Thomaz joins Advanced Biofuels USA board

Lais Forti Thomaz, a researcher at Sao Paulo State University (Unesp) specialising in International Relations and Foreign Trade, is joining the Advanced Biofuels USA board of directors.  

Advanced Biofuels USA, an educational non-profit dedicated to the understanding, development and use of advanced biofuels, welcomes Thomaz, a long-time correspondent for the organisation, contributing articles about biofuels conferences in her native Brazil, as well as thought-pieces about, for example, analysing the multiple causes of the 2007 Mexican tortilla crisis, dispelling allegations of that event as an example of a food vs. fuel conflict.

"I am so happy to welcome Lais Thomaz to the Advanced Biofuels USA board.  Her addition to this organisation enables us to benefit from her international activities and perspective," noted executive director, Joanne Ivancic.  

Ivancic said: "Although the name of the organisation has "USA" in it, our online visitors and volunteers come from around the world. Broadening our board membership beyond US borders recognises that development of advanced biofuels is not limited by political borders, with important developments occurring worldwide."

Fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish, Thomaz has also spent time in China, earning a diploma in Chinese culture and Mandarin; and attended the American University’s Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute in Washington and in Brussels. She teaches and conducts research in international economy at Sao Paulo State University, Unesp, Brazil, in the National Institute of Science and Technology for Studies on the United States. She also serves as foreign trade advisor.

Thomaz has engaged with Advanced Biofuels USA since 2014/2015 when she was a visiting scholar at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, working on her thesis which focused on the role of advocacy groups in shaping trade and energy policies.  

In a statement, Advanced Biofuels USA stated: “She brings a wealth of experiences writing weekly articles and monthly analyses on international trade and energy policies, assessing trade documents, assessing trade barriers, trends and reports, that will benefit Advanced Biofuels USA as it enters its tenth year and plans for the future.”

The board elected Thomaz to fill a position vacated by Phil Matthews due to health problems.