Ricardo Alves, MSL

Foreign Service Officer | International Relations • Sustainability • ESG • Project Management | Embassies • Consulates • Public Policy

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

About

I am a Foreign Service Officer and ESG leader with over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of international relations, public policy, and sustainability — across the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Embassy, USAID, and the Brazilian Consulate General in Atlanta. Throughout my career, I have led high-impact public policy initiatives in international cooperation in the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, managed economic governance programs in partnership with UK government bodies, and overseen consular services for more than 100,000 Brazilian citizens across six U.S. states. In recent years, I have deepened my expertise in sustainability and ESG, completing a Master's in Sustainability Leadership at Arizona State University (2024) and certifications in SDG Impact Measurement (Duke University) and Agile Project Management (Google). I bring a rare combination of diplomatic experience, strategic leadership, and modern sustainability practice. I am fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with intermediate proficiency in French and Japanese — and a strong track record of building bridges across governments, embassies, international organizations, and civil society. Currently based in Atlanta, I am actively seeking senior roles in ESG, international cooperation, public policy, or project management.

Experience

  • Vice Consul at the Brazilian Consulate in Atlanta at Consulate General of Brazil in Atlanta
    Oct 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 10 mos

    Deliver consular services to 110K Brazilian nationals in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The Brazilian consulate in Atlanta ranks number 5 in the United States and number 8 in the world in terms of services provided to the Brazilian community. Contribute to implementing policies, plans, and programs to achieve Brazilian foreign policy goals.

  • Foreign Service Officer at the Division on Transnational Crime at Governo Brasileiro - Ministério das Relações Exteriores
    Jan 2014 - Sep 2021 · 7 yrs 9 mos

    Managed administrative operations at the Division on Transnational Crime. This division is the focal point for policies related to tackling drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, human trafficking, corruption, financial crimes, and terrorism. GFI (Global Financial Integrity) estimated that over US$ 400 billion flowed illegally out of Brazil from 1960-2012. In 2018, UNCTAD-UNODC created a task force to measure illicit financial flows statistically.

  • Vice Consul at the Brazilian Consulate in Atlanta at Consulate General of Brazil in Atlanta
    Mar 2008 - Dec 2013 · 5 yrs 10 mos

    Joined the forerunner team that opened the Consulate in 2008. Hired and trained local staff and supervised services to 100k Brazilian nationals in the consulate's jurisdiction. Contributed to implementing policies, plans, and programs to achieve Brazilian foreign policy goals.

  • Assistant/Translator at the President's Office (Presidência da República) at Presidência da República
    Nov 2006 - Feb 2008 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Translated official communications received and wrote official letters to foreign governments.

  • Foreign Service Officer at the Communication Division at Governo Brasileiro - Ministério das Relações Exteriores
    Sep 2005 - Oct 2006 · 1 yr 2 mos

    Organized diplomatic archives and trained officers and diplomats in document management skills.