Gabriel Azevedo has led international projects in more than 40 countries in infrastructure, natural resource management, agribusiness, manufacturing and environmental management. He has worked at the World Bank, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Construtora Norberto Odebrecht, and was a board member for the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO) and the Brazilian Association of Water Resources (ABRHIdro). He is a board observer at the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and is IDB Invest representative at the Sustainability Committee to the Board of Hospital Einstein in Brazil. Azevedo has degrees in civil engineering, including an MSc and a PhD from Colorado State University.
Celso Tacla is an executive and board member with extensive international experience in sustainability, innovation and industrial transformation. He has led major Latin American operations for global companies like Valmet and Metso, driving circular economy strategies and digitalisation in the pulp and paper and capital goods sectors. Celso sits on several boards and sustainability committees and is a frequent speaker at global forums on the bioeconomy and innovation. He holds degrees in chemical engineering and business management, with executive education from IMD and Wharton. He was awarded the Order of the White Rose by the president of Finland.
Christian Spano is a strategy, innovation and sustainability executive with more than 20 years’ international experience in the resource and energy industries. He has worked for organisations such as Anglo American, the World Economic Forum (WEF), Systemiq and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). Christian holds postgraduate degrees from the London School of Economics (LSE) and Oxford University and an undergraduate degree in economics. He enjoys cycling and spending time with his two kids and wife in London.
Tarcisio Soares joined Airbus in 2019 in the helicopters division and is now responsible for promoting the strategic alignment between the major business units Commercial Aviation, Helicopters and Defense & Space. He also leads the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel initiatives in Brazil and external affairs, providing political and economic expertise to strengthen understanding and guide decision-making of Brazil and other Latin America countries. Tarcisio has over 25 years’ experience with multinationals in the aerospace and oil and gas industries. He has a bachelor’s in business in international trade and post graduated in business management and financial and economics business management.
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Elizabeth Shie
Senior Manager, Strategy and Sustainability
Novelis
Elizabeth Shie works currently for Novelis South America, leading the company’s regional strategic planning process, evaluation of market drivers, analysis of expansions and management of sustainability goals. Over the past years, she held positions in the financial and pulp and paper sectors, playing important roles in business development initiatives through partnership models, new business structuring, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments. Elizabeth holds a degree in production engineering from Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and an MBA from the London Business School, with a concentration in finance and change management.
Marina Negrisoli works for a global producer of innovative and renewable bio-based materials. With a deep passion for people, team development and corporate happiness, she currently leads the company's sustainability strategy, shaping a lasting legacy for Suzano over the next 100 years, while driving socio-environmental value across both business operations and society. Marina holds a bachelor’s and master’s in economics from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and has completed the executive programme at Yale School of Management.
Rachel is French and has been living in Chile for more than 20 years. She has over 25 years’ experience in the operation of drinking water and sewage treatment plants. She contributed to the implementation of Santiago de Chile’s sanitation plan and the transformation of wastewater treatment plants into biofactories, where the circular economy became the central pillar of water management. In response to the water crisis, she is working on integrated solutions to ensure that cities, agriculture, and mining can continue to coexist sustainably within the same territory.
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Davi Bomtempo
Environmental and Sustainability Superintendent
National Confederation of Industry of Brazil (CNI)
Davi Bontempo is an economist with a master's in public administration from the Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration of the Fundação Getulio Vargas (EBAPE/FGV-RJ) and specialisation in environment and sustainability (FGV). He is currently leading the agendas of ESG, energy transition, carbon market, the circular economy and bioeconomy, as well as forest conservation, among others. He is a professional in institutional and governmental relations with expertise in advocacy strategy and stakeholder engagement. He is executive secretary of the CNI's environment and sustainability thematic council and represents the industrial sector in several national and international forums.
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Jean Bassani
Senior researcher
Brazilian National Industrial Learning Service (SENAI)
Graduated in chemistry from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) and currently pursuing a master's at Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Jean has experience in environmental management and life cycle assessment (LCA). His work at the SENAI Institute for Innovation in Electrochemistry focuses on the LCA of lithium-ion batteries produced in Brazil. His goal is to strengthen the national supply chain for battery raw materials and promote Brazil’s role in the global battery industry through sustainable and circular practices.
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Melissa Rocco
Coordinator of the Industrial Symbiosis Program
Associação da Empresas do Distrito Industrial de Santa Cruz (AEDIN)
Melissa has over 20 years’ experience in environmental and sustainability management across industries such as chemicals, metals, oil and gas, and consumer goods. For the past two years, she has led the programme in the Santa Cruz industrial district, representing AEDIN in partnership with the State Government of Rio de Janeiro and Kalundborg Symbiosis (Denmark). She is also the head of environment, health and safety at Cladtek Brazil. Melissa holds degrees in chemical engineering, occupational safety engineering, an MBA from the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), and a master’s in environmental engineering from Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
