Fernando is a development and politics enthusiast currently pursuing his Masters in Public Administration at Columbia University. With a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and an MBA in Marketing, he has taken leadership roles in different Brazilian NGOs on issues related to poverty alleviation, community development, and slum upgrading. Fernando believes that real and sustainable change will come with efficient, honest and intelligent public administration and with collaborative public policymaking. One of his main goals is to bridge the gap between the Brazilian government and civil society.