Lia Pessoa is the Engagement Manager of the Lemann Foundation Programme at the Blavatnik School of Government.

Lia develops the programme's strategy for external outreach, building and working with an active network of stakeholders such as policymakers, universities, scholars and civil society organisations, helping the programme to achieve real-world impact in Brazil and beyond.

Prior to joining the Blavatnik School, Lia completed a Masters in Public Administration at the London School of Economics (awarded with distinction). There, she engaged in varied activities related to policymaking in Latin America, including coordinating logistics for the 2020 Brazil Forum UK. Her primary research and policy interests are in the areas of governance, healthcare, and gender equality.

Lia holds a BA in Law from the University of São Paulo and has worked for four years as a lawyer for state-owned enterprises in Brazil, as well as public-private partnerships and NGOs in the health and education sectors. Before moving to the UK, she volunteered as co-coordinator of the Legal Group of the Sistema B Brasil, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting an inclusive and sustainable economy.