Consular Conversations: How can Brazil contribute to the XXI century international cooperation agenda

About this event

Based on his almost 40 years of diplomatic activity, Ambassador Nestor Forster will examine some of the main areas where Brazil can make a difference in the international agenda in food security, energy, and the environment, exploring the many synergies among these vital sectors. He will share some little known facts about Brazilian policies in the past decades that enabled the country to profit from its unique natural resources and make an important contribution to international cooperation these fields.

The SFU School for International Studies' Consular Conversations series is a monthly public forum featuring discussions with members of the Consular Corps in Vancouver. These conversations are moderated by Dr. Ricardo Arredondo, an IS Adjunct Professor and Consul General of Argentina. The goal is to bring together the Consular Corps of British Columbia for public lectures that encourage dialogue on issues that transcend borders, explore inspiring topics, and cultivate connections. The primary audience will be members of the Consular Corps of British Columbia and the Schools for International Studies and Public Policy. This is an exceptional opportunity for students in both SFU units.

Speaker Bio

Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1963, Ambassador Forster graduated from the Brazilian Diplomatic Academy (Instituto Rio Branco) in 1986. As a diplomat, he served in Canada, Costa Rica, and the United States, where he was posted three times to the Embassy in Washington, as well as to the Brazilian consulates in Hartford (CT) and New York (NY). His diplomatic experience covers such areas as trade negotiations, intellectual property, financial policy, political affairs, international law, consular affairs, administration, and information technology. 

After starting his career in consular affairs, Forster was posted twice to the Office of the President of Brazil (1990-92 and 2002), having also served as chief of staff at the Office of the Attorney General.. He also headed the Foreign Ministry’s Information Technology Division. Ambassador Forster has led numerous Brazilian delegations to regional and multilateral meetings. 

In 2006, Nestor Forster successfully concluded his high studies dissertation on “Development Finance” at the Rio Branco Diplomatic Academy. He also co-authored the Official Style Guide of Brazil’s federal administration, in use for over 30 years, and participated in the first institutionalized Brazilian presidential transition team in 2002, which resulted in the book “Transition and Democracy: institutionalizing the transferring of power.” He has also appeared as a guest speaker at Columbia University, Toronto University, University of Alberta, Université Laval à Montreal, Belfer Center at Harvard's Kennedy School, Instituto Rio Branco, and several other universities in the United States. 

Ambassador Forster was appointed Consul General in Vancouver on September 14th, 2023, after leading the Embassy of Brazil in the United States for almost four years. He is married to Maria Theresa. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.