Friends of the International Biofuels Commission, formerly the Interamerican Ethanol Commission, will have noted a number of changes over the recent months.

First, our name was officially changed because of the increasing interest that our activities have generated beyond the borders of the Western Hemisphere and the steadily growing salience of other biofuels, in addition to ethanol.

Second, Mr. Brian Dean, who served so very ably as U.S. Executive Director since the Commission’s foundation in December of 2005, accepted an exciting new opportunity in the private sector. Fortunately for us, he will now become a member of the Board of Trustees and expects to remain as actively involved in our activities as his new obligations permit. 

In consequence, Mr. William Perry succeeded to the Executive Director’s post on July 14. He is well known to all of us and has served as a consultant to the Commission since its beginnings. His more than three decades of experience in the realm of US relations with Latin America – at public policy institutions, in government service and working with the private sector – comprises a great asset for the IBC. His talents will lead the Commission into the new phase of expansion into which it is now headed. In this task, he will continue to work in closely with his Brazilian counterpart, Mr. Linneu Costa Lima. Ines Calderon will remain as the Director of Operations in our Coral Gables office.

As mentioned before, the ranks of the Commission’s Board and membership are expanding rapidly. Recent new recruits include such distinguished and accomplished individuals as: Senator Richard G. Lugar, Member, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate; Senator Joao Tenorio, Chairman of the Biofuels Committee, Upper House, Brazil; Amb. Roberto Abdenur, former Brazilian Ambassador to the United States; Mr. Ingo Krieg, President, Green Power Systems and Harry Sargent,  President, International Oil Trading Company. Please see complete listing of the Board at About Us, Members.