Maria Cecilia de Brito

I have a long and solid experience in socio environmental themes and took part in the formation of important Brazilian environmental legislation along the last 30 years. I holds a master’s degree in environmental science at University of São Paulo and I am Agronomic Engineer graduated at Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP). 

I am the Institutional Relations Director for at Instituto Ekos Brasil, a Brazilian NGO, and took part at the Independent Scientific and Technical advisory Panel of Rio Doce (Minas Gerais Brasil), coordinated by IUCN. I am the president of the Brazilian Members Committee of IUCN. 

I was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WWF-Br for four years and Deputy Coordinator at the Alliance for Water, a network of Brazilian NGOs and social movements. I also worked at Brazilian Federal Government at the Ministry of Environment as National Secretary for Biodiversity and Forests for four years. In São Paulo State Government I was Director General of the Instituto Florestal and Executive Director of the Fundação Florestal, responsible for all state protected areas. I coordinated the São Paulo State Biodiversity Conservation Program. I  was part of the FAPESP's BIOTA Program Coordination.  

Currently I am the Chair of the IUCN Membership Committee in Brazil.