Presenters' Biographies

Lisa Kubiske,
Deputy Chief of Mission

Ms. Lisa Kubiske, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Mission, U.S. Embassy, Brasilia, Brazil.  Lisa Kubiske is a United States diplomat with experience in Latin America, China/Hong Kong, and Washington, DC. She is the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Mission in Brazil. Earlier assignments include service as Western Hemisphere Economics Director at the State Department; Deputy Chief of Mission in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Officer in the State Department’s Operations Center and Secretariat Staff; Investment Director and Negotiator at the United States Trade Representative’s Office (USTR); chief of the Economic-Political Section at the United States Consulate General in Hong Kong; and additional work in Shanghai, China and in Mexico, DF, Mexico. She was awarded the State Department’s highest honor, a Valor Award, for her coordination of U.S. search teams following the major Mexican earthquakes of September 1985. She has earned other awards as well, including a Superior Honor Award for her work as DCM in Santo Domingo and, most recently, Superior Honor awards for her participation in the public outreach campaign on behalf of the United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement and her efforts on behalf of the United States-Brazil biofuels cooperation. Ms. Kubiske holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Brandeis University and a Masters of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) degree from Georgetown University. She spent her undergraduate junior year abroad at Universidad La Catolica in Lima, Peru.

Igly Elaine Serafim,
Commercial Specialist

With a Bachelor Degrees in Business Administration and Economics from Principia College, El Sah, Illinois, Ms. Serafim has worked in different capacities for the U.S. Department of Commerce, at the U.S. Consulate General in São Paulo, Brazil. She began her career as a Market Research Specialist, where she developed customized market studies and analysis to assess the market potential for U.S. products in Brazil several sectors. As a Senior Business Development Specialist, she developed a specialization in several industry sectors, including food processing/packaging equipment, agricultural machinery, and printing and graphic arts equipment and is a valued member of the ITA Global Energy Team. In that capacity she is responsible for market analysis and business counseling in the assigned industry sectors, she develops market strategies to assist U.S. firms in the assigned industry sectors and identifies trade issues or barriers that restrict U.S. exports. Ms. Serafim also produces specialized and complex analytical reports and statistical reports and contributes to the Strategic Commercial Plan and Country Commercial Guide. She provides counseling to U.S. and Brazilian business executives and develops extensive high-level trade contacts with key decision-makers in the private and public sectors and encourages Brazilian firms to participate in U.S. trade shows and counsels U.S. participants in USG-sponsored events in Brazil. Ms. Serafim is fluent in both English and Portuguese.

 

Market Opportunities

Ms. Igly Serafim serves from the U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo and covers the following industry sectors:

  • Agricultural Chemicals
  • Agricultural Machinery and Equipment
  • Agricultural Services
  • Chemical Production Machinery
  • Electrical Power Systems
  • Food Processing/Packaging Equipment
  • Oil/Gas Field Machinery
  • Oil/Gas/Mineral Production/Exploration
  • Printing/Graphic Arts Equipment
  • Packaging Equipment
  • Renewable Energy Services and Equipment
  • Hotel Management, etc.
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