The 27th Annual CAF Conference Announces Confirmed Speakers

Aug 12, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 12, 2024
Contact: Gemma Givens, press@thedialogue.org, Robert Valls, rvalls@caf.com

WASHINGTON, DC – The Inter-American Dialogue and CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean announce a selection of confirmed speakers for the 27th Annual CAF Conference. The CAF Conference is the premier US based conference on Latin America and the Caribbean, held this year on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at the Organization of American States in Washington, DC.

Addressing the intersection of security and development challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean, the 2024 CAF Conference will focus on regional stability, transnational organized crime, subnational approaches to creating safe communities, combatting gender-based violence, and implications for US relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Confirmed speakers include:

Frank Ábrego (Panama), Minister of Security, Panama
Diana Alarcón, Ph.D., (Mexico), Chief advisor and international affairs coordinator for Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico City
Chinua Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago), Mayor of Port of Spain
Luis Almagro (Uruguay), Secretary General, Organization of American States
Christian Asinelli (Argentina), Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Eddie Bocanegra (USA), Senior Director, Heartland Alliance & Senior Advisor to the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice
Rebecca Bill Chavez, Ph.D., (USA), President & CEO, Inter-American Dialogue
Mauro Castillo (Colombia), Actor (Encanto), Singer, Musician, Composer, and Musical Producer
Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica), Former President of Costa Rica and Board Co-chair, Inter-American Dialogue
Sergio Díaz-Granados (Colombia), Executive President, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Carlos Díaz-Rosillo (United States), Founding Director of the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom, Florida International University
Christopher Dodd (USA), Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas, Former US Senator
Daniel P. Erikson (USA), Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, National Security Council
Marcela Escobari (USA), Special Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Los Angeles Declaration, National Security Council
Carrie Filipetti (USA), Executive Director, Vandenberg Coalition, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Special Representative for Venezuela
Gabriela Frías (Mexico), Business Anchor, CNN en Español
Tonija Hope (United States), Director of the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center, Howard University
Ana María Ibáñez, Ph.D., (Colombia), Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development Bank
Lilia Luciano (Puerto Rico, USA), National Correspondent & Anchor, CBS News
Margarette May Macaulay (Jamaica), Former President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (OAS)
Bill Maloney (United States), Chief Economist for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, World Bank
Ivan Marques (Brazil), Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Organization of American States
Antonia Orellana (Chile), Minister of Women and Gender Equity
Monica Palencia (Ecuador), Minister of Interior, Ecuador
Juan Carlos Pinzón (Colombia), Former Minister of Defense and Former Ambassador of Colombia to the United States
Albert Ramdin (Suriname), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Suriname
Isabel de Saint Malo (Panama), Senior Policy Adviser to the Administrator, United Nations Development Program
Michael Stott (UK), Financial Times Latin America Editor
Maria-Noel Vaeza, Ph.D., (Uruguay), Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN Women
Carlos Yahanny Valencia Ortiz “Tostao” (Colombia), Musician & Member of ChocQuibTown

“Crime and violence present a challenge that transcends borders and that no single country can address on its own. Reducing citizen insecurity will increase economic development, help address one of the root causes of the hemisphere-wide migration crisis and strengthen democratic governance – if the policies are consistent with the rule of law,” said Dr. Rebecca Bill Chavez, Inter-American Dialogue President & CEO.

“The spirit of using multilateralism and international organizations to face the challenges that the region has is one of the most important purposes of the conference. This joint effort will help us to maintain a good level of dialogue to overcome the 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Sergio Díaz-Granados, CAF Executive President.

For more information about the Conference and to register, please visit https://www.thedialogue.org/events/27th-annual-caf-conference/. New speakers to be announced closer to Conference date.

Notes to Editors

The Inter-American Dialogue engages our network of global leaders to foster democratic governance, shared prosperity, and social equity in Latin America and the Caribbean. Together, we shape policy debate, devise solutions, and enhance cooperation within the Western Hemisphere.

CAF is a development bank committed to improving the quality of life for all Latin Americans and Caribbeans, and to promoting sustainable development and regional integration. CAF is made up of 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Spain, Portugal, and 13 Latin American private banks.

For information regarding the 27th Annual CAF Conference, please contact Gemma Givens at press@thedialogue.org or +1-202-463-2571; and Robert Valls at rvalls@caf.com or +573043578424.

Editor’s Note: This press release was updated on August 26, 2024 to include additional speakers who have been confirmed. The original announcement was made on August 12, 2024.

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