Dr. Viriato Luís Soares Cassamá is a distinguished leader in environmental governance and climate policy, currently serving as the Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Action of Guinea-Bissau since December 2023. Prior to this role, he was the Counselor to the President of the Republic for Environmental and Climate Affairs, following a successful tenure as Minister of Environment and Biodiversity from 2020 to 2023. Earlier, he held the position of General Director of Environment from 2016 to 2020.

Dr. Cassamá holds a Ph.D. in Global Studies from the Open University of Lisbon (Portugal), a Master of Science in Geo-resources with a specialization in Natural Resources Management from the Technical University of Lisbon, and a Licenciatura (five-year degree) in Environmental Engineering from the New University of Lisbon. He also pursued studies in Chemistry and Petroleum Engineering at the Petroleum Academy of Baku (Azerbaijan).

Throughout his career, Dr. Cassamá has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing sustainable development and climate resilience. His extensive experience includes serving as Guinea-Bissau’s Focal Point and Chief Negotiator to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Coordinator of the REDD Working Group, and Focal Point for several key climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the Climate Investment Fund.

He has led multiple national projects focused on environmental management and climate adaptation, including the UNDP/GEF-supported initiative to strengthen resilience in agricultural and water sectors. Dr. Cassamá has also represented Guinea-Bissau in the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and has been actively engaged as a researcher and representative for PALOPS (Portuguese-speaking African countries) on environmental issues.

With over two decades of high-level leadership and diplomatic engagement in environmental policy, Dr. Cassamá continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Guinea-Bissau’s sustainable future.

Rovshan Najaf Rovshan Chingiz oglu Najaf was born on April 9, 1982 in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 1997, he went to the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics. He graduated with honours from the bachelor’s program in 2001 and Master’s program in 2003. In 2007-2008 he successfully completed the Master’s program in Economic Policy Management / International Energy Management and Policy at Columbia University, USA within the framework of the SOCAR scholarship program.

He started his career in 2001 as a laboratory assistant at the Department of International Economic Relations and Marketing of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics. In 2003-2007, he worked as a consultant and senior adviser in the Investment Policy Unit of the Investment and International Economic Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2008-2009, he worked as the Head of the Investment Contracts Unit of the Investment Department of SOCAR. In 2009-2010, he was the Head of the Foreign Economic Relations Department and Assistant Minister of Economic Development at the Ministry of Economic Development. In 2010-2018, he worked as the Deputy Executive Director and Executive Director of “Azerbaijan Investment Company” OJSC.

He was appointed as the Head of the Innovative Development and e-Government Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Order issued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 11, 2018, as the Chairman of the Financial Monitoring Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Order issued on August 28, 2019, as the Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Order issued on February 11, 2020, as the First Deputy Minister of Economy by the Order issued on December 24, 2021. He was appointed as the First Vice President and Acting President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Order issued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on February 10, 2022. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on 21.07.22 on appointment of Rovshan Chingiz oglu Najaf as president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

He holds a PhD in Economics, is the 3rd degree State Counsellor. Married, has two children.