Ford Foundation Promotes Maíra Junqueira to Regional Director for Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO - The Ford Foundation today announced the appointment of Maíra Junqueira as the next regional director of its Brazil office.

She succeeds Átila Roque, who recently completed the foundation's leadership term for regional directors. Over his decade of distinguished leadership, Roque has been instrumental in deepening the foundation's commitment to racial justice and democratic resilience, significantly expanding the foundation's partnerships with grassroots leaders and social movements across the country.

"Maíra's wealth of expertise and deep understanding of the region's human rights landscape make her the ideal leader to guide our Brazil office into its next chapter," said Martín Abregú, vice president for international programs at the Ford Foundation. "Her leadership will build powerfully on the legacy Atila leaves in Brazil. I am confident her pragmatism, strategic thinking, and collaborative spirit will be invaluable as we support the country's vibrant movement for social justice."

Junqueira joined the foundation in 2019 and has held roles including program officer and senior program officer in the foundation's Brazil office. During her time at Ford, she has developed a diverse grantmaking portfolio, including work that focuses specifically on violence and how it intersects with racial issues. To achieve this, she centered her efforts on supporting organizations where racial and gender justice are the core focus of their mission.

"It is a profound honor to step into this new role leading the Ford Foundation's work in Brazil to help advance our shared commitment to justice across the country," said Maíra Junqueira, Brazil regional director for the Ford Foundation. "Our mission has been guided by deep collaboration with key agents of change in our society, especially Black women and institutions. I look forward to building on this history with our partners to defend democratic values, confront systemic racism, and address deep economic disparities."

With a rich background in civil society and human rights, Junqueira previously served as deputy executive director of Fundo Brasil de Direitos Humanos (Brazil Human Rights Fund), a position she held from 2015 to 2019, having originally joined the organization in 2006, helping to build the initial team and consolidate the Fund. Throughout her career, she has worked in the international participation of non-governmental organizations, including serving at the World Social Forum Secretariat in 2002, its second year.

Junqueira holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP) and a master's degree in international relations from the San Tiago Dantas program (UNESP, UNICAMP, PUC-SP).

The Ford Foundation's Brazil office, based in Rio de Janeiro, was established in 1962. Today, the office focuses on addressing inequality in all its forms, combating racial and gender discrimination, and supporting the leaders and institutions working tirelessly to protect human rights and strengthen democratic resilience in Brazil.