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Emilia Pires

Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste)

Residency: April 13–21, 2010

Public Talk: April 19, 2010 on "Hard Earned Lessons from Ten Years of Statebuilding and Peacebuilding"

Residency Summary

Emilia Pires spoke on the heard-earned lessons from 10 years of statebuilding and peacebuilding at a public lecture. During her stay she also guest lectured in classes and met with students, leaders and members from the San Diego Southeast Asian community. She had the opportunity to also engage with the International Rescue Committee.

Biography

Emilia Pires is currently the minister of finance for the government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. Before Timor-Leste officially regained its independence in 2002, she lived and worked in Australia, commissioning tirelessly for human rights and independence on behalf of the people of Timor. She spoke at the Congressional Hearing on the Humanitarian Crisis in East Timor in Washington, D.C., in September 1999. She returned to Timor-Leste in 1999, offering her civil service experience to the National Council of Timorese Resistance and serving as director of the Department of Regional Services. She took the position of secretary of the Commission on Planning in 2001, and in 2007, she became Timor’s Finance Minister. Forbes Magazine named her one of the world’s most powerful women in September 2009.

Photos

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Videos

Public Talk