Tiago M. Oliveira (Porto-1969) is an Expert in forest fire risk governance and management. His political, managerial, and operational experience is grounded on 25 years of operation and research activities as incident commander, aerial coordinator, hotshot crew or regular wildland firefighter. He holds a PhD in Forest Engineering and Natural Resources at University of Lisbon. In the aftermath of 2017 wildfires he was appointed by the Prime-Minister to lead the Installation of the Integrated Rural Fire Management System. Since January 2019, he is the Chairman of the Board of the Portuguese Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management assuring the strategical coordination of the system (https://www.agif.pt/en). Former Head of the Department of Innovation and Forestry Development (2016-2017) and Forest Risk Manager (2008-2016) at The Navigator Company, where he covered fire prevention and suppression operational programs (www.afocelca.com) and R&D projects. Assistant Lecturer at MedFor Master (2013-2017) and advisor of XV and XVII Portuguese Governments (2004). Head of Inventory and GIS unit (1998-2003) and Assistant Research (1994-1998) at National Geographic Agency. Besides several communications and papers he developed his personal and professional skills in strategy, planning, risk analysis, forest investment, change management, communication, project management, natural resource survey, GIS and remote sensing.

Gordy Sachs has been with the U.S. Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management for 16 years and currently serves as Chief for All Hazard and International Fire Support. Gordy also serves as Chair of the International Liaison Committee and is a member of several other national and international committees. ‍Previously, Gordy worked 10 years at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s U.S. Fire Administration, most recently as National Response Program Manager. He has 27 years of structural fire service experience, including over ten years as a chief fire officer in both career and volunteer fire departments. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and has a master’s degree in Public Administration, a bachelor of science degree in Education, and three associate in applied science degrees in fire science disciplines. He is also a published author (four books, several reference book chapters, and numerous articles) focusing on emergency response safety, management and leadership.

António Guterres studied physics and engineering at the Universidade de Lisboa’s elite Instituto Superior Técnico, earning a degree in 1971. His time as a student was marked by the decline of the dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar, and Guterres was active in the protest movement that helped to topple Salazar’s successor, Marcello Caetano, in 1974. After graduating, Guterres worked as a physics instructor, but, as Portugal began its transition to democracy, he became more active in politics. He joined the Socialist Party in 1974, and two years later he was elected to the Portuguese parliament. Over the next two decades, he served on a variety of parliamentary committees, and, from 1981 to 1983, he was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 1992 he was elected secretary-general of the Socialist Party, and in 1995 he was elected prime minister of Portugal at the head of a minority government. During his term Guterres oversaw Portugal’s transition to the euro as its official currency and presided over the transfer of Macau to Chinese sovereignty. He also played a key role in the resolution of the crisis in East Timor (Timor Leste); the former Portuguese colony had been under Indonesian occupation since 1975 and Guterres was a prominent advocate for Timorese independence. After the Socialists were soundly beaten in local elections in December 2001, Guterres resigned, and in early legislative elections held in March 2002, the Socialists were swept from power. In 2005 the UN General Assembly elected Guterres to serve as the High Commissioner for Refugees. He increased efficiency at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reducing staff and costs at its Geneva headquarters while improving the organization’s response capabilities. Such steps were clearly necessary at a time when conflicts were displacing populations at a level not seen since World War II, and Guterres used his position to encourage rich countries to do more to aid the world’s refugees.