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On Thursday 3 September, Canning House hosted the e-Conversa 2020, bringing together invaluable insights on UK-Brazil relations from influential figures across industry, academia, diplomacy and government.
On Thursday 3 September, Canning House hosted the e-Conversa 2020, bringing together invaluable insights on UK-Brazil relations from influential figures across industry, academia, diplomacy and government. Canning House was delighted to act as host of the Conversa for the first time, and for its first ever online edition.
The session opened with a warm introduction from Alan Charlton, a Canning House Trustee and Founder of the Conversa. HE Vijay Rangarajan, the new Director General for Americas and Overseas Territories at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and former British Ambassador to Brazil, also offered his welcome and congratulations. Via video, HE Fred Arruda, Brazilian Ambassador to the UK, delivered a message on UK-Brazil ties.
In light of Covid-19, what should be the trade-offs between life, livelihoods and liberty?
Our panel, chaired by Canning House CEO Cristina Cortes, considered how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the three-way balance of life, livelihoods and liberty in Brazil and the UK, encompassing discussions on health, work, science and the environment.
We heard opening remarks from Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, Executive Director of the Igarapé Institute, Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, a Professor at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) Physics Institute, and HE Fiona Clouder, Regional Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean for COP26, before opening the discussion to questions from our attendees.
What are the key areas for cooperation between the UK and Brazil?
Kevin Fleming, Defense Attaché at the British Embassy Brasilia, chaired our second discussion, which focused on the most important areas of cooperation and collaboration between the UK and Brazil, addressing topics such as trade, education and technology.
On our panel were Ana Paula Vitelli, President of the British Chamber of Commerce (Britcham) in Brazil, Vera Thorstensen, Professor of Economics at the Fundação Getulio Vargas, and Liz Davidson, Chargé d'Affaires at the British Embassy Brasilia.
The discussion throughout the e-Conversa was highly productive, with excellent presentations from our panelists and a wide variety of interactive, engaged contributions from our attendees.
Alan Charlton and Cristina Cortes wrapped up the session with a look forward.
Canning House is already well underway planning the UK-Brazil Conversa 2021, which will take place in the UK. We hope to see you there!
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