Brazil and Australia look like natural partners on paper: continental-sized territories, resource-rich economies, multicultural societies built on indigenous roots and the two largest countries in the Southern Hemisphere. They are also direct competitors in beef and sugar, and they remain relatively distant from one another, diplomatically and commercially.
Sophie Davies, Australia's first woman ambassador to Brazil, is the latest guest of The Brazilian Report's Diplomatic Brief, a series featuring conversations with foreign diplomats about the forces that bind — and at times divide — their countries and Brazil. Davies previously served as Australia’s first ambassador to Colombia and deputy head of mission in Peru, and worked in international development in the Pacific and Southeast Asia before joining the public service.
She argues the distance is more perceived than real: some 20,000 Brazilians study in Australia, dozens of Australian companies are prospecting Brazil's critical minerals sector and Canberra's COP31 presidency inherits the agenda Brazil set at COP30.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
What are your priorities as ambassador?
Bilaterally, three key issues: the energy transition, including critical minerals and mining; climate change, given our roles at COP30 and COP31; and education and research. On energy and mining, we are two superpowers. Brazil's electricity supply is about 80% renewable, and Australia has high renewable targets and the most rooftop solar panels of any country — one in three households.
Brazil has the second-largest reserves of rare earth elements and is number one for niobium, and we are strong in lithium and other critical minerals. By our assessment, around 40 Australian companies here are looking specifically at critical minerals, with others in green hydrogen, wind farms and waste management. Australia wants to be seen as a reliable partner, and our companies operate with high environmental, social and governance standards.
On climate, we had the joy of being part of COP30 in Brazil last year and highlighting climate issues related to the Amazon. Australia now holds the presidency of the COP31 negotiations, with Türkiye hosting. That gives us a chance to take forward key issues from COP30, including continuing to amplify Indigenous voices in the climate agenda, while bringing a focus on the Pacific and elevating the central role of the ocean to climate and communities.
In education, we have 82 agreements between Australian and Brazilian universities, and Australia now ranks ninth among Brazil's research partners, with our main areas of collaboration being medicine, physics, astronomy, agriculture, and biological sciences. The memorandum of understanding between our ministries will be renewed this year.
What is the biggest misconception each country has about the other?
Australia seems so far away, and that distance and the language barrier can make us feel distant. But look at the actual hours it takes to get from Australia to Europe, or how long Brazilians travel to get anywhere in the world, and it is not as long as it may feel. Last year, we celebrated 80 years of diplomatic relations with Brazil and the renewal of what binds us together. Brazilians are now the largest Latin American diaspora in Australia, over 100,000 by birth or descent. We share that intangible approach to life, a love of nature and sport, and a commitment to working hard and enjoying life.
What could Brazil learn from Australia, and Australia from Brazil?
The areas where we are similar. Both face the same climate pressures. Both have strong agriculture and mining sectors that are efficient and hold high standards. Research is the clearest case. Take dengue: the World Mosquito Program is based on work by a Brazilian and an Australian researcher over 20 years ago, which developed the Wolbachia method — a bacterium that inhibits the mosquito's ability to transmit dengue. There is now a massive mosquito factory in Curitiba helping to reduce transmission in Brazil.
Does Canberra see Brazil as a partner or a competitor for the same Western capital and Chinese demand?
Critical minerals are at the heart of our economic and national security and essential to the clean energy transition. The COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the need to diversify supply chains, and Australia is working to promote transparent and sustainable supply chains. We recognize no single country can produce the minerals needed.
We are strong in lithium, rare earths, cobalt and manganese. Brazil is strong on niobium and rare earths, and Australia can bring skills to help: many of our companies here are investing to develop Brazil's sector. What we need globally is a more secure and resilient supply chain.
Where can cooperation move beyond minerals — into food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable farming?
Embrapa [the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company] is world-standard, and we recognize its contribution to agricultural sustainability in Brazil and more broadly. Australia has CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, a top-level research organization. More generally, multilateral fora are where we really come together and sustain the international rules and law we both rely on: the G20, which Brazil hosted; the UN and the WTO; the COPs.
Australia led on the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel and Brazil was side by side with us in that process. We have both sat on the UN Peacebuilding Commission together.
Brazil sits geographically close to the US and Australia close to China. Where are the greatest opportunities to shape international agendas rather than react to them?
We are each quite strong in different regions. Brazil is an important power in Latin America. Australia has an important role in the Pacific and a real focus on ASEAN centrality. By coming together in those international forums, we can help bridge different groups and represent them.
What surprised you most when you arrived in Brazil?
The scale. Brazil has many cities with over a million people, around 15. And the agricultural industry is not just large but highly sophisticated — similar to Australia, yet surprising in scale.
When you leave Brazil, what will you miss most?
The people: very kind, very generous, very warm. The beauty: I have spent this year visiting as many national parks and seeing as much wildlife as I can. And the closeness Australia and Brazil genuinely have, and a very common way of doing things. I will miss all of that, and Brazil's diversity.
