I am grateful to Oxford University’s @BlavatnikSchool of Government and @LemannFdn for inviting me to help train the new government of Brazil, and for the opportunity to meet so many special people. It was great to reconnect with my old boss Sir Tony Blair. Thread…
The training was funded by this special man, Jorge Paola Lemann. Very friendly, simple and unassuming Billionaire. He stayed throughout the training and participated actively in all discussions and debates.
I was deeply honored to meet Sir Professor Andrew Pollard, who led the development of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca Covid Vaccine. Of course I asked him if he himself took the vaccine and he answered “Of course!” He gave me a private lecture on epidemics and vaccines. Scary stuff!
This young lady is Tabata Amaral. She is a member of Brazil’s Federal Chamber of Deputies (like our House of Reps). She’s a Harvard graduate but that’s not the story. She’s only 29 years old but that’s not the story. She’s just been re-elected for a 2nd 4-year term! Do the maths.
The last elections in Brazil were quite bitter and polarizing. So, the training started off with all of us watching Brazil’s first World Cup match together. Nothing like football to bring people of opposing political views together in support of their country.
It ended with dinner at Oxford University’s oldest building: the 600 years old Divinity School. Dinner started with a choir rendition and ended with me thanking God and remembering the words of Scripture in Mark 6:4. To God be the glory. End.
