LSE ALUMNI
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FRIENDS OF LSE IN...
BRAZIL
This summer the world focuses its attention on Brazil for the month-long festival of the FIFA World Cup. It is the culmination of almost seven years of preparation that has impacted on every level of Brazilian life.
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uch of the conversation surrounding this World Cup has centered on the socio-economic impact the tournament will have on Brazil and its infrastructure, and – as has become the norm for all international sporting events – its potential legacy for the country and its people. Indeed, LSE alumnus Dr Luis Fernandes was acting minister for sport and played a prominent (and at times testing) role in ensuring the venues are ready on schedule. Dr Fernandes was featured in LSE Connect, winter 2012, discussing the challenges he faced.
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In 2006, just a year prior to Brazil winning the bid to host the tournament, the LSE Alumni Association of Brazil was founded by a small group of alumni including Dr Aristides Inacio Ferreira Marques (PhD Regional Planning 1986) and current president, Rafael Alves de Almeida (LLM International Business Law 2004). The country group set out to enrich the personal and professional lives of its members through a range of intellectually stimulating events and networking activities, and to act as a formal link with the School for alumni from and living in Brazil. Given
their social sciences background at LSE, many members have also joined the global debate about how Brazil can ensure that the World Cup and the Olympic Games, which follow in 2016, will provide a sustainable platform for the country’s economic health. Almost 750 LSE alumni currently reside in Brazil, and Rafael is encouraged by the role its members play in helping to establish a strong link between LSE, its alumni and potential applicants. “We are proud of the way our membership has grown – we comprise alumni from different generations hailing from different parts of Brazil who all want to stay connected with LSE and
London,” says Rafael. “Our events range from dinners welcoming leading political and economic guests as speakers, to speaking engagements by non-academic distinguished alumni, and informal get-togethers in restaurants and pubs throughout the year.” The group has also demonstrated a commitment to networking, and has actively participated with the British Alumni Association in Brazil, which comprises alumni from British universities. This in turn has led to strong connections with the British Council, the British Chambers of Commerce, as well as other alumni associations including the Columbia University Alumni of Brazil and Sciences Po Alumni Association. n