Ambassador Laercio Antonio Vinhas of Brazil Takes Over as the Chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors

By , IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

Chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors Laércio Antonio Vinhas addressing the delegates. (Photo:Dean Calma/IAEA)

The IAEA Board of Governors on 21 September elected by acclamation the Governor from Brazil Ambassador Laércio Antonio Vinhas as the Chairman of the Board for 2015-2016. His term commences today for a period of one year. He replaces the Governor from Slovakia, Ms Marta Ziaková.

Ambassador Vinhas took up his current post as Permanent Representative of Brazil to the IAEA and to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in January 2012. He served from 1965 to 2011 at the Brazilian National Nuclear Energy Commission in different capacities, including Director of the Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry, Head of the Safeguards Department, Head of the International Affairs Office, and Director of Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards.

During his career as researcher, manager, university professor and academic adviser, Mr Vinhas acquired extensive experience in various areas related to Atomic Energy, including Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Safety and Security, Safeguards, Public Information, Emergency Planning and Preparedness and Application of Nuclear Energy.

He has been a member of the Brazilian delegation to the IAEA General Conference and to the Board of Governors since 1990.

Ambassador Vinhas was also a member of the IAEA Commission of Safety Standards (CSS), the Standing Advisory Group for Safeguards Implementation (SAGSI) and the International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG). 

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of São Paulo and a Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of Campinas, both in Brazil. He has authored and co-authored about 50 scientific publications and 60 scientific papers presented in national and international symposia and conferences.