Maria Eduarda is a lawyer and Special Advisor at the Igarapé Institute, where she contributes to the Institute’s International Cooperation Program, focusing on sustainable development and global governance. She also supports Igarapé’s cofounder and president, Ilona Szabó, on key initiatives that address the intersection of climate, nature, and finance, such as the International Advisory Panel for Biodiversity Credits (IAPB). Previously, her work at the Institute involved advancing initiatives to protect civic space, combat disinformation, and regulate arms and ammunition in Brazil through research, advocacy, strategic litigation, and public policy advising on regulatory and legislative matters.

Maria Eduarda holds an LLM from New York University Law School, where she received the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Scholarship, and a Master’s degree in Human Rights Public Policy from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (NEPP-DH/UFRJ). She also earned a Post-Graduate degree in Criminal Advocacy from the Center for Studies and Research in Legal Education at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (CEPED/UERJ). She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).