Ana Paula Vitelli Named New Director of Columbia Global Center Rio

Columbia Global Center Rio de Janeiro is excited to announce the appointment of Ana Paula Vitelli as its new director.

A distinguished Brazilian leader with more than 30 years of leadership experience locally and globally, Vitelli brings a strong record of academic and executive experience in building partnerships between global institutions and communities. Before joining Columbia Global Center Rio, she served as managing director of Blue Management Institute, advising senior executives on strategy, leadership, and organizational culture. Previously, Vitelli served as president and chairwoman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. In 2025, she was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her outstanding service on the board of Britcham.

“Ana Paula Vitelli steps into leadership at a pivotal moment, as Brazil is leading on climate, on democratic governance, on social innovations, and on the kind of bold, solutions-oriented thinking the world needs today,”  said Wafaa El-Sadr, executive vice president of Columbia Global. “I am confident that under Ana Paula's leadership, the Columbia Global Center in Rio will continue to thrive, serving both Brazil and Columbia with distinction.”

Under her leadership, the Rio Center will build on the momentum generated by COP30 by serving as a link between Columbia’s climate expertise and Brazil's growing role as a leader in global climate sustainability. The Center also plans to expand the Columbia Women’s Leadership Network and the Sergipe STEAM initiative to empower the next generation of Brazilian professionals and scholars. Vitelli will also oversee the creation of new research and scholarship pathways that allow for a two-way flow of expertise between Brazil and Columbia.

Vitelli’s new role follows up significant contributions she made in academia as the University of Manchester’s regional director for South America. There, she led strategic partnerships that expanded its influence and increased student enrollment. Earlier in her career at Fundação Getulio Vargas, she oversaw operations for more than 200 programs annually. She has applied her expertise to international development projects, notably serving as a consultant for the UK Prosperity Fund – Future Cities project in the area of gender and inclusion.

Vitelli holds a bachelor’s in business administration, a master’s in business management, and a PhD in organizational behavior, all from Fundação Getulio Vargas. She is the author of the book, A Mulher (In) Visível: vida, trabalho, caminho e escolhas (The (In)Visible Woman: Life, Work, Pathways, and Choices).