Andrea Dreesmann, Rio de Janeiro

Andrea de Botton Dreesmann was born and raised in Brazil. She completed her university studies in business and physiology at Cândido Mendes and Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro. Dreesmann has worked at Chase Manhattan Bank, IBM Brazil and as a buyer in retail for five years in both Rio and Paris. For the past years, she has been living in London and is involved in a variety of charity work, most notably at Clic Sargent Cancer Care for Children as Chairman of the London Committee, as well as Human Rights Watch Ambassador in Brazil. She is also extremely committed to her foundation, Casa Santa Ignez, a school and day-care centre in Rio de Janeiro which offers educational support and basic necessities to around 250 boys and girls from the Rocinha Shanty Town and its neighbouring areas. Dreesmann is married and has five children. Her interests include contemporary art and children’s education.