HE Sergio Eduardo Moreira Lima, Ambassador of Brazil to Australia in conversation with Jim Middleton.

2020 marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Brazil, but the trade relationship stretches back to 1787!

The relationship is built not just on rum as it once was but on a broad range of common interests spanning education, agriculture, strong two-way investment, security and the promotion of liberal democratic values.

A visit from former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2012 led to the signing of a formal Strategic Partnership and subsequent MOU’s across education, science & innovation, the environment and immigration.

Despite the strong relationship, the impact of COVID-19 has asked tough questions of the countries both economically and politically. As the two largest countries and economies south of the equator with shared interests, can we be doing more? How do the two countries handle a competitive commodity market? What are the prospects?

AIIA Victoria invites you to join HE Dr Sergio Eduardo Moreira Lima and Jim Middleton for the next instalment of our Meet the Ambassador series.

His Excellency Dr Sergio Eduardo Moreira Lima, a career diplomat, post-graduated from the Rio Branco Institute – the Brazilian Diplomatic Academy. He has a degree in Law from the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) and is a licensed member of the Order of Attorneys of Brazil. He is also a Master of Law from the UIO (University of Oslo). He served at the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations in New York, and the Embassies in Washington, Lisbon and London. He was Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Oslo and Budapest.  He held positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Brasilia, including that of Secretary for Internal Control, Director of the Institute of Research on International Relations (IPRI) and President of the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (FUNAG), until being designated Ambassador to Australia.

In a 50-year journalistic career as a political reporter Jim Middleton has reported extensively from all countries in Southeast and North Asia (apart from North Korea) as well as India and Pakistan. From 1980-86 he was the ABC's North America correspondent in New York and Washington; from 1988-2007 he was the ABC's Chief Political Correspondent and later Political Editor in Canberra. From 2008-2014 he was Chief Anchor for the Australia Network (the ABC's overseas network), and then for Sky News Australia. He was a Vice Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Melbourne from 2015-2017.

This event is online only. Registrations close on Tuesday 6 April at 2pm, after which you will receive a follow-up email containing details of how to join the Zoom webinar. The webinar will commence at 5.45pm AEDT (Melbourne time, UTC+10).

AIIA Victoria gratefully acknowledges the Walter Mangold Trust Fund for its ongoing support of our young members.

To download the pdf flyer please click here