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.
About
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 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 the identification and promotion of 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
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Mining
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Education
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Innovation, Science & Technology
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Life Sciences
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Trade & Investment
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Diversity & Inclusion
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Infrastructure
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Start-Ups
- Agriculture
LET'S DO BUSINESS TOGETHER
BCCC will help you connect with successful and influential people. Currently the BCCC represents some of the leading companies in the business world.
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 linking players from private and government sectors who work together to strengthen bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Brazil and Canada.
2019
2018
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2012
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1995
1973
Management & Board of Directors
Frederico Marques | Cescon Barrieu
Director of the BCCC
Of Counsel – Head of North America at Cescon Barrieu
Frederico Marques
Director of the BCCC & Chair of the BCCC Mining Committee
Of-Counsel & Head North America | Cescon Barrieu
John Welch
Director of the BCCC & Honorary Member
Executive Director | Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce
Marcelo Sarkis
Director of the BCCC & Chair of BCCC IST Committee
Senior Patent Agent and Principal | Prima IP
Ricardo Meirelles
Director of the BCCC
Ted Hewitt
Director of the BCCC & Honorary Member
President | Social Science and Humanities Research Council
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
About our 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
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 | Cescon Barrieu
Daniel Ricica G.
Vice-Chair | KPMG
Edson Ribeiro
Vale Canada
Ana Candida de Mello Carvalho
BMA Law
Diogo Oliveira
Appian Capital Brazil
Guilherme Guedes de Paula
Appian Capital Brazil
Ingrid Polini
SafetyDocs Global
Innovation, Science & Technology
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; Education; Startups 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
Chair | Prima IP
Luiz DiSessa
Cescon Barrieu
Trade & Investment
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
Chair | Mandala Group
Fernanda Custodio
Export Development Canada – EDC
Peter Hawkins
MELLOHAWK Logistics
Nadine Lopes
Global Affairs Canada
Lara Merjane
Baker McKenzie
Methias Hartpence
CPP Investment Board
Diversity & Inclusion
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
Diogo Oliveira
Appian Capital Brazil
Guilherme Guedes de Paula
Appian Capital Brazil
Peter Hawkins
MELLOHAWK Logistics
Anna Christina Fleury
DACOLOR Canada
Ambassador Wanja Nobrega
Consulate General of Toronto
ESG
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
Co-Chair | Cescon Barrieu
Iman Kara
Co-Chair | Brookfield
Rafael Mangini
Maple Bear Global Schools
Peter Visser
Maple Bear Global Schools
Guilherme Guedes de Paula
Appian Capital Brazil
Diogo Oliveira
Appian Capital Brazil
Silvio Lima
Appian Capital Brazil
Ielca Torok
Minerva Solutions
Ricardo Meirelles
BCCC
Ambassador Wanja Nobrega
Consulate General of Toronto
Education
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
Peter Hawkins
Chair | MELLOHAWK Logistics
Margareth Zanchetta
Co-Chair | Toronto Metropolitan University
Paulo Silva
Co-Chair | Smrt English
About our BCCC Chapters
The BCCC Chapters understand the different characteristics of Provinces and work to enhance its own singularities.
The main objective is to act on a local scale to develop business in each Province, increasing referrals and market access to companies of both Brazil and Canada.
With a closer view, it’s possible to act on specific situations and to have a better support for our members.
Please contact us at info@brazcanchamber.org if you are interested in joining any of the BCCC Chapters.
Manitoba
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
British Columbia
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; Education; Startups 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
Fernanda Whitaker
Co-Chair | Innovate BC
Ingrid Polini
Co-Chair | SafetyDocs
Atlantic
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
Bernadette Fernandes
Co-Chair | The Varanda Network
Peter Shaw
Co-Chair | Port Saint John
Ottawa
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
Inês Gomes
Co-Chair | Invest Ottawa
Laila Hawrylyshyn
Co-Chair
BCCC Chapters
BCCC is a national organization based in Toronto, ON. It has recently expanded into creating chapters to better serve membership and give access to players around Canada. BCCC currently has an active chapter in Winnipeg, Manitoba
BCCC Atlantic Chapter
Co-Chair: Bernadette Fernandes
Founder and CEO at The Varanda Network
Co-Chair: Peter Shaw
Container Development Specialist at Port Saint John
BCCC British Columbia Chapter
Co-Chair: Ingrid Polini
CEO at SafetyDocs Global
Co-Chair: Fernanda Whitaker
Director, Partnerships at Innovate BC
BCCC Winnipeg Chapter
Chair: Gustavo Zentner
President at Interpoc Inc