A memorable evening at the 25th Personality of the Year Awards Gala Dinner, hosted by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain at Drapers’ Hall, London — marking 25 years of this landmark celebration of Brazil–UK relations.
The evening opened with Chair Vera Innes, who reflected on the origins of the Awards in 1997 and their first edition in 1999, paying tribute to Sir Peter Heap, former Chair of the Brazilian Chamber, whose vision helped establish this flagship celebration of Brazil–UK business ties, as well as the many individuals who have shaped the Chamber’s journey over the decades.
Ambassador Antonio Patriota highlighted the significance of this milestone 25th edition, celebrating the strength and depth of the Brazil–UK partnership and the importance of recognising those driving it forward across business, innovation and investment.
Guests were then delighted by a musical performance that reflected the spirit of cultural exchange between Brazil and the UK. The British–Brazilian trio Djangada — Sam Watts (piano), Matheus Nova (bass) and Marcinho Pereira (drums) — blended Brazilian rhythms with jazz, performing works including “Pescaria” and “São Salvador” by Dorival Caymmi, and “Mancada” by Gilberto Gil.
A powerful keynote followed from David Fein, Vice Chair of The Earthshot Prize, who spoke about the urgency of climate action and the role of optimism, innovation and collaboration in scaling solutions worldwide, while recognising Brazil’s growing leadership in global environmental initiatives.
The evening honoured two outstanding organisations:
Embraer, represented by João Pedro Taborda, Vice-President for Government Affairs – Europe & Central Asia, who reflected on decades of UK–Brazil aerospace collaboration and today’s joint innovation in sustainable aviation and next-generation technologies.
Anglo American, represented by Ana Sanches, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American Brazil, who delivered a powerful message on responsible mining, sustainability and long-term purpose, reinforcing mining’s essential role in enabling the global energy transition.
A celebration of partnership, innovation and shared purpose — and a strong reminder of the depth and future potential of Brazil–UK relations.
We will be sharing more photographs from the evening as they become available, along with additional highlights and stories from this year’s Gala in the coming days.
#BrazilUK #BCCC #PersonalityOfTheYear #EarthshotPrize #Embraer #AngloAmerican #Djangada #Leadership #Innovation #Sustainability #ClimateAction #BusinessDiplomacy #London
