ABOUT US

Established in 1973, the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) is a not-for-profit and independent business association held by the private sector with a primary objective of fostering stronger commercial relations between Brazil and Canada.

Led by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of renowned industry leaders and experts in conducting business between Brazil and Canada, the BCCC plays a vital role in linking players from Brazilian and Canadian private and government sectors facilitating dialogue between both parties and assisting members in identifying key opportunities to expand their activities and further their business interests.

WHAT WE OFFER TO OUR MEMBERS

Advocacy & government access

Access to Brazilian/Canadian dignitaries and trade-missions organized by public (e.g., Ministries) and private (e.g., Industry groups) stakeholders.
Strong and reputable channel to help shape government views of specific sectors to further objectives of the business community (e.g., through policy design).

Qualified information and Insight

Exclusive sectoral events and reports focused on identifying and promoting investment opportunities between Brazil and Canada (e.g., government priorities/projects, funding programs).
Insight into key trade barriers and how to facilitate business connections between Brazil and Canada.

Connectivity

Access to an unrivalled network of institutions (e.g., universities, not-for-profits), executives/entrepreneurs conducting business between Brazil/Canada.
Support for targeted promotion of members and their activities across the BCCC network of contacts (e.g., targeted introductions, sponsorship opportunities in BCCC events, brand visibility).

KEY SECTORS OF FOCUS

• Mining

• Education

• Innovation, Science & Technology

• Life Sciences

• Trade & Investment

• Diversity & Inclusion

• Infrastructure

• Start-Ups

• Agriculture

LET'S DO BUSINESS TOGETHER

BCCC will help you connect with successful and influential people. The BCCC represents some of the leading companies in the business world.

OUR HISTORY

The Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce was established in 1973 as a business association whose primary objective is to foster stronger commercial relations between Canada and Brazil. Headquartered in Toronto, the BCCC plays a vital role in linking players from private and government sectors who work together to strengthen bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Brazil and Canada.

2019

BCCC executive board included: Cory McPhee, Co-Chairman; Daniel Ricica, Co-Chairman, Frederico Marques (McCarthy Tetrault), Paola Saad (Mandala Group), Peter Hawkins (Mellohawk Logistics), Marcelo Sarkis (Prima IP), Ted Hewitt (SSHRC)

2018

BCCC executive board included: Paulo Salomao, C0-Chairman; Cory McPhee, Co-Chairman; Paola Saad, President; Peter Hawkins, Vice-President

2017

BCCC executive board included: Paulo Salomao, C0-Chairman; Cory McPhee, Co-Chairman; Marcelo Sarkis, President; Paola Saad, Vice-President

2016

BCCC executive board included: Frederico Marques, Chairman; Paulo Salomao, Vice-Chair

2015

BCCC executive board included: Frederico Marques, Chairman; John Welch, Vice-Chairman.

2014

BCCC executive board included: Frederico Marques, Chairman; Cintia Zanellato, Vice-Chairman; Raul Papaleo, President.

2013

BCCC executive board included: Frederico Marques, Chairman; Cintia Zanellato, Vice-Chairman; Raul Papaleo, President; Fabiana Silva, Vice-President.

2012

BCCC executive board included: Eric Bonnor, Chairman; Frederico Marques, Vice-Chairman; Raul Papaleo, President; Fabiana Silva, Vice-President.

2011

BCCC executive board included: Eric Bonnor, Chairman; Eduardo Klurfan, Vice-Chairman; Raul Papaleo, President; Fabiana Silva, Vice-President.

In order to better enhance efficiency with the expansion of the Chamber, the BCCC decided to go on its own path and terminated its agreement with I.E Canada, opening its own office in Toronto. The e-newsletter was restructured and redesigned, adding more inputs from members and partners in order to adapt to the chamber’s plan of expansion. In February, the BCCC has opened a new Chapter in Montreal in order to better serve businesses interested in bilateral agreements between Quebec and Brazil.

The BCCC hosted a very successful 5th edition of Brazil-Canada at PDAC, where major prominent figures from the Brazilian government attended and participated with presentations. Notably Claudio Scliar, the Secretary of Mines of the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil; Piragibe Tarrago, the new Brazilian Ambassador to Canada.

In March, the BCCC hired Mirian Ribeiro as Business Coordinator. In July the BCCC launched its new website featuring new functionalities to better accommodate the growing demand of members. In order to enhance efficiency, the BCCC developed new member’s benefits and improved business categories.

2010

BCCC executive board included: Eduardo Klurfan, Chairman; Mary Anderson, President; Brigitte Grossmann Cairus, Vice-President.

The BCCC was able to get over 30 new members in the first semester, including Brookfield Asset Management (formerly Brascan), Export Development Corporation, Gerdau Ameristeel, Kinross Gold, Scotiabank, TAM Brazilian Airlines, Vale Inco Limited, Votorantim-St. Mary’s Cement, the International Trade Canada and several law firms and private individuals. The governments of Brazil, Canada, Ontario and Quebec actively support the BCCC and started a partnership that lasts until today. Our 4th edition of Brazil-Canada at PDAC had seminars presented by the Honourable Marie-P. Charette Poulin, Senator and Counsel in the International Affairs Group of Heenan Blaikie; Ambassador Paulo Cordeiro, the Brazilian Ambassador to Canada, among others.

In May, Fabiana Silva became BCCC Vice-President.

In July, Mary Anderson stepped down as BCCC President.

In September, Raul Papaleo became BCCC President. In the same month, the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil (MDIC) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a Brazilian Trade Mission to Canada. Speakers included Ivan Ramalho, Vice Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil; Louis Lévesque, Deputy Minister of International Trade of Canada; Paulo Cordeiro, Brazilian Ambassador to Canada; and Eric Bonnor, Chairman of the Brazil Canada Chamber of Commerce.

2009

BCCC executive board included: Eduardo Klurfan, Chairman; Mary Anderson, President;  Brigitte Grossmann Cairus, Vice-President;  Ceres Silva and Fabiana Silva, interns.

2008

BCCC executive board included: Eduardo Klurfan, Chairman; Ken Frankel, Vice-Chairman; Mary Anderson, President; Alma Farias, Vice President.

The CCA and BCCC decided to work independently. The BCCC continued to work with the service contract under I.E. Canada

2007

BCCC executive board included: Eduardo Klurfan, Chairman; Mary Anderson, President;  Alma Farias, Vice President..

The BCCC launched a web-based portal for Brazil-Canada investors, exporters and importers, www.brazcan.org (current www.brazcanchamber.org)

2006

BCCC executive board included: Eduardo Klurfan, Chairman;  Bob Armstrong, Vice-Chairman;  Mary Anderson, President;  Ana M. Lozano, Vice-President

2005

BCCC executive board included: Alan V. Dean, Chairman;  Bob Armstrong, Vice-Chairman;  Mary Anderson, President;  Ana M. Lozano, Vice-President.

2004

BCCC executive board included: Alan V. Dean, Chairman; Tim Plumptre, Vice-Chairman; Robert (Bob) J. Armstrong, President; Ana M. Lozano, Vice-President.

2003

The BCCC and the CCA approached I.E. Canada to provide management and administrative support for their activities. Under this arrangement, the President of I.E. Canada acted as President for the two associations.

The BCCC established a strategic alliance with the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters in order to offer a more integrated approach to business opportunities in the Americas.

1995

The Chamber formed a strategic alliance with the Canadian Council for the Americas (the CCA), a Canadian business association promoting Canadian business interests in the Caribbean and Latin America outside Brazil.

From that date, the CCA and BCCC have shared a single management and administration, have had a number of board directors in common and co-operated on events.

1973

The Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) was established in Toronto. Its founding members include Alcan, Brascan and CIBC.

MANAGEMENT & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daniel Ricica | KPMG

Co-Chair of the BCCC

Partner, Energy & Natural Resources at KPMG Canada

Peter Hawkins | MELLOHAWK Logistics

Co-Chair of the BCCC

Managing Director at  MELLOHAWK Logistics

Frederico Marques | Cescon Barrieu

Co-Founder & Executive Director 4B Mining Corp

Paola Saad |  Mandala Group

Director of the BCCC

President at Mandala Group

Ted Hewitt | SSHRC

Director of the BCCC

President at Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Marcelo Sarkis |Prima IP

Director of the BCCC

Founder & Senior Patent Agent at Prima IP

Edson Ribeiro | Vale Canada

Director of the BCCC

Head of Exploration and Mineral Projects at Vale Base Metals

Peter Hawkins | MELLOHAWK Logistics

Co-Chair of the BCCC

Managing Director at  MELLOHAWK Logistics

Daniel Ricica | KPMG

Co-Chair of the BCCC

Partner, Energy & Natural Resources at KPMG Canada

Andre Borges | Brookfield Asset Management

Director of the BCCC

Vice-President, Operations at Brookfield Asset Management

Eduardo Fleury | FCR Law

Director of the BCCC

Partner at FCR Law

Edson Ribeiro | Vale Base Metals

Director of the BCCC

Head of Exploration and Mineral Projects at Vale Base Metals

Dominique St-Louis I Export Development Canada EDC

Director of the BCCC

Regional Manager Latin America at Export Development Canada – EDC

Frederico Marques  |  Cescon Barrieu

Director of the BCCC and Chair of the BCCC Mining Committee

Co-founder and Executive Director of 4B Mining

Gustavo Zentner | Interpoc Inc.

Director of the BCCC and Chair of the BCCC Winnipeg Chapter

President at Interpoc Inc.

Jamile Cruz | I&D 101

Director of the BCCC and Co-Chair of the BCCC D&I Committee

Founder of I&D 101

John Welch | Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce

Director of the BCCC and Honorary Member

Founder and CEO at Research for Emerging Markets (REM), Inc.

Marcelo Sarkis| Prima IP

Director of the BCCC and Co-Chair of BCCC IST Committee

Senior Patent Agent and Principal at Pima IP

Márcio Pereira| BMA Law

Director of the BCCC

Partner, Environmental at BMA Law 

Paola Saad| Mandala Group

Director of the BCCC and Co-Chair of the Trade & Investment Committee

President at Mandala Group

Rafael Benke| PROACTIVA Results

Director of the BCCC and Co-Chair of the BCCC ESG Committee

CEO & Founder at PROACTIVA Results

Ricardo Meirelles

Director of the BCCC

Ted Hewitt | Social Science and Humanities Research Council

Director of the BCCC and Honorary Member

President at Social Science and Humanities Research Council

Dr. Daniela Chimisso | Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch and Barreto Advogados

Director of the BCCC and Co-Chair of the Trade & Investment Committee

Non-Executive Director, Sustainability Expert, Of Counsel, Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados

Raquel Boechat  Ι  Founder of Canada Starthub

Director of the BCCC and Co-Chair of the BCCC IST Committee

Founder and CEO of Canada Starthub

Alma Farias

BCCC Vice-President (2007 – 2009)

Ambassador Ana Lelia Beltrame

Consul General of Brazil in Toronto

John Welch

BCCC Vice-Chair (2015 / 2016)

Executive Director at the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce

Mary Anderson

BCCC President (2005 – 2010)

Raul Papaleo

BCCC President (2012-2014)

Ted Hewitt

President at Social Services and Humanities Research Council

Ambassador Piragibe dos Santos Tarrago

Brazilian Ambassador to Canada (2011 – 2013)

Ambassador Afonso Jose Sena Cardoso

Former Consul-General of Brazil in Toronto

BCCC OPERATIONAL COMMITTEES

The Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce Committees are responsible and accomplished for much of the work done by the Chamber. Once we have strong and active committees it makes us strong Chamber as a whole.

All Committees help develop projects, evaluate current and future field opportunities, and provide advice on facts and issues concerning their area of expertise. The Committees meet regularly to discuss new developments, review Chamber projects, and identify future opportunities.

On another perspective, our Committees identify important issues and promote high level discussions about businesses between Brazil and Canada. They also make it possible for the Chamber to extend its reach, and thereby, expand its works on helping companies, individual members and students and transform good opportunities into businesses.

Mining

Committee Objectives

The Mining Committee is responsible to promote the exchange of information about the mineral and mining industries among the members of the BCCC, including information about certain specific regulation, industry highlights, finance opportunities, exploration and mining activities in Brazil and Canada.

The Committee is also in charge of managing BCCC’s participation in the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) annual convention in Toronto.

Committee Members

Frederico Marques
Chair | 4B Mining Group

Daniel Ricica G.
Vice-Chair | KPMG

Edson Ribeiro
Vale Canada

Marcelo Mendo
Cescon Barrieu

Frederico Viana
Vale Canada

Richard Freund
Konker

Ana Candida de Mello Carvalho
BMA Law

Diogo Oliveira
Appian Capital Brazil

Guilherme Guedes de Paula
Appian Capital Brazil

Andrew Hastings
Lundin Mining

Adriano Trindade
Mattos Filho

Alex Penha
4B Mining

Marcio Pereira
BMA Law

Innovation, Science & Technology

Committee Objectives

The Innovation, Science and Technology Committee is responsible for advising the Board on all matters related to innovation, science and technology (IST), including: Intellectual Property (IP) matters; EducationStartups and the innovation ecosystem ; and Healthcare and Health Technology in Brazil and Canada.

The key objective of this Committee is to facilitate information sharing among BCCC members related to advances in Innovation, Science and Technology  in areas including but not limited to research, investment and business opportunities between both countries, within country frameworks, approaches and good regulatory practices, and with the aim of securing a competitive business advantage. The Committee is also very active in the discussions of the Canada-Brazil Joint-Committee for Innovation Science and Technology.

Committee Members

Marcelo Sarkis
Co-Chair | Prima IP

Raquel Boechat
Co-Chair | Canada StartHub

Tania Liberman
Cescon Barrieu

Rafael Santos
Cescon Barrieu

Eduardo Fleury 
FRC Law

Margareth Zanchetta 
Toronto Metropolitan University

Ana Christina Muller
BMA Law

Bruno Guillem
FCR Law

Richard Freund
Konker

Michael Vourakes

Cestar College

Thiago Sombra
Mattos Filho

Trade & Investment

Committee Objectives

The BCCC Trade & Investments Committee is responsible for advising the Board in all matters related to Trade and Investment between Brazil and Canada, including bilateral cooperation agreements, business opportunities, institutional relationships and regulation changes in both countries. The Committee also facilitates introductions and meeting arrangements with the main goal of developing business opportunities.

The Committee focus on import and export,  FDI, Financial Services, Infrastructure and Real Estate. It also coordinates with incoming trade missions to Canada and works side by side with other Operational Committees on investments in specific sectors. The Committee is also in charge of the annual Doing Business in Brazil event, the BCCC Infrastructure Forum and related satellite events and roundtables.

Committee Members

Paola Saad
Co-Chair | Mandala Group

Dr. Daniela Chimisso

Co-Chair  | Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados

Ana Candida de Mello Carvalho
BMA Law

Bianca Lopes Pereira Barbosa
BMA Law

Philippe Jeffrey
FCR Law

Gustavo Zentner
InterPOC

Paula Vieira
Mattos Filho

Shannon Blanchard
Port St. John

Peter Hawkins
MELLOHAWK Logistics

Daniel Miranda
Mattos Filho

Diversity & Inclusion

Committee Objectives

The BCCC Diversity and Inclusion Committee is designed to promote as a business strategy, advise the Chamber on current initiatives, and support all other Operational Committees to ensure a balanced representation in events and other projects.

A key objective is encourage, empower and support the extension of different groups and individuals when doing business between Brazil and Canada.

Committee Members

Jamile Cruz
Chair | I&D 101

Marcelo Sarkis
Prima IP

Paola Saad
Mandala Group

Diogo Oliveira
Appian Capital Brazil

Guilherme Guedes de Paula
Appian Capital Brazil

Peter Hawkins
MELLOHAWK Logistics

Victoria Barrington
Vale

Edson Ribeiro
Vale

Ambassador Wanja Nobrega
Consulate General of Toronto

ESG

Committee Objectives

The BCCC ESG Committee was created to advise the Board of Directors in all matters related to ESG and add value to our members through high-level and strategic discussions, events, and activities, and contribute to the public debate, not only between Canada and Brazil but internationally. ESG is now front and center and a mandatory discussion in Board Rooms and Management meetings for companies and investors all over the world. If sustainability was already being considered a strategic decision before, ESG has brought this discussion to a different level.

The objective of the BCCC ESG Committee is to become the main point of discussion for Brazilian and Canadian companies on ESG matters and a vehicle to strengthen and connect bilateral and global best practices and initiatives, brainstorm ideas, and network.

Committee Members

Rafael Benke
Chair | Proactiva

Luciano Inacio de Souza
Vice-Chair | Cescon Barrieu

Iman Kara
Vice-Chair | Brookfield

Elise Racicot
Global Affairs Canada

Peter Hawkins
Mellohawk Logistics

Luciana Andrade 

Citizen Observant

Bruno Guillem
FCR Law 

Rebecca Manning
Maple Bear Global Schools

Ambassador Wanja Nobrega
Consulate General of Toronto

Guilherme Guedes de Paula
Appian Capital Brazil

Gabriela Mol
Appian Capital Brazil

Marcio Pereira
BMA Law 

Allan Oziel
Oziel Law

Diogo Oliveira
Appian Capital Brazil

Silvio Lima
Appian Capital Brazil

Ana Christina Muller
BMA Law

Juliana Ramalho
Mattos Filho

Ingrid Polini
SafetyDocs Global

Michael Vourakes
Cestar College

Ricardo Meirelles

Education

Committee Objectives

The Education Committee is responsible for advising the Board on all matters related to education in Brazil and Canada.

The key objective of this Committee is to facilitate information sharing among BCCC members related to education and research.

Committee Members

Paulo Silva
Chair | Smrt English

Margareth Zanchetta
Co-Chair | Toronto Metropolitan University

Laura Wood
Co-Chair | Centennial College

Marcelo Sarkis
Prima IP

Ted Hewitt
SSHRC

Michael Vourakes
Cestar College

Peter Hawkins
MELLOHAWK Logistics

Tiago Martins
Seneca Polytechnic

Henrique Silveira
Mattos Filho

BCCC CHAPTERS

The BCCC Chapters understand the different characteristics of Provinces and work to enhance their singularities.

The organization’s main objective is to act locally to develop business in each Province, increasing referrals and market access to companies in Brazil and Canada. With a closer view, it’s possible to act on specific situations and to have better support for our members.

Please contact us at info@brazcanchamber.org if you are interested in joining a BCCC Chapter.

Manitoba

Gustavo Zentner
Co-Chair | InterPOC

Dave Owens
Co-Chair | Vale

British Columbia

Fernanda Whitaker
Co-Chair | Innovate BC

Ingrid Polini
Co-Chair | SafetyDocs

Atlantic

Bernadette Fernandes
Co-Chair | The Varanda Network

Peter Shaw
Co-Chair | Port Saint John

Ottawa

Laila Hawrylyshyn
Chair

BCCC Alberta

Patricia Garcia da Rosa

Chair

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