Board of Directors

He holds a degree in Industrial Civil Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, as well as a master’s degree in Technology and Policy and a PhD in Engineering Systems from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He currently serves as Associate Professor of Engineering at UC and Director of the Master’s in Innovation. His academic and research career has focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, collaboration between companies and universities, and public policies in science and technology.

He has been a member of the Conicyt Council, a visiting professor at Cornell University and the University of Technology Sydney, and a member of UNESCO’s network of experts on the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Between 2018 and 2020, he led the Future Economy Unit at the Ministry of Economy, Development, and Tourism, promoting initiatives related to digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Subsequently, between 2020 and 2022, he served as Undersecretary of Economy and Smaller Enterprises.

Alejandra Pizarro Guerrero holds a degree in Accounting and Auditing from the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), a master’s degree in Government and Public Management from the Universidad de Chile, and a certificate in Innovation and Business from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. Her career has focused on public management, financial administration, and institutional strengthening in organizations related to science, innovation, and public policy.

In the public sector, she worked at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Ministry of Finance, and CENABAST. In 2016, through the Senior Public Management Program, she joined the then-CONICYT—now the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID)—as head of Administration and Finance.

In 2022, she assumed the role of acting national director of ANID, and in March 2023, she was officially appointed national director of the institution.

In this role, she has driven efforts to strengthen Chile’s scientific and technological ecosystem by promoting regional coordination, institutional modernization, and increased funding for research and the development of advanced human capital.

An electrical civil engineer from the University of Chile with a diploma in Business Management from the same university, Mariano Pola has specialized in the development of technology products in countries such as Chile, Brazil and Taiwan. Pola is co-founder, partner and director of Empresas Electrónicas Micrológica S.A., a leading company in the design, development, execution, installation and operation of M2M telematics applications for sectors such as finance, health, retail, energy, mining, industry, transport and retail.

Mariano Pola is also a faculty member at the University of Chile School of Engineering; a director of technology companies such as Debtcontrol S.A., Livebtusglobal S.A., Telediagnósticos SpA, Reciclajes Industriales S.A., and MAP Energy SpA; an advisor to the Santiago Chamber of Commerce; director of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce Business Training Center; and a member of the Business Advisory Council of DUOC’s School of Informatics.

He is a lawyer from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and holds a Master’s in Business Law from Universidad de los Andes. He has worked as an academic and law professor at several universities. He is currently executive director of the Institute of Public Policy at Universidad Andrés Bello.

He has extensive experience in education public policy. Between 2010 and 2014, he was part of the Ministry of Education during President Sebastián Piñera’s first administration, serving as head of the Legal Division and later as chief advisor.

In 2014, he founded Acción Educar, a think tank focused on education policy. He later participated in the development of the education program for President Sebastián Piñera’s second administration and, in 2018, was appointed Undersecretary of Education. On February 28, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Education, a position he held until March 2022.

His tenure was marked by the challenges faced by the education system during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in matters related to educational continuity, the return to in-person classes, learning, and the operation of educational institutions.

After leaving the ministry, he has remained connected to academia and public debate on issues related to education, public policy, school coexistence, attendance, learning, and the strengthening of Chile’s education system.

Executive Vice President of Corfo.

He is a commercial engineer from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and holds an MBA from INSEAD, one of Europe’s leading business schools.

He has a distinguished track record in finance, investment, and business development. He worked at Banco Santander in Mexico between 2002 and 2003.

He was a founding partner of Ameris Capital, a firm through which he promoted investments in innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies, in addition to serving on various boards and participating in business projects in Chile and across the region.

Throughout his career, he has stood out for his experience in strategic leadership, project financing, and the strengthening of innovation ecosystems.

Cecilia Azar holds a degree in Economics and has postgraduate studies in project management and sustainability. She is a professional with more than 20 years’ experience in the banking and mining sectors. She joined BHP in 2007 and held various roles in areas related to Finance, Risk, Investments, Planning and External Affairs. Cecilia is currently Director of Social Value for the Americas and is responsible for creating, overall developing and maintaining a cohesive Social Value vision and strategy for the organization, while also embedding Social Value as a central priority in BHP’s culture, processes and decisions.

She is passionate about integrating cultural change, strategic planning, divergent thinking and economic evaluation to create a holistic approach to long-term challenges focused on maximizing positive impact. In 2006, she received a UNDP scholarship to study India Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development.

She has led various initiatives from BHP, such as certification of sustainable management practices, human rights and governance, and, during the pandemic, a social investment program that supported vulnerable communities by strengthening public health systems in the regions of Santiago, Antofagasta and Tarapacá. In addition, she is Director and Treasurer of the Chilean-Australian Chamber of Commerce.

She is a journalist from Universidad Finis Terrae and holds a master’s degree in Political Studies from Universidad de Los Andes. She has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, corporate reputation, and public affairs. She is a founding partner of E-press Comunicaciones, a consulting firm specialized in corporate communications and sustainability.

Throughout her career, she has advised national and international companies on reputation management, strategic communications, sustainability, crisis management, and engagement with different stakeholders. She has also participated in various boards, councils, and initiatives linked to the country’s public-private dialogue.

He is a commercial engineer from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and has extensive international experience in marketing, brand development, and business.

He began his professional career in the energy industry and later specialized in brand management and global marketing in the beauty and consumer goods industries, holding positions in international companies such as Yves Saint Laurent and Revlon, where he worked in roles related to strategic direction and business development in international markets.

He has advised international companies and is a founding partner of Divan Chile, a creative and branding agency focused on brand strategy, communication, and consumer experience. Through this platform, he has worked with various brands in the retail, luxury, automotive, and technology sectors.

In academia, since 1999 he has taught Branding, Strategic Marketing, and Marketing Metrics at several Chilean universities. He was director of the Master’s in Marketing at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez and is currently a faculty member at the same university, where he also serves as director of the Multinational MBA.

René Muga has held several senior roles in national and international organizations, in both the public and private sectors.

He has extensive professional experience linked to the mining and economic sectors. He was Chief Executive Officer and manager at Barrick; Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Permits and Environment at Anglo American; as well as economic advisor at Chile’s mission to the European Union in Brussels; Minister-Counsellor for Economic Affairs and Director of ProChile in London between 1993 and 1996; and Director of Negotiations with Europe from 1996 to 2000 at the General Directorate of International Economic Relations.

Over his long career, he has also been a university professor of Economics, Macroeconomics, Political Science, Public Policy, International Economics and International Economic Relations at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

René currently serves as BHP Vice President of Corporate Affairs.

A business engineer from the University of Chile and a Master’s in Business Administration and Management from ESADE, Barcelona.

He has served as a director of various companies such as Anglo American Sur and Collahuasi, as well as an advisor at Enami, Mitsubishi MCI Chile, among others.

He has extensive experience in the mining industry, holding executive positions in general management, project management, operations control, business improvement, strategic planning and finance.

He is recognized for his strategic vision and knowledge of ESG factors.

An education specialist with extensive experience in school leadership, advising on the implementation of classroom innovations, and optimizing the financial operations of educational institutions.

A primary education teacher from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, she holds a PhD in Education from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She completed a postgraduate program in Senior Executive Management at ESADE, Barcelona, and a Master’s in Finance at Universidad de los Andes, Chile.

Celia recently retired from the General Management of Dunalastair Schools, where she led the growth and development of an innovative educational project. She also managed the process of selling the schools to the UK investment fund Cognita.

She has served on the boards of charitable institutions that work for the educational rights of children. Between 1999 and 2006, she was Executive Director of Fundación Chile’s Education Program.

She has also worked as an international consultant evaluating projects for the Inter-American Development Bank and the Ministries of Education of several Latin American countries.

An Aquaculture Engineer from the University of Antofagasta, she holds a Master’s in Aquatic Microbiology and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology from Kyoto University, Japan. She also completed a postdoctoral program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a postgraduate diploma in Technology, Innovation and Business at UAI.

Currently, in addition to being CEO of Domolif, she is Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Universidad Alberto Hurtado.

Pamela developed her academic career for nearly a decade at the University of Antofagasta and at the Tarapacá Biotechnology Institute.

In 2008, as a partner of Aguamarina S.A., she devoted herself exclusively to developing technologies for the mining industry. Her innovation is reflected in various products and services that address biocorrosion, bioleaching, bioremediation, particulate matter control and water treatment through microbes.

Pamela serves on various boards, including Fundación Minera Escondida, the Association of Biotechnology Companies, the Association of Entrepreneurs of Chile (ASECH), and the National Innovation Council for Development (CNID).