Alexandre Alves has more than 20 years of professional experience as a specialist in Private Social Investment, Institutional Relations and Partnerships, and Collective Action Platforms. He currently serves as Senior Manager, Institutional Relations LATAM at Earthworm Foundation, a Switzerland-based foundation focused on sustainability in the sourcing of commodities such as cocoa, soy, and palm oil for European and North American multinational companies. He has worked with the private sector, universities, international organizations, and civil society organizations to develop and structure Grupo Mais Unidos and the Plataforma de Parceiros pela Amazônia, two organizations that catalyze impact investment opportunities in Amazon-based businesses. He was a professor at Lewis University (USA) and served as Dean of its business school, where he was responsible for implementing the university’s internationalization strategy. He also served with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at the U.S. Embassy in Brasília, working on private-sector engagement and partnerships and contributing to strengthening U.S.-Brazil relations. He served as the Development Finance Corporation (DFC)’s focal point and support in Brazil, working directly on the closing of contracts and agreements totaling approximately $200 million with Brazilian private banks and investment funds. Alexandre holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Political Science from Bethany College (USA) and a master’s degree in International Business from Lewis University.

Vanessa Boanada Fuchs is the Director of the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Latin America, and Adjunct Professor of International Development and Sustainability at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) and a visiting professor at EAESP-FGV. She also directs the Swiss Leading House for the Latin America region, which funds research and innovation cooperation between Switzerland and Latin America. Vanessa’s research and teaching interests relate to the socio-environmental dimensions of development projects, including stakeholder engagement. She also focuses on decolonial approaches and the social control of on-the-ground practices of rights and policies. Vanessa studied Law and International Relations in Brazil (PUC-Rio) and obtained her PhD in International Development Studies at the Graduate Institute in Geneva (IHEID).

Tino Schlinzig, PhD, is a sociologist and Executive Director of ETH Wohnforum – ETH Centre for Research on Architecture, Society & the Built Environment at the Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich. His research focuses on socio-demographic change, housing, and architecture, with projects spanning Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. He has taught and lectured internationally. He is currently investigating the relationships between physical custody arrangements, housing, and well-being in an interdisciplinary research project collaborating with colleagues from demography, psychology, law, and architecture.

Daniela Sanjinés is a Colombian architect, urbanist and researcher. Since 2018 she has been affiliated with the ETH Wohnforum, where she has worked on research projects in Switzerland and Latin America, teaching and coordinating the MAS in Housing. She is currently pursuing a PhD on collaborative housing in Latin America and post conflict Colombia. She holds an MSc in International Cooperation and Urban Development (TU Darmstadt) and in Sustainable Emergency Architecture (UIC Barcelona). She previously worked on housing policy in Colombia and in refugee camps in the Middle East with the United Nations.

Ana Roman lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil. She holds a master’s degree in Geography from the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP), a postgraduate degree in Brazilian Studies from FESP-SP, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo (FAU-USP). She was curator at Pivô between 2022 and 2023 and assistant curator of the 34th São Paulo Biennial (2021). She has curated and co-curated projects in Brazil and abroad, including noite — Mariana Castillo Deball (2022), Ensaios para o Museu das Origens (2023), Corpo-casa: diálogos entre Carolee Schneemann, Diego Bianchi e Márcia Falcão (2024), Carlito Carvalhosa: A metade do dobro (2024), and A terra, o fogo, a água e os ventos: por um museu da errância com Édouard Glissant (2025). She participated in the PIP – Program of Independent Studies in Madrid and in the international South-to-South program, organized by the Humboldt Forum in collaboration with institutions and initiatives from the Global South. She served on the jury for the Opening Prize at ARCOmadrid 2024 and was a member of the Nomination Committee for the PIPA Prize in 2022 and 2024. She was Content Coordinator at Academia de Curadoria and is currently a member of the Acervos Digitais research group. She is Artistic Director and Chief Curator of the Instituto Tomie Ohtake.

Luana Maia is a leader at the international organization NatureFinance, where she co-leads its operations in Brazil as an international interface. With over 15 years of professional experience integrating sustainability and governance themes into high-impact project management, Luana previously served as Strategic Planning Director at the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), where she guided companies in advancing food systems, biodiversity, and Amazon agendas. She was the first Executive Manager of the Brazilian Coalition on Climate, Forests and Agriculture, one of the largest multi-sector forums in Brazil, which brings together representatives from academia, business, finance, and civil society to promote a low-carbon economy. Luana has also worked with major national and international NGOs and think tanks. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from PUC-SP, a Master’s degree in Sustainability from USP, and currently serves as a board member at the Institute for Democracy and Sustainability (IDS).

Angela Vidal Gandra da Silva Martins is a Brazilian lawyer and legal scholar with a distinguished track record in academia and prominent roles in law, philosophy, and public administration. She holds a post-doctorate in Philosophy of Law from Mackenzie Presbyterian University, a doctorate and a master’s degree in the same field from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), and a law degree from the University of São Paulo (USP). She furthered her executive education by completing the Advanced Management Program at IESE Business School. Throughout her career, she has built a solid reputation in both academic and professional spheres. She served as a visiting professor and researcher at Harvard University and taught Philosophy of Law at Mackenzie Presbyterian University (Brasília Campus) and Tax Law at Mackenzie Presbyterian University (São Paulo Campus). In the institutional realm, she held significant positions, such as Director of the Legal and International Department at the Agriculture Federation of the State of São Paulo (FAESP) and National Secretary for the Family at the Ministry of Women, Family, and Human Rights (2019–2022). She has also worked in the private sector as a partner at the law firm Advocacia Gandra Martins currently serving as President of the Ives Gandra Institute of Law, Philosophy, and Economics and as Director of the Law and Liberty Society, cementing her contribution to legal and philosophical thought in Brazil. Today, she holds the position of Municipal Secretary of International Affairs for the City of São Paulo. At the same time, she remains dedicated to teaching, serving on the faculty of the Faculdade do Comércio (Commerce Faculty – FAC) and the “Filosofia do Zero” program. She also serves on important advisory bodies, such as the Legal Council of FIESP, the Superior Council of Law of Fecomércio São Paulo, and the Bioethics Chamber of the Regional Council of Medicine of the State of São Paulo (CREMESP). Finally, she is a member of the International Academy of Law and Economics, the Brazilian Academy of Philosophy, and the São Paulo Academy of Legal Letters.

Peter Hafner is the Consul General of Switzerland in São Paulo since July 2025. In Bern, he served as Head of Regional Coordination for South America, among other positions.

Benjamin Bollmann is CEO of Swissnex in Brazil since January 2025. He was previously CEO of Swissnex in Boston and New York, and Consul of Switzerland in Boston. He is the Chair of Swissnex’s CEO Committee, which coordinates strategic priorities across the global Swissnex network. Under his leadership, Swissnex has launched several long-term initiatives such as Project Quantum, Climate Collider, and more recently Planetary Embassy. Until 2020, Benjamin was Deputy CEO at Swissnex in San Francisco, where he led interdisciplinary programs ranging from science communication to humanitarian technologies and human rights in the digital age. Before joining Swissnex in 2015, he worked as a journalist and communications consultant at the interface of science and design in Switzerland. He is a graduate of ETH Zurich and has conducted research in neuroscience and artificial intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

As Head of Programs, Vincent leads the strategic development and execution of Swissnex in Brazil’s initiatives, driving collaborations between the Swiss and Brazilian innovation ecosystems. He oversees projects in biodiversity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, advancing international partnerships that contribute to the SDGs through joint efforts in innovation, academia, and education. Vincent holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the University of St.Gallen. Brazil became the epicenter of his personal and professional journey when he began working for a local NGO in 2019, later writing his final thesis in and about the country.