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Overview
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CEPREDENAC Workshop
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Conference Chair
Ronald Hugh Jackson
Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery Team (DRT) for Building Resilience
 UNDP - UN Development Programme

Mr. Ronald Jackson heads the Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery Team (DRT) for Building Resilience in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Geneva, Switzerland. He is a member of both the Crisis Bureau senior management team and the GPN management team. His appointment on May 1st, 2020 follows 7 years of unwavering and exemplary service as, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Under his stewardship, the Agency gained further recognition and prominence throughout the Caribbean and globally as one of the foremost regional disaster risk management institutions and a preferred partner for a safe and more resilient Caribbean. Mr. Jackson has also provided sterling leadership of the regional coordination and responses to Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent after the Christmas Trough in 2013, Tropical Storm Erika in Dominica in 2015, Hurricanes Irma and Maria (impacting 9 of CDEMA Participating States) in 2017, Hurricane Dorian in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 2019 and in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Prior to his role in CDEMA, Mr Jackson served as Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica, having previously served ODPEM as Deputy Director General, Senior Director of the Preparedness and Operations Division, and as Regional Coordinator for the Southern parishes.

Mr. Jackson has been extensively involved in disaster risk management at the national, regional, and international level in various capacities. He was instrumental in the development of the Guidelines for Child-Friendly Disaster Management and Response, Reinstatement of the ODPEM Dedicated Communication Network and Revision of the Emergency Welfare Plan. In 2010 Mr. Jackson received a Certificate of Commendation from the Caribbean Community for his contribution to the rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the January 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Mr. Jackson also served as a member of CDEMA’s Technical Advisory Committee, President of the IDB Caribbean Policy Dialogue Forum, the co-chair for the Inter American Network for Disaster Management and represented the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Member States on the Hyogo Framework for Action Mid-Term Review Committee and Post-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action Committee.


Keynote Speakers
Claudia Herrera
Executive Secretary
 CEPREDENAC - Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America

Ms. Herrera is the first woman to hold the position of Executive Secretary of the Coordination Center for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), since January 1, 2019. She is from Central America, born in Honduras. She has a bachelor’s in business management and 20 years of experience in Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management. Currently, through the leadership of Secretary Herrera, CEPREDENAC has led the processes for the transformation and strengthening of sustainable development in the region, through the promotion, support and development of emergency management, preparation, mitigation and prevention measures and policies. Also, from this instance, intersectoral and inter-institutional coordination is promoted as well as the strengthening of alliances with strategic partners such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and other United Nations offices linked to disaster comprehensive risk management and humanitarian assistance, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, spatial observation agencies such as NASA, sectorial gender networks, specialized entities for water and sanitation, regional entities such as the Mesoamerica Project as well as the different secretariats of the Central America Integration System. As a Central American woman, she has focused her efforts to minimize practices that promote inequality in public actions for planning, organizing, and implementing efforts dedicated to disaster risk management. Her work has been focused on prioritizing and implementing affirmative actions aimed at caring for population groups in conditions of greater vulnerability; mainly, the Afrodescendant population, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, the elderly, women and youth, among others, through actions for greater participation of these groups, in line with the aspiration of being a more inclusive, safe, sustainable and resilient region.
H.E. Rodolfo Sabonge
Secretary General
 Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Rodolfo Sabonge is an expert in Strategic Foresight, Market Research, and Competitive Intelligence in logistics, transportation, maritime development and ports. During more than 15 years Sabonge led the areas of Planning, Marketing and Business Development of the Panama Canal Authority. During his tenure at the Panama Canal, Sabonge led the transition planning of the transfer of the Canal from the U.S. to the Panamanian Government, and later led the demand, market, and economic impact studies that justified the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Sabonge graduated from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana as Mechanical Engineer, continued with graduate studies in Business Administration at the University of Miami, Florida, and has a master’s degree in Maritime Development from the School of Law, University of Panama. Sabonge completed an executive program conducted by Stanford University and the University of Singapore in Singapore, and a program on sustaining competitiveness taught by Michael Porter in Harvard Business School. Currently, Rodolfo Sabonge directs his own practice in Logitran Advisory Services, Corp. and is External Advisor to McKinsey & Co. Sabonge is also a Research Professor in the Institute of Canal and International Studies at the University of Panama. In the past, Sabonge was member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Logistics & Supply Chain. Recently he held the creation and establishment of the IMO’s Maritime Technology Center for Latin America. Currently Ing. Rodolfo Sabonge holds the post of the Seventh Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, an Intergovernmental Organization comprised by 25 Member States, 10 Associate Members from the region known as the Greater Caribbean.
Dr. Lidia Fromm Cea
Executive Director
 Mesoamerica Integration & Development Project

Dr. Lidia Fromm Cea is a recognized development specialist with a solid academic background at the master's and doctoral levels in education, complemented by extensive experience in social policies and international cooperation. Due to her experience in international organizations, in February 2010 she was appointed General Director for Development Cooperation in the Honduran Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation. In 2012, she was appointed Viceminister for Social Policies in the Honduran Ministry of Social Development. Prior to these public positions, between 2006 and 2010 she served as Human Development Operations Officer for the World Bank; she also served as an advisor for the Canadian Cooperation (CIDA), the German Cooperation (GIZ) and the German bank KfW in Honduras. Dr. Lidia Fromm Cea was appointed as Executive Director of the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project on December 3, 2014. In 2019, during the third Executive Commission Meeting held in Bogotá, Colombia, she was re-elected for a second period 2019-2023.


Speakers
Iria González Chaves (Panel Chair)
Regional Network Coordination Officer for Latin America & the Caribbean
 Connecting Business initiative (CBi) OCHA - UNDP

Iria is the Regional Network Coordination Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Connecting Business initiative (CBi) in Panama. For three years she worked in UNDP’s the Global Programme on Business for Gender Equality promoting Gender Equality in the Private Sector. She supported the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal for the private sector, capacity building, business development and regional economic recovery. Prior to joining the UN, Iria worked as a Senior Project and Marketing Manager in the private sector for over 4 years, leading innovation and development projects on marine sustainability and Circular Economy. She also worked in a tech start-up to foster sustainable consumption. Iria holds a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies (University of St. Andrews), a postgraduate degree in Diplomacy (University of Oxford) and an MBA and a degree in Business Management (University of Deusto).
Gines Suarez
Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist
 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Gines Suarez has a degree in Geology from the University of Oviedo, a Master's in Risk Management and Disaster Management from the National Autonomous University of Honduras and a PhD in Geosystems from the University of Oviedo. He has more than 22 years of experience in post-disaster recovery, disaster risk management, land use planning, and sustainable management of natural resources. He is a senior specialist in Disaster Risk Management in the Environment, Rural Development and Disaster Risk Management Division of the Interamerican Development Bank. In his experience at the IDB, he has participated in the design of disaster risk management programs in Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Peru and in the design of Bank key knowledge products, such as the Disaster Risk Management Governance Index (iGOPP) and the methodology for risk analysis in infrastructure projects.
Roger Alonso Morgui
Americas Regional Head for Health, Disasters, Climate & Crises
 IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies

Roger leads the IFRC Health, Disaster, Climate and Crisis team in the America Regional Office. He became a Red Cross volunteer lifeguard in his home town back in the 90s. For a short period after completing his studies, he worked for the private sector in International Banking and Internet Project Management. Since then, he has been volunteering and working with the Red Cross in Search and Rescue, Volunteer Management, Training, Operations Management, Migration, Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihoods in response to crisis and disasters in several countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Mauritania, DRC, Mozambique or Honduras. He holds a Degree in Economics Science and Post graduate degree in Project Cycle Management in International Cooperation.
Billy Tress-Roig (Panel Chair)
Director for Caribbean Operations
 Ceres Environmental Services, Inc.

Billy Tress-Roig has been Director for Caribbean Operations at Ceres Environmental Services, Inc. since 2007. He has responsibility for all disaster response work in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has a bachelor's degree in finance & International Business from Duquesne University. He has supervised operations for disaster responses in Puerto Rico, the USVA, and the Bahamas.
Ana Leticia Ramirez Cuevas
Director - Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment & the Caribbean Sea
 Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Ana Leticia Ramírez Cuevas has a degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a master's degree in Applied Public Management from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. She has a Diploma in Public Health and Disaster Health Assistance from the National Institute of Public Health, as well as a Diploma in Personal and Professional Development from the Universidad Panamericana. She was part of the “Socorro Alpino de México” and for 18 years she collaborated in the National Center for Disaster Prevention, an institution in which she held positions such as Deputy Director of National and International Affairs and Deputy Director of Institutional Linkage and Management. From February 15, 2021, she works as Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment and the Caribbean Sea of the Association of Caribbean States, an international organization for consultation, agreement, cooperation and concerted action among the countries of the region.
Arlen Martinez Ortiz
Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinator
 Action Against Hunger - Central America Mission

Arlen holds a Degree in International Relations & Foreign Trade, and a Master’s in Risk Assessment & Disaster Reduction, specializing in Project Formulation and Evaluation, Poverty, Food Security & Climate Change. She possesses more than 18 years working experience in the areas of climate change, development planning and external cooperation in the field of project management for disaster risk reduction. Arlen currently serves as Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction at Action Against Hunger Mission Central America.
Corentin Cartuyvels
Head of Emergency Response & Preparedness Unit for LAC
 WFP - World Food Programme

Corentin Cartuyvels is the Head of the Emergency Preparedness and Response team in the WFP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama. Corentin has more than 12 years of experience in the humanitarian world, with the United Nations and the European Commission in Africa, Latin America, New York and Brussels. Corentin has a long experience in Emergency Preparedness in Haiti (2011 – 2015) and West and Central Africa where he worked in support to 24 countries. Corentin is part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment Coordination team (UNDAC) and has been deployed in the Caribbean, Latin America and West Africa regions during emergencies (natural disasters and conflicts). Corentin has a degree in Internal Relations and Human Rights from the University of Louvain and Brussels in Belgium.
Dave Nichols
Global Ambassador and Response Team
 ShelterBox

Dave Nichols is volunteer response team member (SRT) for ShelterBox. Since 2013 he has deployed nine times to support families in need after natural disasters. Once in the US and eight times internationally, his deployments since COVID were Haiti in 2021 and Pakistan in 2022. For a Paying job he spent 20 years in the US Army, followed by four years as a disaster director for the local Red Cross with 5 deployments on Presidentially declared disasters in the US. In 2018 he retired from Public Health Seattle & King County after eight years where he was an Emergency Manager.
Eduardo Gutiérrez
Technical Coordinator
 USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)

Eduardo Gutiérrez Gaslin joined USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) in 2009 and currently serves as Technical Coordinator for the Regional Disaster Assistance Program in USAID-BHA/LAC. He holds a Masters degree in Education Science with emphasis in Educational Research and Administration. Prior to joining BHA, Eduardo amassed 29 years of teaching experience, serving 23 years as a volunteer firefighter.
Craig Ball (Panel Chair)
Sales Director
 Butyl Products Group & Logistica Humanitaria

Craig has been responsible for the global sales strategy for Butyl Products Group since 2012, with a particularly focus on the Humanitarian Aid sector as Butyl Products Group are one of the world’s leading manufacturers for WASH equipment with a core focus on water and wastewater storage and treatment. Craig has been instrumental with the company’s distributor development in Africa and Latin America and continues to strengthen the strategy to improve the availability of their manufactured and distributed items, to support the leading aid agencies with their humanitarian needs.
Emily Schmidt
Disaster Response Manager
 Heart to Heart International

Emily Schmidt is a Disaster Response Manager at Heart to Heart International (HHI), where she leads projects to improve access to quality healthcare in medically under-resourced communities and in disaster situations. Prior to joining HHI, Emily led monitoring and evaluation for USAID projects in Mexico. In addition to 15 years of experience in international development, monitoring and evaluation, Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Kent. Skilled in four languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French) and keenly equipped to work within a myriad of cultural challenges, she’s managed project teams and field work around the globe.
Dr. Garnel Michel (virtual)
Coordinator of the Medical Coordination & Information Cells (CICOM)
 Haiti Ministry of Health (MOH)

Garnel Michel is a doctor by training, with a specialty in community medicine, and advanced training in Field Epidemiology (FETP), Risk and Disaster Management (DRM), and Occupational Stress Management. Expert in International Health, and Emergency Public Health. Aside from the public sector, he has worked either as Resident in Social Service, as Service Doctor, Head of Service, up to Director of the National Ambulance Center (CAN), and Head of Cabinet at the Secretariat of State for Population (SEP), either as Chargé de Mission that he is still at the Ministry of Public Health and Population. Dr. Michel is also involved in the humanitarian sector, especially with the BEBE Foundation (Well-Being for the Benefit of Children) of which he is one of the founding members and the current Executive Director. He is also a member of the Governing Council of the Haitian Red Cross, and one of the founders and Special Advisor to IDESAH (Initiative for Health Development in Haiti). Dynamic, motivated, versatile and proactive, he is currently the Coordinator of the Medical Information and Coordination Unit at the National Unit for the Management of Health Emergencies (MoH).
Keisha Linton
Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator
 Regional Security System (RSS)

A multi-skilled young professional with a diverse background in international relations and disaster risk management, who holds a BSc in International Relations from the UWI Mona and an MSc in Risk Crisis and Disaster Management from the University of Leicester in the UK. With almost ten years in the disaster management arena, Keisha has worked with organizations geared to improving disaster risk management in the region including PAHO, CDEMA, UNDP and currently, the RSS HQ. Given the area in which she works, she is also skilled in emergency preparedness and response, as well as stakeholder engagement, most notably Civil-Military relations. One of Keisha's favourite past-times is engaging in gastronomical experiences, so you can always find her enjoying a meal at a local restaurant.
Reis López Rello
Climate Change Advisor,Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office
 UNICEF - UN Children's Fund

Reis Lopez Rello is the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Advisor for UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean. Previously, he worked at the UNICEF Regional Office in South Asia, where he led the climate change team. Prior to joining UNICEF, Reis worked as a Technical Specialist in Climate Change Adaptation at the UNDP in Bangkok and in Panama. During 2007-2011, Reis was manager of the Sustainability and Climate Change practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) advising various industries (financial, oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture) in defining their sustainability strategy.
Prakash Veenam (Panel Chair)
CEO
 Maternova Inc.

Prakash Veenam is the CEO of Maternova since 2018 and holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship. Maternova is a medical device manufacturing and supplying company based in Rhode Island, USA, and is focused on providing innovative and affordable medical solutions to women and newborns globally, particularly in low and middle income countries. Prior to his current position as the CEO, Prakash was a Commander in the Indian Navy and was the Captain of a warship. During his tenure in the Navy, he undertook extensive large-scale operations towards organization development and mobilization of supplies and armament in the Eastern Command, and was involved in providing disaster relief efforts to the regions of Eastern India ravaged by cyclones and floods. He was the Joint Director of foreign cooperation at Naval Headquarters and was the key moderator and coordinator in high-level inter-Navy cooperation forums and meetings with Western Europe, and North and South America.
Act. Gloria Sandoval Salas
General Director for Project Execution Abroad
 Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID)

Act. Gloria Sandoval Salas’ professional career includes more than fifteen years in Public Policy, serving in different positions at the local and federal levels. Currently, she is the General Director for Project Execution Abroad at the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) and Deputy Presidential Commissioner of Mexico for the Mesoamerica Project. Likewise, she has served as Director of Economic Cooperation; at the General Directorate of Cooperation and Bilateral Economic Relations (DGCREB). Among other duties, she was the Advisor in the Guaranteed Education Trust of the Mexico City Government; and the Coordinator of Financial Resources and Accounting at the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers. She holds a degree in Actuary from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and is distinguished by her studies at the Center for Research and Teaching Economics (CIDE) on Public Policy.
Jean Philippe Antolin
Snr Regional Emergency & Post Crisis Advisor - LAC
 IOM - International Organization for Migration

Jean Philippe Antolin, is the new Regional Senior Advisor for Emergencies and Post-Crises for the Americas and the Caribbean. Previously, he held the position of Head of the Preparedness and Response Division under the Department for Operations and Emergencies at the Headquarters in Geneva. His experience in humanitarian assistance spans several years and contexts such as earthquakes and hurricanes in the Caribbean and the Americas, conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, mass displacements in Bangladesh, Mozambique and Venezuela. He has been the coordinator of shelter cluster and also camp coordination and management in various contexts. His nationality is Colombian and French.
Joao Diniz
Regional Leader for Latin America & the Caribbean
 World Vision International

Joao Diniz is currently the Regional Leader of World Vision for Latin America and the Caribbean Region. Before that, he was the National Director of World Vision Brazil. Prior to that position, he was Director of Strategy Ministry and Finance Affairs at Global Field Operations in World Vision International. Previously he worked for World Vision’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean - LACRO as the Director of Transformational Development and Programming Quality and Regional Director of Strategy. Also he co-led the Our Future Integrated Pilot, a global initiative that took place in Central America Countries and Mexico. Before that, Joao Diniz worked 17 years for World Vision Brazil in senior positions, i.e. Economic Development Director and Director of Marketing and Fund Raising. Joao Diniz is graduated in Agronomy, with post-graduation in Tropical Agriculture. He also has a specialization in Finance Management, a Master in Business Administration and an MBA of Marketing & Sales.
Kevin J. Bostick
Director - Exercises & Coalition Affairs (J7/9)
 SOUTHCOM - U.S. Southern Command

Mr. Bostick serves as the Commander’s principal executive level advisor concerning civil-military operations, training and exercises. He leads partnerships, exercises, civil-affairs operations, science and technology, and humanitarian assistance activities to improve U.S. Military Readiness, build partner capacity, and counter transregional/transnational threats to meet global challenges. Mr. Bostick works with COCOM, Interagency, and U.S. Embassies throughout SOUTHCOM AOR. He manages $65M budget and executes the strategic direction, priorities, policies and guidance of SOUTHCOM CDR, DCDR, and COS. Previously, Mr. Bostick served HQ AMC as Director, Operations and Readiness (2018-2020), Director, Current Operations (2017-2018), and Director, Logistics Integration (2015-2017), having previously served HQ FORSCOM as Deputy G-4 (2013-2014), Chief, Equipment Readiness Division (2010-2013), Chief, Logistics Integration Branch (2009-2010). He also served the First U.S. Army as Strategic Plans Officer (2005-2009) having also served HQ FORSCOM as Chief, Maintenance and Transformation Branch (2003-2005), and Inspector General (2001-2003).
COL Andrew Baker
Director - J3 Operations
 Joint Task Force-Bravo

COL Baker is currently serving as the Joint Task Force-Bravo Command Chief of Operations (J3). His previous operational assignments include command of the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy and service as Operations and Exec. Officer of the 27th Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. COL Baker commanded HHC, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in support of OIF-3 and 4 in 2005 and 2006. During his tour with the 101st Airborne he also served with the 326th Engineer Battalion as Assistant Operations Officer and Brigade Engineer during OIF-1. Non-operational assignments include service as the Chief of Operations at the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Department of the Army Staff; Mission Assurance Team Deputy Team Chief at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency; Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Engineers and Commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); and service with USACE as a project manager and Chief of Design for the Wilmington District, and as Central America Area Commander managing projects throughout the sub-continent for the Mobile District.
Marcus Cadet
Director of the National Unit for the Management of Health Emergencies
 Haiti Ministry of Health (MOH)

Marcus Cadet is a planner and statistical analyst with extensive experience in the field of health. Graduated with a Master's degree in Development Economics and International Project Management from the University of Paris Est Créteil, he acquired solid knowledge in terms of public health and health system program with a concentration on emergency readiness. Very interested in planning, organizational diagnosis, multi and bilateral cooperation, public policies, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, risks and disasters related to health, Marcus has been in the recent past alternately, Head of Section and Head of Planning Department, Coordinator of the External Cooperation Unit within the Ministry. He recently published a book on the issue of planning in Haiti. He currently works at the Ministry of Health in Haiti as Director of the National Unit for the Management of Health Emergencies, regardless of their origin natural or anthropogenic. Since 2014, he has been a member of the Permanent Secretariat for Risk and Disaster Management (SPGRD), which is overseen by Civil Protection.
Barry Koperberg (Panel Chair)
General Manager
 Wings for Aid

Barry Koperberg is Founder and General Manager of Wings For Aid, living out his passion to bridge gaps between available knowledge and needs in the field. He is also a seasoned and skilled business consultant, with a specialisation in public/private partnerships and cooperations. He developed successful concepts and social ventures in technology and education. Wings For Aid is at the brink of introducing the MiniFreighter cargo drone to the market, a technology platform that is tailored to the needs of the humanitarian sector and makes us re-think the concept of airdrops. Motto: reaching people anywhere.
Alberto Sierra
Executive Director
 CLRAH - Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance; Panama

Mr. Sierra has a bachelor´s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Banking and Finances from the Latina University of Panamá. He also has a Masters´ degree in Maritime Business Management in Logistics and Transportation. He has occupied management positions in renowned national as well as international companies. At present, Mr. Sierra is the Executive Director at the Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance, where he coordinates actions to strengthen humanitarian logistics operations of the National Civic Protection System of Panama (SINAPROC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), all located within the Center.
Francisco Quesada
UNHRD Manager
 UNHRD - UN Humanitarian Response Depot / WFP

Mr. Francisco Quesada has a degree in Law and Mater in International Cooperation for Development. Since December 2015, he has served as Manager of the UNHRD Panama, most recently completing a 5 month mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo supporting WHO during the ebola outbreak (Dec 2018 - May 2019). Previously, Mr. Quesada has worked as Advisor of the Cabinet of the Secretary General of International Development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain; Advisor on International Development of the Popular Party Group at the Spanish Parliament; Director of the NGO Kivuvu; Project Manager and expatriate in Humanismo y Democracia Foundation; Project and Logistics Manager in the NGO Action Against Hunger, Volunteer in NGO Manos Unidas; Independent Consultant in the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Editor Assistant in the newsletter Eurosur in Brussels; Assistant at the Information and Communication Department in IBF in Brussels; and Internship at Directorate General X - Multimedia Library at the European Commission in Brussels.
Mauricio Bustamante
Americas Regional Head of Global Supply Chain & Humanitarian Services
 IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies

Mauricio is a Colombian engineer and Red Cross volunteer for almost 15 years at branch level. He also possesses experience in the private sector as production manager for various Colombian and multinational companies, general manager of family company and entrepreneur. He worked for the Colombian Red Cross during Armenia Earthquake response in 1999, joined the IFRC after that as Logistics and Water Sanitation delegate in Tanzania, India, Afghanistan, and as mobilization officer in Geneva during Asian-Tsunami 2005/6, regional logistics delegate and coordinator in Panama until 2009, and PADRU coordinator in 2010 during Haiti and Chile earthquake. Mauricio continued with short missions and deployed as Regional Logistics Coordinator to MENA in 2011 during the Arab Spring and Syrian war. He was Head of sub office to Nepal Earthquake in 2015 with OCHA, joining later UNICEF. Mauricio has served as the Head of Regional Logistics Unit in IFRC since 2016.
Dora Mejia (Panel Chair)
VP Sales EEM LATAM
 Speedcast

Dora Mejia leads the sales team and business strategy in Latin America for Speedcast’s various industry verticals, bringing more than 15 years of experience in integrated global communications to her role as Vice President of Sales and Operations. She joined the company in 2016 when Speedcast acquired Newcom International, where she was a founding member and had spent 12 years growing the company into a leading provider of global communications. Prior to joining Newcom, she was responsible for overseeing terrestrial network optimization, product development and engineering for Verestar, a multinational teleport operator. She also has extensive experience in telecommunications consulting, and satellite and IP network implementation through her early years at Carvajal Group and owning her own consulting firm. Dora holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Universidad del Cauca, and an MBA from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia.
Andres Cruz
Caribbean Disaster Risk Reduction & Response Program Manager
 Habitat for Humanity International

Andres Cruz is a Colombian architect, he is a specialist in natural resource management, environment, and disaster response with a master's degree in environmental management and assessment. With more than 18 years of professional experience in DR3 projects, within large international cooperation projects for different donors in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Andres is currently the Caribbean Risk Reduction Program Manager for Habitat for Humanity International and has extensive experience working in disaster response with agencies such as PAHO, USAID, IOM, PADF, among others. He is recognized for the successful management to execute a comprehensive response to emergencies due to hurricanes between 2016 and 2022 in the Caribbean and South America, as well as in the armed conflict and floods in South Sudan and Colombia between 2010 and 2015.
Eduardo Velez
Coordinator of Prevention & Response
 CEPREDENAC - Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America

Eduardo is a professional in social and human sciences, PhD Candidate in Disaster Risk Management, Master in Global Changes and Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management, Postgraduate Specialization in Disaster Risk Prevention, Attention and Reduction and Development Sustainable local, Coach and university professor. Trained in different programs for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management in Japan, the People's Republic of China, Spain, Taiwan, Italy, France, Germany, the United States, Guatemala and Colombia. He has worked throughout his professional career in the public service, with more than 35 years of experience in comprehensive disaster risk management, occupying among other positions; that of Senior Officer of Military Engineers of the Colombian Army, Regional Director of Colombian Civil Defense, Analyst in the National Disaster Risk Management Unit of Colombia UNGRD, Consultant of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction UNDRR and Regional Advisor of the Coordination Center for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC).
Rogerio Mobilia Silva
Deputy Head of Regional Office for Latin America & the Caribbean (ROLAC)
 UNOCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Appointed as Deputy Head of Office of OCHA ROLAC in 2019, after heading the Information Services Unit since 2007. Mr. Silva also led the Regional Office during 2020 until July 2021 during the pandemic of COVID-19. With studies in System Technology Engineering, Mr. Silva counts with more than 25 years of experience on disasters management with the United Nations as an international servant and other years on private sector. Has worked extensively in areas of automatization, communication, information management and coordination responses during complex crisis or emergencies resulting from natural disasters. Most recently, he has led OCHA and other international specialized teams supporting emergency responses in Americas and the Caribbean and has dedicated his humanitarian life working for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also in Africa, Asia.