and current president of ASSOBIO—The Association of Amazon Bioeconomy Businesses. Additionally, he serves as a board member of Conexsus and as a guest lecturer on bioeconomy at the University Center of Pará (CESUPA).
RICARDO GOMES - Arapyaú Institute
Graduated in Agricultural Engineering, Postgraduate in Business Management and Master in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development. With 20 years of professional career, he has accumulated experience in the private sector with a multinational agribusiness, in public management in the elaboration of public policies with a focus on socio-productive inclusion and the third sector, where he has worked for 10 years, in the area of Territorial Development, Production Arrangements, and intersectoral articulation. He is also a specialist in the Cocoa Production Chain and a cocoa producer in Agroforestry Systems.
RAFAEL BARBIERI - World Resources Institute - WRI Brasil
Rafael Feltran-Barbieri works in the Forest and Climate teams, leading econometric analyses based on Agricultural Economics and the Environment, in Restoration, Natural Infrastructure and New Climate Economy projects. He holds degrees in Economics and Biology, and post-doctorates in Econometrics from FEA-USP and IE-Unicamp.
CHRIS DOWES - COLEAD, AGRINFO
Chris Downes is the Policy and Law Lead Expert for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems at COLEAD, specializing in sustainable agriculture policy and law. With over 20 years of experience in international trade law and food policy, he has worked with organizations like ECCO European Consulting and European Advisory Services. Chris also lectures on EU Food Law and International Trade Law at Michigan State University and the University of Kent. He holds a PhD in International Trade Law, an LLM in International Law, and an MA in European Politics and Culture.
NILTON MORAIS - Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture - MAPA
Veterinarian from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), with a specialization in International Markets from the Higher School of Agriculture of Angers, France, and a Master's in Animal Health from UFG. With 22 years of experience as a Federal Agricultural Tax Auditor for Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), he has worked in various key roles, including the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Coordination at the Department of Animal Health (DSA) and as Coordinator of Animal Health Emergencies. He also contributed internationally at the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO) and held leadership positions managing veterinary services and strategic plans for disease surveillance in Brazil.
THAÍS DOS SANTOS - Madame Brésil
Thais dos Santos is the co-founder and operations manager of Madame Brésil, an import and distribution company established in 2019 in Marseille. A lawyer specializing in logistics and supply chain, she is passionate about working with small producers and developing new distribution networks. She holds an MBA in entrepreneurship in France and has worked at companies in Brazil, such as Lefosse Advogados and Walmart Brazil. In 2021, she helped found the event "Petit Brésil à Marseille" to promote Brazilian female entrepreneurship. She and her team received the SIRHA innovation award for their work with Manioca's tucupi, and they now aim to transform Madame Brésil into the leading ambassador of Brazilian products in Europe and the world.
CRISTIANO VILLELA DIAS - Center for Cocoa Innovation
Biologist, Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology, conceptualized the Cocoa Innovation Center, a laboratory 100% dedicated to the cocoa and chocolate supply chain in Brazil. Cristiano serves as the Executive Director of BioInnovatech, a consultancy firm focused on implementing projects related to cocoa farming. He is also the Scientific Director of the Cocoa Innovation Center and President of the National Committee on the Quality of Specialty Cocoa in Brazil.
MAYRA SOUZA - International Flavors & Fragrances
With over 20 years of experience in reducing trade barriers and improving market access, Mayra Souza is a global trade expert currently leading trade advocacy and compliance at IFF, where she also explores the nexus of bioeconomy and trade, while championing sustainable and equitable practices. She engages in multi-pronged collaborations to drive transformative change in global trade. An award-winning professional and D&I champion, Mayra holds a specialization in Trade Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, and an MSc in International Business from the University of Birmingham. Additionally, she is a W50 Leadership Scholar at the London School of Economics and an AILA Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.