I had the honor of being a panelist at the VI National Meeting of Educational Managers, an event of significant relevance that brought together school administrators from across Brazil under the theme “Educational Management: The Challenge of Balancing Innovation and Sustainability”. The event featured one thousand participants in discussions on Administrative, Innovation, and Educational Management, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and best practices.

As part of the panel on innovative educational practices, I shared my experience with Model United Nations (MUNs) as a transformative pedagogical approach. My presentation, titled "Developing 21st-Century Personal and Professional Competencies through MUNs," highlighted how simulations of UN negotiations enable students to cultivate essential skills, such as critical thinking, negotiation, teamwork, public speaking, and problem-solving. 

I emphasized the potential of MUNs to align education with the demands of the 21st-century professional landscape, fostering a holistic development model that benefits students, educators, and institutions alike. My contribution aimed to inspire participants to adopt and adapt this innovative practice in their own contexts, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world challenges.

As a professor at FACAMP, I had the privilege of accompanying our delegation, composed of 22 students of Economics and International Relations, on an immersive academic and professional trip to Europe. The program, designed by CEPA Europe and Efígie Educational in partnership with FACAMP, provided students with a comprehensive understanding of the European Union's institutions, financial systems, and business environment. 

Our itinerary included two countries and three cities: Strasbourg in France; and Heidelberg and Frankfurt in Germany. The students had the privilege to visit crucial European institutions such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Deutsche Bank, and the German Stock Exchange, where students gained firsthand insights into financial operations and governance.

We attended lectures at prestigious institutions like Strasbourg University, Goethe University, and Heidelberg University, covering topics ranging from the EU's response to crises to European international relations and the European welfare state. Additionally, students explored industrial innovations through visits to companies like Huber, Koehler, and Herrenknecht AG. We also participated in guided tours of cultural landmarks in Heidelberg and Strasbourg.

As the accompanying professor, I facilitated students’ engagement during presentations, encouraged critical discussions on the EU’s economic and political dynamics, and supported them in linking theoretical knowledge to practical experiences. This comprehensive program enriched their global perspective and understanding of European integration.

I attended the WFUNA Model UN workshop, which aimed at examining how Model UN simulations can more accurately capture the decision-making process as it commonly occurs at the UN. The workshop was held at the UN Headquarters in NY and was organized by the World Federation of the United Nations Associations (WFUNA) in partnership with the Education Outreach Section, Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Public Information.

The workshop provided participants with in-depth information on how the negotiation process at the UN has shifted towards an emphasis on reaching consensus and what it really means in terms of the components of the decision-making process (General Debate, Informal Consultations, and Take Action). 

Under the leadership of William Yotive, WFUNA Model UN coordinator, the workshop was key to organizing a Model UN in which students could really learn how the UN works. Professor Rinaldi took the opportunity of this workshop to consolidate the long-lasting partnership between WFUNA and FAMUN (FACAMP Model United Nations), which led to the organization of the first WFUNA International Model UN conference in Brazil in 2017. 

I had the great privilege of receiving a fellowship from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) to be a Visiting Research Scholar at the Ralph Buche Institute for International Studies (RBIIS), the Graduate Center, CUNY, from August 2015 to January 2016. 

Under the esteemed mentorship of Professor Thomas G. Weiss, Presidential Professor of Political Science and the Director Emeritus of the Ralph Buche Institute for International Studies, I had the opportunity to develop my Ph.D. research project on the United Nations Development System and the Mainstreaming of South-South Cooperation. 

I also audited Professor Weiss' course “UN and Changing World Politics: An Introduction”. The objective of the course was to situate the United Nations within the context of international relations theory and contemporary world politics. 

I benefited immensely from the intellectually stimulating environment of the Ralph Bunche Institute and the Graduate Center. This experience was pivotal in shaping my academic trajectory and deepened my commitment to studying sustainable development and multilateralism.

As part of my Ph.D. research project on the United Nations Development System and the Mainstreaming of South-South Cooperation, I conducted research as a participant observer in the event “IBSA Fund Experiences in South-South Cooperation: Innovations, Strengths and Joint Vision for Post-2015,” which was co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Brazil, India, and South Africa, and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. 

The event showcased the 2015 report of the India, Brazil, and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund), a pioneering model of trilateral South-South cooperation. Through its collaboration with the UN system, the IBSA Fund exemplifies innovative approaches to identifying, implementing, and disseminating replicable and scalable projects to combat poverty and hunger across the Global South. 

Established in 2004 and operational since 2006, the event highlighted how the IBSA Fund, despite its small size, has been serving as a practical framework for best practices in SSC. Observing the event provided me with a nuanced understanding of the strategic role of such partnerships in shaping development narratives and fostering global solidarity among Southern nations in the context of the post-2015 agenda.

As part of my Ph.D. research project on the United Nations Development System and the Mainstreaming of South-South Cooperation, I conducted research field as a participant observer of the intersessional meeting of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation on 8 September 2015 at the UN Headquarters.

The meeting, chaired by the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, provided critical insights into the evolving role of South-South cooperation surrounding the post-2015 development agenda. Delegations emphasized their commitment to leveraging South-South and Triangular cooperation to address complex development challenges, particularly poverty eradication, as framed within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The discussions reflected a shared understanding among Member States of the need to create enabling environments for these cooperative Southern mechanisms to thrive. Additionally, a notable perspective emerged from several delegations advocating for a departure from the traditional development paradigm, highlighting the implications of new financing dynamics involving both emerging and traditional donors. This firsthand engagement offered a profound understanding of the interplay between multilateral negotiations and global development priorities during this pivotal period of adoption of the 2030 Agenda.

The report of the meeting can be accessed here. 

I had the honor of launching my book "Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Role of States in Financial Globalization" (in Portuguese) at Livraria Cultura in Campinas. This book is a contribution to the field of financing for development, with a view from the Global South. I discussed the role of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) in financial globalization and state-led economic strategies.

My research work explored how these state-owned investment vehicles served as instruments for managing developing countries’ wealth derived from natural resources, trade surpluses, or fiscal reserves while advancing national development goals.

I mobilized data from the IMF International Financial Statistics and the UNCTAD Data Centre on International Trade, Economy, and Finance to produce quantitative evidence about the size and type of portfolio investment of 30 Sovereign Wealth Funds.

My book offers an insightful view of the institutional frameworks and governance mechanisms that shape SWFs' operations, and my analysis emphasizes the intersection of global finance, state agency, and development strategies.