Hans Friese – President

    Born in Pernambuco (Brazil), Hans Friese currently resides in the United States. He was an entrepreneur, working primarily in the development and trade of organic products. Together with friends from Recife (the capital of Pernambuco), he founded the Terra Viva do Brasil Institute in 2023.

    Anna Paula da Silva – Executive Director

    Black woman, mother, feminist, and popular educator in the Women’s Network of Espaço Feminista. She has been building the feminist movement for over a decade, working on the development and implementation of Community and Educational Projects focused on discussions around Gender, Race, and Class, as well as various technologies for sustainable living in the Semiarid region.

    Patrícia Chaves – Deputy Director

    Patrícia Chaves has over 20 years of experience in land issues, economic justice, and gender equity. As the founder and director of Espaço Feminista, an organization based in Pernambuco and member of the International Land Coalition (ILC), she has been dedicated to strengthening the participation of urban and rural women in decision-making spaces, building collective power, and addressing injustices rooted in economic, social, and environmental systems. By connecting grassroots actions to global advocacy, she co-founded the Feminist Land Platform (FLP). Today, Patrícia also contributes to the initiatives of Terra Viva do Brasil Institute, expanding the impact of actions focused on sustainability and equity.

    Antônio Jucá Filho – Advisory Board Member

    With nearly 40 years of experience, architect and urban planner Antônio Jucá Filho is a renowned expert in social housing and sanitation. A graduate, master’s holder from UFPE, Ph.D. from University of London, and a postdoctoral researcher in water resource management, Antônio has taught at several universities. During his postdoctoral studies, he went to the Netherlands to explore ways to integrate long-term public policies for efficient water resource management. Now, he continues his mission at Terra Viva do Brasil Institute.

    Luanna Roberta da Silva – Fiscal Council Member

    Psychologist specializing in neuropsychology, working at the Specialized Social Assistance Reference Center (CREAS), and an activist in the Rural Women Workers’ Movement of Pernambuco (MMTR/PE), with a focus on mental health in rural areas.

    Maria Joseane Vieira da Mota – Fiscal Council Member