Leonardo Lahud leads the trade and investment portfolio of the Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector at IDB in Brazil. Previously, he served in the Brazilian government, where he was deputy secretary of foreign trade, deputy executive secretary of the Foreign Trade Chamber, and deputy secretary of international affairs and development of the Ministry of Planning and Budget. He holds a master's in international trade and investment law from the World Trade Institute, linked to the University of Bern (Switzerland), a postgraduate degree in international relations from the University of Brasilia, and a law degree from the Federal Fluminense University.
Read full bio
Pedro Henrique Giocondo Guerra
Chief of Staff for the Vice-President of Brazil
Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil (MDIC)
Pedro Giocondo Guerra holds multiple degrees in law and public administration and has specialised training in administrative law, public-private partnerships and international investments. Experienced in legal consulting, academic research and public management, he has worked in law firms; as a researcher on government control, public policies and decisions of Brazil’s Supreme Court; and in the São Paulo public sector. Pedro has extensive experience on the fiscal councils of state-owned and environmental companies. Since 2023, he has held positions of high trust in the Federal Government and is also Chairman of the Fiscal Council of Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES).
Read full bio
Silvia Solano
Regional Lead Latin America, Green and Resilient Buildings Program
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Silvia is an architect with a master’s in natural resources management. With over 15 years’ experience in the construction market, she has honed her expertise across Latin America. She is a leader of the Green Building Market Transformation Program (GBMTP) in Latin America, responsible for strategy and implementation of the programme in Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Brazil. Experienced in green buildings and EDGE certification, she engages with private sector developers, industry associations, financial institutions, government and international cooperation agencies. Her focus on decarbonising the built environment and promoting the expansion of green and resilient buildings underscores her commitment to sustainable development.
Read full bio
Josué Christiano Gomes da Silva
President
Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP)
In addition to his position at FIESP, Josué Gomes is also the president of Coteminas, a leading bed and bath company with industrial units in several countries through the American continents. In addition, he is the 1st vice-president of the Center of Industries of the State of São Paulo (CIESP) and chairman emeritus of the Brazilian Textile Industries Association (ABIT). Beyond his industrial activities he is a member of the Owen School Corporate Council of Vanderbilt University and of the board of the Child Cancer Treatment Institute of São Paulo (ITACI).
Read full bio
André Aranha Corrêa do Lago
COP30 President
UN 2025 Climate Change Conference (COP30)
André Aranha Corrêa do Lago has been working with the sustainable development agenda since 2001. As a career diplomat, he was the director of the Energy Department (2008-2011) and of the Environment Department (2011-2013) at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the latter period, he was Brazil´s chief negotiator for climate change and for the Rio+20 Conference. He was the Brazilian ambassador to Japan (2013-2018) and to India (2018-2023). Since March 2023, he has been the Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read full bio
Rodrigo Sobral Rollemberg
Secretary of Green Economy, Decarbonisation and Bioindustry
Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Brazil (MDIC)
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rollemberg holds a bachelor's in history from the University of Brasília (UnB) and is a civil servant in the legislative analyst career of the Federal Senate. He was a district deputy, a federal deputy, senator and governor of the Federal District. He also held the positions of secretary of tourism, leisure and youth of the Federal District and secretary of science and technology for social inclusion of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. He was president of the committee on the environment, consumer protection and oversight and control of the Federal Senate, during the vote on the Brazilian Forest Code.
Read full bio
Emmanuel Chaponniere
Head of Circular Economy & Sustainable Development Division
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Emmanuel Chaponniere is in charge of the Projects Directorate of EIB which is composed of sector specialists. He is responsible for project appraisal including technical, economic, environmental and social issues, and the monitoring of project implementation, as well as for sector studies and policy – including the EIB’s climate, environmental and social policies. Prior to the EIB, he held various positions as a water sector specialist and waste expert in Europe and Africa. Chaponniere graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (France) and has a master’s in water management from the Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural des Eaux et Forêts (France).
Mika Sulkinoja plays a strategic leadership role in the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF). With around 25 years’ hands-on experience in advancing the global sustainability agenda, Mika has worked across sectors—from the United Nations and the Finnish Government’s climate negotiation team to the private sector. His focus has been on market-based policy instruments, climate finance and international cooperation. At Sitra, he leads collaboration on the WCEF and contributes to the European Union Circular Economy Resource Centre, helping shape initiatives and partnerships that accelerate the global shift towards a sustainable, circular future.
Izabella Teixeira was minister of the environment of Brazil (2010-2016). She is member of the High-Level Advisory Board of UN-DESA and of the administrative council of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). Izabella won the UN Environment's "Champions of the Earth" in 2013 for her contribution to reducing deforestation in the Amazon. She also serves on the boards of international and national institutions, including as senior fellow of Arapyaú Institute, board member of the iFHC and member of the International Advisory Board at CEBRI.
Read full bio
Marcelo Thomé da Silva de Almeida
President
Federação das Industrias do Estado de Rondônia (FIERO)
Marcelo advocates for innovation, economic growth, community inclusion and forest conservation, building a sustainable Brazilian industry especially in the Amazon. He currently holds several roles, also as Vice-President of CNI, leading their thematic council on environment and sustainability (COEMAS); Executive Director of the Amazônia+21 Institute; board member of the Center for Bioeconomics of the Amazônia (CBA); member of the Guidance Committee of the Amazon Fund (COFA) and the Brazil Climate Finance Hub Council; and several regional leadership roles. He has a bachelor’s in architecture and urbanism from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and is a post-graduate in business management from Fundação Getulio Vargas.