Ambassador Gisela Maria Figueiredo Padovan

Gisela Maria Figueiredo Padovan was born in São Paulo on August 4, 1960. She graduated in Languages and Pedagogy from the University of São Paulo (1981), where she obtained a specialization in translation (1984). She joined the Rio Branco Institute (IRBr) in 1991. In 2009, she completed the Higher Studies Course, defending her thesis “Diplomacy and the Use of Force: The Iraq Panels.”

She held important positions in Brazil, in the Divisions of International Economic Organizations (1992–1993) and of the United Nations (1993–1997), in the Diplomatic Planning Office (2003), in the General Coordination for Political and Economic Planning (2003–2004), and as an adviser in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004–2007).

In foreign postings, she served at the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations (1997–2000) and at the Brazilian Embassies in Buenos Aires (2000–2003 and 2013–2016) and Washington (2007–2013). In 2017, she became head of the Special Advisory Office for Federative and Parliamentary Affairs (AFEPA), and in 2018, she took office as  Director-General of theRio Branco Institute (IRBr). She also served as Consul General of Brazil in Madrid (2019–2022). In February 2023, she was appointed Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean (SALC), a position she currently holds.