Felipe Calderón

Felipe Calderón served as the 63rd President of Mexico from 2006 to 2012. During his presidency, President Calderón led Mexico through a period of macroeconomic stability and growth, despite the challenges of the 2009 global financial crisis. His administration promoted economic competitiveness through deregulation, trade liberalisation, private investment, and a strong emphasis on technical education. Infrastructure investment reached historic levels, and Mexico emerged as a top global exporter of manufactured goods, contributing to what international observers referred to as the “Mexico Moment.”

President Calderón prioritised rule of law, institutional reform, and public security. He was the first Latin American leader and the second from a developing country to chair the G20 Summit, the most important global forum for heads of state and government. He also chaired the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16), marking a new era of cooperation and a long-term approach to addressing climate change.

His contributions have been recognised worldwide. In 2012, the World Economic Forum named him “Statesman of the Year.” The United Nations honoured him as a “Champion of the Earth” for his environmental advocacy, and he received the Teddy Roosevelt Award from the US Congress and the Globe Award from GLOBE International, presented by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

President Calderón is currently Honorary Chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, where he led the landmark New Climate Economy project. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the World Resources Institute and Avangrid, a major US renewable energy company. He also founded and chaired the Environment and Sustainability Commission of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). He is an active member of the Transatlantic Election Integrity Commission, the Club of Madrid, and the Liberty and Democracy Group. In Mexico, he chairs the Sustainable Human Development Foundation, which promotes policy alternatives for sustainable development.

A lawyer and economist by training, he holds a law degree from the Escuela Libre de Derecho, a master’s in economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), and a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.