Our Board | Committee
The Canada-Portugal Chamber of Commerce is a leading platform dedicated to advancing economic relations between Canada and Portugal.
Our committee is comprised of passionate professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who are committed to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and promoting sustainable growth across borders.
Our Board Members
President of the General Assembly Board
With 27 years of experience in the information technology dedicated to consultancy, business development and leadership. Today, Patrícia is a Vice President Consultant Services for one of the biggest private IT companies worldwide – CGI. Mentor for universities’ students to contribute to a world with more IT professionals and to decrease the worldwide leadership gap.
President of the Management Board
Farah is a Principal at ImpactVine Advisors, a management advisory and investment firm. ImpactVine’s venture arm invests in early-stage ideas making an impact in the future of work and learning, sustainability and workforce productivity. Farah is also a Venture Partner with Oryx Impact and Adjunct Faculty at the Nova School of Business and Economics.
Member of the Management Board
Walter is currently an Investment Director responsible at Caixa Capital, the venture capital investing arm of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), Portugal’s largest financial group. Walter has over 30 years of professional experience, both in Portugal and internationally, with over 20 years dedicated to venture capital and early stage companies.
Co-president and Vice President of the Audit Committee
Alexis is the CEO of Mesa Fresca and investor in the tech start-up ecosystem. He holds an Executive MBA from McGill-HEC. His key skills revolve around creating sales strategies based on cost models and the different target market segments to maximize the value creation process for an organization. Additionally, Alexis is recognized for his ability to turn ideas into action.
Vice President of the Managment Board
Aaron is the Chief Operating Officer for BagsID that provides a disruptive new AI solution and he is responsible for the day to day operations to enable the global growth and development of the company. Previously, he was the Director of Innovation for ANA Aeroportos de Portugal / VINCI Airports. He is a born and raised Canadian that has spent his career based in Canada, Belgium, South Africa, Oman and now Portugal.
President of the Audit Committee
Jordi Vilanova, President of Mercan Properties, Portugal, and Vice-President of Mercan Group of Companies, brings over 40 years of experience in investment, consulting, education, and immigration. His leadership significantly influences economic development and creates opportunities for investor citizenship through innovative real estate projects in the tourism sector.
Member of the Management Board
Wilson Teixeira is a businessman with extensive experience in defining strategies and planning innovation in international contexts. He has been involved in managing companies in both Canada and Portugal, providing services to both the public and private sectors. Since 2017, he has been a partner and manager at Imagis Inc., a company specializing in customization in the areas of automation processes, AI solutions, information technology, and robotics. In 2016, he founded Madhu Wines Inc., a company importing wine and liquors to Ontario, Canada.
Since 2023, he has been an Advisor to the Portuguese Diaspora and since 2015, he has been an active consultant for AEP (Portuguese Business Association – Chamber of Commerce and Industry) with the mission of promoting business and investments in Canada, the USA, and Portugal. From 2014 to 2017, Wilson Teixeira was a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), a structure of the Ministry of Finance of Ontario that employs more than 17,000 people and generates annual profits exceeding $2 billion.
Wilson Teixeira holds a degree in Business Executive from Queen’s University School and participated in an exchange program with Dalhousie University in Business at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Member of the Management Board
Manuel Durães Rocha is a partner at Abreu Advogados, specializing in intellectual property, industrial property, and the pharmaceutical sector. He is a European Patent Attorney and European Trademark Attorney, accredited before the European Patent Office and EUIPO. Manuel has extensive experience in IP litigation and strategic protection of patents, trademarks, and designs, particularly in the life sciences, technology, and innovation-driven sectors, and currently coordinates the firm’s Intellectual Property and Information Technologies practices.
Member of the Management Board
Fernando Ferrer is a data engineer and AI specialist with over 20 years of international experience across Canada, Portugal, and Finland. He has consulted for global organisations such as Pfizer, Paramount, FIFA, and the Olympic Committee.
An entrepreneur and angel investor, he co-founded Q2 Metrics, leads Nerio Data School, lectures at Rome Business School, and recently funded an AI startup in the Azores. His expertise in digital transformation adds strong strategic value to the CPCC and its member community.
Member of the Management Board
Jorge Magalhães is an international executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across Europe, North America, and Asia. He has held senior executive and board-level roles in global companies within the energy, healthcare, technology, and industrial sectors. Of Portuguese heritage and raised in Canada, he brings a strong cross-border perspective and extensive global business expertise.
Secretary General Assembly Board
Patrícia Viana is a partner at Abreu Advogados and a non-executive member of its Board of Directors, with extensive experience in real estate law. Her practice focuses on real estate transactions, investment structures, and M&A operations related to retail and tourism developments. She currently coordinates the firm’s real estate practice area and contributes to high-value strategic transactions.
Vice-President of the General Assembly Board
Francesco Berrettini is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience across digital marketing, entrepreneurship, academia, and international advisory services. He is currently Director of Partnerships & Projects at Empowered Startups in Portugal and a Guest Assistant Professor at the Universidade do Algarve. He also serves as Honorary Consul of Italy in the Algarve and mentors startups and innovation-driven organizations in technology, health, and biotech.
Rapporteur of the Audit Committee
Miguel Da Costa, Sales Manager for Air Canada in Portugal, brings over 12 years of experience in the tourism and aviation sector, focused on market development and strategic commercial growth. His ability to identify high‑potential opportunities and build partnerships across key industry stakeholders supports investment‑driven initiatives that strengthen airline and destination competitiveness.