Maia Fortes is the Executive Director of Ajor, the Digital Journalism Association in Brazil, which currently represents more than 150 news organizations across all regions of the country. Ajor’s mission is to strengthen the journalism field by supporting its members and advocating for a freer, more diverse, and plural media environment.

Trained as a social scientist, Maia has over a decade of experience leading projects, operations, and product development in digital journalism organizations. She previously worked at Repórter Brasil and Nexo Jornal, and began her career as a researcher focused on public policy and human rights. Maia also serves on the board of the Journalism Support Fund (FAJ), a pioneering initiative dedicated to building a more equitable and sustainable journalism ecosystem. She played a key role in the multi-sector coordination that led to its creation.