I'm Luiz Fernando Toledo,

Brazilian journalist, researcher and instructor based in London, with a proven track record of producing and managing impactful projects related to Brazil.

My reporting has been translated into various languages, reaching thousands of readers in Brazil and abroad.

The first video is a BBC podcast interview presenting an investigation into fake alcohol sellers on social media. If the video doesn't load, watch it on YouTube.

Reporting Impact

Stories I wrote exposed a former president's misuse of public funds, uncovered a bid fraud that saved R$ 15 million from a city's budget and enabled the shutdown of companies involved in illegal activities.

Training

Attended world-class conferences as instructor in Brazil, USA, UK, Portugal, Malaysia, Sweden and others. Trained over 2,000 journalists through online and in-person workshops.

Research

Masters degrees in Data Journalism (Columbia) and Public Administration (FGV‑EAESP). Research-assistant at POLIS‑Cambridge (2024–2026). Former research fellow at Oxford (2021), Columbia (2022–2023) and NED (2023–2024). My research was used by the government to improve transparency policies.

Civil Tech

Over the past three years, I have experimented with applying generative AI tools to journalism, including data, text, and image analysis, fact-checking, and robust investigations. In 2025, I developed a tool to help journalists find public records in Brazil based on millions of scraped documents.

Investigative Reporting

The Epstein-Brazil Connection – Investigative Series
BBC News Brasil Investigative Series

The Epstein-Brazil Connection

I analyzed all the millions of Epstein files released by the US government and built scrapers that searched for keywords related to Brazilian figures. This way, we were able to reveal the financial dependency of Brazilian models on the billionaire, connections used to lure young women, and the victims who were taken to the US. The BBC series led to a Federal Prosecution investigation in Brazil seeking a network that lured women.

Series: 6 parts

1. Epstein's Brazil investigation: model funding and a final warning 2. Inside Epstein's Brazilian network: scouts, magazines, and fashion contests 3. New documents reveal Epstein's ties to a 'major Brazilian group' 4. 'Around 50 Brazilian women': a survivor's testimony on Epstein's mansion 5. BBC investigation prompts Federal Prosecution probe into Epstein's Brazilian network 6. Epstein sought bridge to Brazilian businessmen for deals, BBC-obtained documents reveal
Sexual abuse in Brazil's military schools
BBC News Brasil

Sexual abuse in Brazil's military schools

Our investigation reveals that at least nine girls aged 11 to 13 reported inappropriate touching by a military monitor in a public school, raising broader questions about oversight and the civic-military model.

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How fake bottle caps and seals fuel Brazil's counterfeit alcohol market
BBC News Brasil

How fake bottle caps and seals fuel Brazil's counterfeit alcohol market

This investigation dismantled a network of over 10,000 people selling bottle parts for beverage counterfeiting and triggered a police investigation.

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Giant Amazon fish turned into luxury handbags – but who profits?
BBC News Brasil

Giant Amazon fish turned into luxury handbags – but who profits?

The thick, patterned skin of the once-at-risk pirarucu fish is in demand for high-end fashion, but the fishermen want more money.

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Secret Budget Amendment Linked to Slave Labor
BBC News Brasil

Secret Budget Amendment Linked to Slave Labor

Investigation reveals how a budget amendment supported by Chamber President Hugo Motta funded construction using stones produced by workers in slave‑like conditions.

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Brazilians Face Abuse in Irish Meat Industry
BBC News Brasil

Brazilians Face Abuse in Irish Meat Industry

Exclusive investigation exposes precarious working conditions and abuse faced by Brazilian workers in Ireland’s meat processing industry.

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Indigenous objects containing animal parts are freely sold online
UOL

Failed enforcement: indigenous objects containing animal parts are freely sold online

A 2‑month investigation into animal feather smuggling and how companies benefit from exploiting indigenous communities in Brazil.

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Political Backing Fuels Land Grabbing in Brazil's Distrito Federal
Revista Piauí

Political Backing Fuels Land Grabbing in Brazil's Distrito Federal

In the Distrito Federal, Brazil, a significant issue of land grabbing in conservation areas is emerging, intensified by political support. These activities are particularly rampant in the Colônia Agrícola 26 de Setembro, a settlement approximately 26 km from the Palácio do Planalto, housing around 35,000 residents.

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A world heritage site under attack in Brazil
Revista Piauí OCCRP

A world heritage site under attack in Brazil

Brazilwood is being driven to extinction by an industry not often associated with organized crime: classical music. Tests on a sample of the confiscated wood show it was logged in a protected forest.

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Video reporting

Short-form video reporting for social media

Interviews

Bellingcat's Stage Talks

I was interviewed by Bellingcat to discuss how to use public records and data to investigate environmental crimes in Brazil. Held in English.

Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC)

Panel discussion on investigating environmental crimes at GIJC 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

SBT News

Discussion about transparency and investigative journalism in Brazil.

TV Globo/G1 Podcast (O Assunto)

Podcast discussion about corporate expenses investigation.

FIL Lisbon Conference

Presentation about DataFixers.org at the Lisbon International Fair.

CNN Brasil

Interview about air charter investigation and transparency in government spending.

Awards and Honorable Mentions

Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants

  • 2024Together for Conservation (EJN, 2024)Earth Journalism Network
  • 2023–2024National Endowment for Democracy (NED) – Reagan‑Fascell fellowship (2023–2024)NED
  • 2022Person of the Year 2022 – Brazilian American Chamber of CommerceBrazilian American Chamber of Commerce
  • 2021–2022Columbia Journalism School (US$ 91,500 in tuition) 2021/2022Columbia University
  • 2020ICFJ Latin America Grantee 2020 – FOIA – Brazil and US projectICFJ
  • 2019EAESP‑FGV – Full scholarship for a master of science in Public Administration (2019)FGV
  • 2019Instituto Ling’s Visionary Journalist US$ 60,000 scholarship (2019) – Jornalista de Visão Hidden secret Instituto Ling
  • 2018ICFJ Emerging Leaders Program / fellow 2018ICFJ

Online Course

Udemy Portuguese 🇧🇷

Investigate public spending with the Brazilian freedom of information act

4.6/5 · 428 students · 1.5 hours of video

Two powerful tools allow anyone today to search for information about public spending and those responsible for deciding how these resources are used: transparency portals and freedom of information laws.

These tools allow anyone to check public servants' salaries, ministry budgets, monitor the progress of policies, and much more. They also allow any person to send questions — with a legally guaranteed response — to any Brazilian government body.

This course is an introduction to the topic and is dedicated especially to professionals and students who need public data and documents, whether for university research, office work, or even everyday needs like learning more about how a local health clinic or public school operates.

› View course on Udemy