TOPIC: "Is Latin America ready to step out of The West's shadow"

Ambassador Rodríguez has been the current Ambassador of Colombia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since October 2009.

He is the founder and former director of Portafolio, Colombia’s most prominent economic and financial newspaper; was founder and host of the weekly television programme “Sala de redacción” (Newsroom); and has been a journalist for Caracol Radio, El Tiempo, El Espectador and Poder Magazine, amongst other media.

He has served as member of the Executive Committees and Boards of Directors of several organizations within the media, business, health and cultural sectors in Colombia, including El Tiempo newspaper, the Museum of Modern Art, La Fundación Santafe, “Colombia is Passion” and the Silva House of Poetry.

Prior to his career in media, Mr Rodríguez was with Dow Chemical where he held several directive positions within the department of finance in Colombia, Venezuela, the United States, Switzerland and Italy.

Mauricio Rodríguez is also a former President and Professor of several of Colombia’s most prominent academic institutions (Universidad de los Andes and CESA business school).

He holds a degree in Business Administration from CESA and is the author of six books on management, economics and leadership.