Sara Brites

Sara Lobo Brites is the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste (BCTL), a position she has held since November 2023. In this role, she oversees the Banking and Payment Systems Department and leads BCTL’s efforts in advancing digital payments and the modernization of the financial sector.

Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Brites served as Vice Minister of Finance and subsequently as Interim Minister of Finance in the VIII Constitutional Government from 2018 to 2022. She has extensive experience in public finance, treasury management, banking, and financial sector development, having held senior positions across the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Timor-Leste.

Ms. Brites previously served as Director of the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance from 2009 to 2012 and as Deputy Governor of BCTL from 2012 to 2017. With extensive experience spanning fiscal and monetary institutions, she brings a strong understanding of public financial management, financial sector policy, and the development of digital payment systems in Timor-Leste.