Daniella Abreu
Dr. Daniella Abreu is a Brazilian civil engineer and entrepreneur. She was sustainability manager for international infrastructure and building projects in Europe, USA and Latin America at the Swedish multinational construction and development company Skanska. In 2013 she founded Sustainpolis. Education. Daniella Abreu graduated from two Brazilian universities with one degree in civil engineering from Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and a post grad course in political science from Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC). During her studies, she became the first female president of the company EPEC (Escritório Piloto de Engenharia Civil), worked as mathematics  assistant lecturer for Curso e Colegio Energia, worked for the companies Prosul and RCD. Daniella Abreu continued her studies at The University of Birmingham and finished her PhD in civil engineering "Sustainable Assessment for Geotechnical Projects". During her studies, she volunteered for Engineers Without Borders, volunteered for the Institute of Civil Engineers, and started to work as senior environmental and sustainability advisor for the Civil Engineering operating unit of Skanska in the UK regarding tenders for roads, tunnels and energy facilities. Career. After having completed her PhD, she was promoted as sustainability manager of the building operating unit of Skanska  UK: tenders and construction of educational, health care and commercial buildings. She moved in 2011 to Skanska ID, the international infrastructure development operating unit of Skanska: sustainability strategy, corporate responsibility and sustainability management for infrastructure projects (up to two billion dollars) in Europe, USA and Latin America. In 2013, she left Skanska and founded Sustainpolis, a Belgium-based company specialized in promoting partnerships for international sustainable projects. In 2019, she founded INICIS, the National (Brazilian) Institute for Intelligent and Sustainable Infrastructure and Construction. In 2020, she was appointed Secretary of State for Internacional Affairs for the Government of Santa Catarina , in Brazil Additional activities. She was guest lecturer at: The University of Birmingham, City University of London, King's College London. She volunteered to support projects at: The Westminster Sustainability Business Forum, C40, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Programme. She was a member of the low carbon editorial board for Construction News. She was a judge for the Construction News Specialist Awards in 2013 and 2014. She is an advisor for the Livable Cities Project. She is an advisory board member for World Cities Network. She is a member of Chatham House. She is listed on the ‘Top 500 Influences  and Players Active on Twitter in the Built Environment’.