As a corporate affairs executive, Janaina Donas acquired a broad experience in government relations, communications, sustainability, community relations and business development. She graduated in International Relations, with an MBA in Business Administration. Before taking on the role as Executive President of the Brazilian Aluminum Association (ABAL), she served as Regional Director of External Relations and New Business for Latin America at Newmont Corporation, in Peru and Miami. She also worked as Government Relations and Communication Director for Alcoa, 3M and as an associated partner at Patri, a Government Relations and Public Policy Consulting Company in Brazil.

AlCircle: The European aluminium industry is facing critical challenges since the previous year. How has this impacted the Brazilian aluminium industry?

Janaina Donas: Historically, the European Union's share of Brazilian aluminium exports corresponds to around 5% of the total. Brazil, which once ranked 6th in the global production ranking, standing out as a metal exporter, saw its position drops to 15th place as of 2012, as a result of the difficulties faced by the aluminium industry globally, with the strong competition in the international market with Chinese products, drop in commodity prices, added to the systematic increase in energy costs. As in many countries, companies operating in Brazil had to make difficult decisions to cut primary aluminium production.