Meet Luís Câmara Manoel: Portugal's First Honorary Consul to Utah
A ceremony marking the establishment of the Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Utah took place on Wednesday, January 15th, at the Utah State Capitol. Hosted by Franz Kolb, the Director of International Trade and Diplomacy for the State of Utah, the event was presided over by Francisco Duarte Lopes, the Ambassador of Portugal to the United States. The Beehive Room at the Capitol was filled with family, friends, state government representatives, and members of the Portuguese-American diaspora, all gathered to celebrate this historic occasion.
Luis Camara Manoel, a distinguished community leader and international development advocate, was officially installed as the first Honorary Consul of Portugal in the state of Utah. His appointment by João Gomes Cravinho, Portugal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on July 7, 2023, came on the recommendation of Ambassador Francisco Duarte Lopes.
Born in Évora, Portugal, Luís Eduardo Vitorino da Câmara Manoel grew up in Setúbal, developing a deep appreciation for nature during his time as a young scout, exploring the Serra da Arrábida mountains. This early experience instilled in him a commitment to service, which continued into adulthood with over 20 years of service to youth in his community, including leadership roles within Scouting at the state and national levels.
Mr. Manoel immigrated to the United States at the age of 22 and pursued his higher education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, earning a degree in International Relations. He later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix in Seattle, Washington.
His professional career began in the technology sector, where he led organizations at several companies, including KeyScouter.com, which he founded, as well as Novell and Microsoft. He is also a published author in the field of Information Technology.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Manoel has dedicated himself to international development efforts, traveling extensively across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. His work has focused on developing and implementing programs aimed at alleviating poverty through various initiatives.
Currently, Mr. Manoel leads a consulting group that supports the humanitarian work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. His team works to address critical challenges in developing nations, focusing on maternal health, child nutrition, education, micro-entrepreneurship, access to clean water, and food security.
Luis is married to Angela Marie Fawson of Grantsville, Utah, and they are the proud parents of four children. His appointment as Honorary Consul marks a significant milestone for the Portuguese-American community in Utah and strengthens the ties between Portugal and the state.