Conference

UK-Brazil Conversa 2023

  • Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford OX2 6GG

The UK-Brazil Conversa is a dialogue between policy makers and influencers, business leaders, academics, diplomats and governments, to help build closer relations and contacts between Brazil and the UK.

UK-Brazil Conversa 2023 is held under the Chatham House rule.

For any enquiries, email [email protected]

The UK-Brazil Conversa is a dialogue between policy makers and influencers, business leaders, academics, diplomats and governments, to help build closer relations and contacts between Brazil and the UK.

Founded in 2014 by former UK Ambassador to Brazil, Alan Charlton CMG CVO, the Conversa is an annual forum for influential people from a variety of backgrounds to discuss key issues relating to UK-Brazilian relations.

Conversa was established to help explore how to make more of the contacts and links between the two countries, and to encourage free-flowing and open conversations.

cover-shadow_ovrsi

Download our full programme

Agenda

  • UK-Brazil Conversa 2023

  • Registration

    08:30 - 08:50

  • OPENING REMARKS

    Jeremy Browne, CEO, Canning House

    Professor David Doyle, Director of Latin American Centre, University of Oxford

    Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean, Blavatnik School of Government 

     

    08:50 - 09:10

  • KEYNOTE SPEECH

    Rt Hon Sir Alok Sharma KCMG MP, MP of Reading West, President - COP26

    09:10-09:30

  • SESSION ONE
    PANEL 1: Brazil and the UK's places in the shifting global order

    The first panel will see participants discuss where the UK and Brazil sit within the shifting geopolitical context. Key questions to be addressed include: what are the priority areas for Brazilian and UK foreign policy to achieve their global objectives? Where do Brazil and the UK envisage themselves and each other in today’s multipolar world? Is the trajectory of Brazilian and UK foreign policy diverging?

    Panel

    Chair: Jeremy Browne, CEO, Canning House

    UK Speaker: Professor Timothy Power, Head of Social Sciences Division, University of Oxford

    Brazil Speaker: Dr. Andreza de Souza, Director of the Brazil Institute, Kings' College London

    Supplementary comments: Fiona ClouderDirector, ClouderVista; Former Regional Ambassador, Latin America & Caribbean, COP26 

     

    09:30-11:00

  • Break

    11:00- 11:15

  • SESSION TWO
    PANEL 2: Infrastructure: Building our way to prosperity

    The second panel will explore the role of infrastructure as an engine for economic development, both in the UK and Brazil. Adopting a broad approach, the session will examine which are the key areas for infrastructural investment in the UK and Brazil (roads, rail, ports, airports, digital, transport, and water). The session also seeks to contemplate shared learnings and the potential for collaboration between the UK and Brazil in infrastructure, considering the context of climate change.

    Panel 

    Chair: Ed Hudson, UKI Trade Route Leader, Ernst & Young

    UK Speaker: Steve Long, Regional Manager - Latin America, Crossrail International LTD

    Brazil Speaker: Karen Dinucci, ESG Technical Director, Mott MacDonald

    PANEL 3: Collaborative approaches to tackling climate change and achieving net zero

    The third panel will see participants examine strategies and key priorities for driving the energy transition in the UK and Brazil. Through a comparative lens, the discussion will assess both countries’ previous trajectories and current approaches for combatting climate change. It will also contemplate the UK’s potential to play a constructive role in protecting the Amazon, among other questions.

    Panel

    Chair: Professor Anthony PereiraDirector of Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center Politics and International Relations, Florida International University

    UK Speakers:

    Professor Iain Hartley, Professor of Terrestrial Ecosystem Science, University of Exeter

    Beth Child, Senior Civil Servant, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office

    Brazil Speakers:

    Dr. Erika Berenguer, Senior Research Associate at Ecosystems Lab, University of Oxford

    Aline Soterroni, Research Fellow at Nature-based Solutions and Oxford Net Zero Initiatives, University of Oxford

    PANEL 4: Future challenges facing health and social care 

    The fourth panel will turn to examine the main health issues that citizens are facing in the UK and Brazil. Participants will also consider what are the future challenges in health and social care which may demand closer collaboration between the UK and Brazil. The discussion also seeks to tap into shared learnings between the UK and Brazil in terms of medical care advancements and technological innovations, taking into account the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Panel 

    Chair: Dr. Thomas Hone, Imperial College, School of Public Health 

    UK Speaker: Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, Director, Oxford Vaccine Group, and Ashall Professor of Infection and Immunity

    Brazil Speaker: Dr. Elize Massard da Fonseca, Associate Professor of Public Administration, Sao Paulo School of Business Administration, Getulio Vargas Foundation

     

    11:15 - 12:45

  • Lunch

    12:45 - 14:00

  • SESSION THREE
    PANEL 5: Economic outlook and opportunities for investment in Brazil and the UK: Rethinking our economic relationship

    The fifth panel seeks to discuss strategies for optimising bilateral trade and business between the UK and Brazil. The discussion will approach some of the most pressing questions today including: is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the cards in the foreseeable future? How may the UK’s recent ascension to the CPTPP and Brazil’s Mercosur membership impact trade between the UK and Brazil? How can the UK and Brazil work together in financial services and Fintech?

    Panel 

    Chair: Michael Reid, Former Editor of The Economist and Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics and Political Science

    UK Speaker: Spencer Mahoney, Deputy Trade Commissioner for Latin American and the Caribbean, Department for Business and Trade

    Brazil Speaker: Carla Ferreira, Vice Chair of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce

    PANEL 6: Transforming societies through education, social development and equal representation

    The final panel will examine the role of education as a driver for social inclusion and development in the UK and Brazil. Participants will share approaches in the UK and Brazil for combatting STEM skills shortages. The discussion will examine strategies for increasing the political representation of women and people from minority backgrounds. Participants will also consider the role of civil society for bringing about positive change.

    Panel

    Chair: Laurence Whitehead,Senior Research Fellow in Politics at Nuffield College, University of Oxford

    UK Speaker: Chris Cuddihy, Director for UK & International Government Relations, Pearson UK

    Brazil Speaker: Dr. Arthur Galambda, Lecturer in Science Education, Kings' College London

    Supplementary comments: Dr Mariana Borges Martins da Silva, Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford

    14:00 - 15:30

  • Break

    15:30 - 15:45

  • PLENARY SESSION

    15:45 - 16:15

  • Closing remarks

    Alan Charlton CMG CVO, Founder of Conversa, Trustee, Canning House; Former UK Ambassador to Brazil

    16:15 -16:30

  • Networking reception 

    16:30 - 18:00

Questions?

Please contact us with any questions about this event.

Share This Event

Share this event on social media using the buttons below.

Becoming a member at Canning House

By joining Canning House, you will become part of the UK's leading forum for informed comment, contacts and debate on Latin American politics, economics and business.

Just £50 per year.

Join now

Learn more

Sign up to our newsletter

All of Canning House's activities, including our upcoming events, insightful publications, latest news, and featured events from the UK-Latin America community.

In your inbox, every week, for free.

Required
Required
Required