Augusto Pestana is the Business Director of Apex-Brasil. He holds a degree in Law from the University of São Paulo (USP). A career diplomat since 1995, he concluded the Courses of Formation, Improvement and High Studies (professional doctorate) at the Rio Branco Institute, with a thesis on international cooperation in energy, science and technology.

He has served at the Brazilian Embassies in New Zealand (Minister-Counselor), Japan (Minister) and Germany (Head of the Economic Sector). He was an Assistant Professor of Diplomatic Language at the Rio Branco Institute and a member of the board of examiners at the Diplomatic Career Admission Competition. Mr. Pestana is the author of "ITER: Brazil and the directions in fusion energy" (FUNAG, 2015), among other works. He is fluent in English, French and Spanish.