Biography

I have been working in the social and environmental field for over fifteen years. My academic background is in Veterinary Medicine, a path that opened my eyes to the inseparability of human, animal, and environmental health, which led me to a Master's degree in Collective Health and a postgraduate specialization in Public Mental Health Policy. Today, I deepen this systemic perspective as a PhD candidate in Governance, Knowledge and Innovation at the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra. Since 2009, I have been an Environmental Analyst at the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), where I work at the Central-West Regional Office. My professional practice is built in the field: working alongside local communities and traditional peoples, I develop participatory and socio-environmental management tools, including participatory management plans, commitment agreements, and governing councils for federal Protected Areas. I believe that biodiversity conservation is only lasting when the people who inhabit and steward these territories are the true agents of decision-making.