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Mabel Lara

January 22, 2024

Mábel Lara, ILG 2021, takes over as Secretary of Tourism of Santiago de Cali

Press Release

Santiago de Cali, January 2, 2024

In an emotional inauguration ceremony in the Plaza de Cayzedo, Mayor Alejandro Eder officially announced the appointment of Mábel Lara as the new Secretary of Tourism of the District from Santiago de Cali.

With an outstanding career, Mábel Lara is recognized as an emblematic figure and leader in various fields. Her experience as a World Bank consultant on poverty issues, diversity, and inclusion and her role as a Peace Negotiator in the process with the guerrilla group of the ELN, highlight her commitment to the construction of inclusive and sustainable.

Mábel Lara, a journalist from the Santiago de Cali University, has a master's degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidad del Rosario, supported by a specialization in Social Development Management from the Javeriana University. Her leadership has also been reflected in her performance as vice president of corporate business affairs at Sierra Col Energy. The new Secretary of Tourism of Cali is internationally recognized as a scholarship recipient of the Innovation & Leadership in Government Program at Georgetown University (ILG).

Her participation in Colombian media, such as Caracol Television, Noticias Uno, and Caracol Radio, and her role as Washington correspondent of the Prisa Radio group, demonstrate her impact in the media field. Mábel Lara, recognized eight times as the best anchor of Colombian news and the prestigious Simón Journalism Award Bolívar, will contribute her experience and strategic vision to the Santiago Tourism Secretariat.

Her future vision for the Tourism Secretariat of Santiago de Cali, as she explains it:

 "Economic, empowering Cali communities. Secondly, Nature Tourism, as we hope to become the headquarters of the COP 16 of Biodiversity 2024; highlighting our potential as a gateway to the Colombian Pacific. And thirdly, strengthen Medical Tourism to become the Houston of Latin America, promoting the productive chain of health systems. We hope to work on this together, with the people of Cali!" - Mábel Lara, ILG 2021, Colombia

With the incorporation of Mábel Lara, the Tourism Secretariat of Santiago de Cali is undertaking a new stage focused on the region's sustainability, inclusion, and economic development. Mábel Lara's vision is aligned with current challenges, consolidating Cali as a tourist destination of international relevance.

Source: ILG Alumni Network