2024 ILG Alumni Annual Meeting
The 2024 ILG Alumni Annual Meeting, held in Lima, Peru from November 12 to 15, brought together 10 generations of alumni under the theme "Innovating to Grow and Lead in the Region", with the purpose of strengthening ethical leadership and innovation in public policy across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Hosted at the Universidad del Pacífico in collaboration with Georgetown University's Latin America Leadership Program (LALP), the meeting featured panel discussions, keynote speeches, and sessions on strategies to address regional challenges. More than 30 alumni in leadership roles participated, strengthening a collaborative network aimed at driving transformative policies. The inclusion of alumni from the ILG Brazil Program further reflected the community’s commitment and growth.
Meeting Objectives
- Strengthen the ILG network by connecting alumni from across the region’s programs (ILG and ILG Brazil).
- Create learning spaces with experts from the public and private sectors and academia to address key regional challenges.
- Encourage alumni participation in meeting activities, promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences.
- Expand visibility for the LALP program and the ILG Network, positioning them as regional references in leadership and public policy.
- Promote the creation of strategic alliances for the development of joint projects with regional impact.
Meeting Agenda
The Alumni Meeting took place from November 12 to 15 in Lima and gathered over 30 leaders and public officials from Latin America and the Caribbean, all alumni of the Innovation and Leadership in Government Program (ILG).
Day 1: Innovation and Leadership
The day began with an institutional visit to the UNACEM Group, where Pedro Lerner (CEO of UNACEM) presented the “Carbon Neutral 2050” roadmap, followed by a visit to CELEPSA, the Control and Monitoring Center for energy generation.
At the School of Public Management of Universidad del Pacífico, a panel on AI regulation and strategy in Latin America featured Ximena Docarmo (Founder of InnovaLab) and Lucas Pussetto (Economics Professor at IAE Business School). Former President of Peru, Francisco Sagasti, later delivered a keynote on leadership and regional governance.
The day concluded with a reception at the Embassy of India, where Ambassador Vishvas Sapkal spoke on India-Peru bilateral relations, followed by Sarath Sankar, who presented business opportunities with India. The evening closed with a welcome cocktail for ILG alumni.
Day 2: Infrastructure and Investment for Economic Growth
The day opened with a keynote on liberty and economics by Javier González-Olaechea (Former Foreign Minister of Peru), followed by a session on public finance and regional economic growth with Carlos Oliva Neyra (Former Minister of Economy and former Director of Peru’s Fiscal Council).
A panel on investment mechanisms to bridge infrastructure gaps featured Raúl García Carpio (Director of Investor Services at ProInversión), Verónica Zambrano (Executive President of OSITRAN), Rossina Manche Mantero (Executive Director of the National Urban Sanitation Program - PNSU), and Carlos Neuhaus Tudela (Executive President of the Peruvian Association of Shopping and Entertainment Centers and former Director of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games). Rita Cornejo Lanao (Legal & Regulatory Affairs Manager at Talma Airport Services) also shared Talma’s industry experience.
In the afternoon, a panel on country branding included Daniel Cavero Gamarra (Chief of Strategy for Image and Country Brand), Carmen Julia García (UNIDO National Coordinator), and Galo Andrés Yépez Holguín (Ambassador of Ecuador in Peru). The day closed with a cultural tour of Lima.
Day 3: Social Development and Good Governance
The day started with a presentation on political communication for leadership in adversity, delivered by Silverio Zebral (Head of Academic Affairs, OAS School of Government). A panel on democratic perspectives followed with Guido Mercado Duarte (Executive Director, Proyecto Ciudad Think Tank), Max Jerez (Vice President, AUN Nicaragua), and Gaspar Trueba (Municipal President of Colón, Querétaro, Mexico).
In the panel on social policy inclusion and targeting, Javier Paulini Sánchez (General Director of Targeting and Social Information at MIDIS-Peru) and Vicente Taiano (Former Minister of Social Inclusion in Ecuador and ILG alumni) presented.
A subsequent panel on AI and its impact featured Jaime Honores Coronado (Head of IT at RENIEC), Freddy Linares Torres (Executive Director at Neurometrics), Eloy Méndez (Executive Director of Sales at Hughes Network Systems - Mexico), and Raúl Marino (Director of Research and Doctorate at ITBA). In the afternoon, a panel on the state, development, and digital citizenship included Pedro Buttazzoni (Director at DROIT Consultores – ILG alumni), Freddy Linares Torres (Neurometrics), and Giselle Aragón Peñaloza (Head of the Public Policy Observatory at Universidad del Pacífico). The day concluded with a gala dinner marking the 10-year anniversary of the ILG Network.
Day 4: Green Economy and Sustainability
The final day began with a panel on climate negotiations and carbon footprint reduction, featuring Cristina Rodríguez Valladares (Former Director of Climate Change Adaptation), Milagros Sandoval (Former General Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment of Peru), and Mariela Canepa (Consultant and former Vice Minister of Strategic Development of Natural Resources).
A panel on environmental risks and sustainable finance included José Luis Ruiz Pérez (Director of Master’s Programs at Universidad del Pacífico), Elvis García (General Director of Environmental Economics and Financing, Ministry of Environment of Peru), María Fernanda Rubio Álvarez (Project Management Assistant – USAID Peru), and Daniel Morales Jaramillo (Risk Consultant – ILG 2015, Ecuador).
In her presentation "Innovation in Public Policy", Gloria Cadillo Ángeles (Board Member at OEFA) shared insights on behavioral economics applied to environmental enforcement. Ricardo Ernst (Director of LALP at Georgetown University) delivered a keynote on development and competitiveness in the region, engaging alumni in a conversation to celebrate 10 years of the ILG Network.
The event concluded with a cultural panel on the film “Herencia de Flora” and the book “History of the Peruvian Film Industry 1972–2014”, with director, writer, and poet Augusto Tamayo San Román. Final working sessions focused on the ILG Network’s progress and closed with a cultural activity in Lima.
The 2024 ILG Alumni Meeting was made possible thanks to the support of: the OAS School of Government, The School of Public Management at Universidad del Pacífico, The Latin America Leadership Program (LALP) at Georgetown University, and various partner organizations and guest moderators who contributed to the success of the event.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The event enabled participants to exchange knowledge and experiences with experts from the public, private, and civil society sectors.
- Innovative strategies in leadership, governance, inclusion, investment, and sustainability were explored, enhancing participants’ professional development.
- The ILG Network’s integration was strengthened, opening new opportunities for future strategic alliances.
- The high caliber of speakers, panelists, and moderators was highly valued by attendees.
- The discussions and networking spaces provided dynamic engagement aligned with the region’s current challenges.
- Participants recommended creating more opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative initiatives.
- A window of opportunity was opened for new leaders to join the ILG Program.