Mauricio Cárdenas

Renowned for his international recognition and extensive policymaking experience across various sectors, Mauricio Cárdenas’s unique blend of academic rigor and political pragmatism makes his presentations compelling and insightful for decision-makers in both corporate and government realms.

Cárdenas is a Professor of Professional Practice in Global Leadership at the prestigious School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, where he also directs the MPA in Global Leadership program. He is connected to Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy, focusing his research on energy and climate policy, a crucial topic for today’s global markets.

As Colombia’s finance minister from 2012 to 2018, he launched fiscal reforms that significantly boosted formal employment while ensuring tax compliance and economic resilience. His approach to “intelligent austerity” during a crisis in commodity prices preserved vital investments and drastically reduced poverty and inequality. In recognition, Euromoney named him Finance Minister of the Year in 2015. Cárdenas has held leadership roles in several other ministries, including Economic Development, Transport, Planning, and Mines and Energy.

He has twice served as Executive Director of Fedesarrollo, Colombia’s foremost policy research center, and as a Senior Fellow directing the Latin America Initiative at the Brookings Institution. In Washington D.C., he is a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Global Development.

Cárdenas’ expertise extends beyond economics to global challenges, evidenced by his contributions to the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and his leadership roles in the Taskforce on Carbon Pricing and Net Zero and the ‘Doing Business’ External Review Panel. He has served as President of the Board of Governors of both the IMF and the World Bank and has led the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association.

A prolific author, Cárdenas has extensively written on topics such as employment, inequality, and economic growth. His latest book, Cómo Avanza Colombia, delves into Colombia’s policy advancements. He frequently contributes to Project Syndicate and Americas Quarterly and has penned numerous op-eds for El Tiempo in Colombia.

Holding a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, Mauricio Cárdenas is an ideal event speaker for conferences focused on economics, energy markets, and investment strategies. His depth of knowledge and engaging presentation style make him a valuable addition to any event program.