Mr. José Alfredo Graça Lima, a career diplomat, was born in Rio de Janeiro, on April 21st, 1946. Graduated from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (Law School) and from Rio-Branco Institute (the Brazilian academy for diplomats) both in 1969. Delegate in the Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, to UNCTAD and WIPO (1974-1977).

Head of the Trade Policy Sector of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington (1980-1983). Delegate in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (1986-1988), Vice-Chairman of the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Committee (1988). Concluded the XVII Course of High Level Studies in Rio-Branco Institute after having substantiated a thesis on the Safeguard Clause of GATT Article XIX (1988).

Deputy Chief Trade Negotiator in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (1991-1994), Chairman of the Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices (1994). Director-General of the Economic Department of the Ministry of External Relations (MER) (1996-1998), promoted to Ambassador (1997). Undersecretary-General for Integration, Economic and Foreign Trade Affairs of the MER; National Coordinator of Mercosur; Representative to the Trade Negotiations Committee of the FTAA, to the Birregional Negotiations Committee Mercosul-European Union; Chairman of the Interministerial Group for the WTO negotiations and Representative to Capital-Based Senior Officials’ meetings in Geneva (1998-2002). Appointed Ambassador, Head of the Brazilian Mission to the EC in Brussels (2002- 2005).

Appointed Consul General of Brazil in New York (2005). President of WTO Dispute Settlement Panels (2006-2007). Appointed Consul General of Brazil in Los Angeles (2008).

Sheila Nogueira serves on the Board of Directors at Rummos Assessoria, Pesquisa e Avaliação.

Sheila’s specialties include selection, monitoring and evaluation of social intervention programs. She is a consultant in private social investment analysis.

Sheila taught undergraduate courses in program development at the Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro Federal University and other major schools in Brazil.

She is a published author in Brazilian and international third sector publications. Sheila holds a post-graduate degree in Social Policy and Planning and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Political Sciences from the Rio de Janeiro State University.

Marcia de Paula founded the Bravo Youth Foundation in 2006. Marcia started her career in Brazil as an elementary school teacher and then became a Fashion Designer and a successful entrepreneur.

She is the Vice President of the Universal Art Gallery, an art gallery and framing business, beloved by the Hollywood community, located in Venice, CA. Marcia provided seed money to begin Bravo operations by generously donating a percentage of sales from her own business to build an after-school program in Brazil.

Originally from Rio de Janeiro,she volunteers in various community committees including the City of Los Angeles Penn Park Advisory Board and the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

Rose Lobo joined the Bravo Youth Foundation board of directors in 2009. Rose is an artist and designer who expresses her creativity through a wide range of design and artistic media. She is currently working on a series of large sculptures and installations to highlight the social, political and cultural aspects of the African Diaspora in Brazil.

Rose holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from universities in her home town of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1990, Rose owned a modeling, dance and fitness school in Rio. She also worked for many years as a set designer for various dance and theater productions.

Here in the United States, Rose is a founder and curator of the Brazilian Consulate Gallery (BCG) in the Brazilian Consulate in Los Angeles. She also supports various non-profit and charitable organizations, including the Brazil Foundation in New York, the Santa Monica Senior Arts Foundation, Home for All in Los Angeles, and the Santa Monica YMCA.

Lilian Miller relocated from New York where she held several positions at nonprofit organizations.

She served as the Manager, National Expansion Project at Brazil Foundation. Lilian has served in development and nonprofit management consulting capacities at the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, the New York City Office of the Comptroller, and Literacy, Inc.

Her specialties include nonprofit management and policy. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of New Rochelle.

Gláucio Gomes holds a professional specialization in Local Development Planning and Management by the International Studies Centre/International Labor Organization (ITCILO). His specialties include private social investment analysis, consulting in diagnostic, design and implementation of nonprofit program strategies and evaluation of programs and public policies.

Glaucio serves on the Board of Directors at Rummos Assessoria, Pesquisa e Avaliação and as Program Officer at Brazil Foundation. Glaucio is a published author in Brazilian and international third sector publications.