Carla Lacerda has been an effective leader of the energy sector through her work with the business community, government, and regulatory agencies. She retired as President of ExxonMobil Brazil, managing a robust upstream portfolio, following a 35-year career. Carla was also chairperson of ABEP/IBP Brazilian Petroleum Institute, overseeing various aspects of advocacy and regulatory frameworks for industry. In 2023, she was honored in receiving the ANP (National Petroleum Agency) Award for Industry Person of the Year, in recognition of the 20+ years of work to encourage investments, research, development, and innovation efforts. 

Currently, Carla is President of the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce (BRATECC) in Houston, Texas, and a Non-Resident Fellow with the Institute of the Americas at University of California San Diego (UCSD), in the Energy and Sustainability Program. In addition, she has become a Non-Resident Fellow with the Center for Energy Studies, with the Baker Institute of Public Policy at Rice University. In these positions, she is dedicated to fostering Brazil-US investment opportunity relationships, plus sharing of knowledge of new technologies, energy transition, and innovation. Carla is also active in Leadership Mentorship Programs and development of young leaders. 

Carla has a Bachelors from Florida Institute of Technology and Masters from Texas A&M University, both degrees in Chemical Oceanography. She was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, and speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and some French.