João Marcos Paes Leme

João Marcos Paes Leme is energy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brasília, Brazil. A career diplomat holding the rank of ambassador, he joined the Brazilian Foreign Service in 1998 and has held senior positions in energy-related discussions through Brazil's recent presidencies of the G20, BRICS, and COP30. João Marcos previously served as deputy head of mission at the Embassies of Brazil in London, UK (2018–2023) and Beijing, China (2016–2018). Earlier in his career, he was posted to Moscow, Russia, and to Brazil's Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. In Brasília, he served as an advisor to the Foreign Minister (2011–2013) and as a press officer in the Foreign Minister's Office (2009–2010). Besides his native Portuguese, he speaks fluent English, French and Spanish, and has good knowledge of German and Russian.