The organisation

Orlando Baquero, Diplom Kaufmann (Universität Hamburg). Geboren in Bogotá, Kolumbien, führte ihn sein beruflicher Werdegang über verschiedene Unternehmen der Nahrungsmittel- und Pharmaindustrie sowie des Agrarprodukthandels in mehrere Länder Lateinamerikas und nach Deutschland. Er ist Mitglied des Vorstandes der ELArb European-Latinamerican Arbitration Association und Hauptgeschäftsführer des LAV.

Rebeca Mendonça studied biology in Brazil and Germany and completed her Master's degree in "International Agriculture Sciences" at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. She worked for many years at the DAAD, Rio de Janeiro office, as a coordinator and was responsible for the DAAD PhD scholarship program, as well as for the organization of various DAAD marketing events.

Betina Sachsse, born in Rio de Janeiro, studied Literature and Conference Interpreting in her birthplace as well as in Heidelberg. She was Partner in the maritime consultancy "Business with Brasil", a Manager at the Cultural Institute of the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin and a Language Mediator at Daimler AG in Stuttgart and Juiz de Fora.

Mélissa Bigdely studied "International Relations & Spanish and Latin American Studies" at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and spent a year abroad in Guadalajara (Mexico), where she studied at ITESO. Additionally, she completed a Master's degree in "International Development Studies" at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. In Mexico she participated in development projects (Human Rights and Indigenous Populations in particular) and worked together with the non-governmental organization CEPAD. Previously, she made an internship at GIZ in the Latin America and Caribbean Department and assisted in the portfolio management of South American countries.

Christoph G. Schmitt was born in Bogotá (Colombia) and is a Wwholesale and Foreign Trade Merchant. His career took him to Latin America and Germany via various trading houses and industrial companies with a focus on machinery and equipment for the food and agro-industry. He served as the LAV's chief executive officer for 15 years and has been the honorary head of the culture department since January 2019.