Rafael de Araújo is the President of the Autoridade Nacional dos Minerais in Timor-Leste and chair of its board of directors. He has more than a decade of experience in the country’s mining and geological sectors, with expertise in minerals governance, institutional development, and resource management.

Rafael began his career as a geologist after earning a bachelor of geoscience from the Institut Teknologi Adhi Tama Surabaya, Indonesia, and a master’s degree in geological engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, United States, as a SERN–Fulbright scholar.

He has held several leadership roles, including Director for Mineral Technical and Operations at the Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais. His work has been central to advancing transparent, responsible, and sustainable mining in Timor-Leste, ensuring that mineral resources contribute to national development and community well-being.