Lucas is a Research Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast, working on the GEMINI Project (Geothermal Energy Momentum on the Island of Ireland). His research explores business model innovation for the geothermal sector, with a particular focus on governance systems, community-led transitions, and the role of environmental and social stewardship in shaping sustainable energy futures.

His academic background includes a PhD in Business Administration, specialising in Innovation and Sustainability, from the School of Economics, Business and Accounting at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FEA-RP/USP). He undertook a split doctorate at Imperial College London Business School, supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Postgraduate Education (CAPES-Brazil). Prior to the scholarship, he was a Visiting Researcher at the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London.

Lucas’ PhD research explored how Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon develop entrepreneurial activities grounded in their relational connection to the forest and the cultural significance of the Brazil nut tree for the community. His work reveals how these businesses go beyond conventional models, drawing on Indigenous knowledge systems, rhythms of community life, polyrhythmic governance, and respect for more-than-human relationships. It offered a nuanced understanding of supply chain dynamics from social, ecological, and biodiversity perspectives based on indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurial activities.

In addition, he supervises MBA dissertation projects at the University of São Paulo, guiding professionals in the development of applied research that bridges academic insight with real-world impact in business, innovation, and sustainability.