Isabel de Alvarado

Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, a prominent figure in Panamanian politics, is currently serving as the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama. With a career spanning over 20 years, she has excelled in advising, developing, and implementing public policies across Latin America, both within international organizations and the private sector.

During her tenure as the Country Program Manager for Panama at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for 15 years, Isabel played a crucial role in fostering dialogues to bring people together and promoting consensus-building for the country's advancement. She later contributed significantly to the design and execution of the Panama 2000 Agreements, also known as the Coronado Agreements, which led to the establishment of the Panama Canal Authority.

Having concluded her work with the United Nations as the Director of the National Concertation Process for Development in 2007, Isabel went on to represent Panama as the Alternate Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. Her diplomatic expertise further saw her being involved in regional political negotiations as part of Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Apart from her international consultancy role with UNDP as a member of the regional experts' team, Isabel also served as an Independent Facilitator for Panama's national dialogue process initiated by the Presidency to reform Law 30 in 2010. This dialogue, aimed at resolving a national crisis, successfully renegotiated the law to the satisfaction of various stakeholders, including business owners, workers, indigenous groups, environmental sectors, and the government.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions to national agreements over two decades, Isabel Alvarado was honored as the Distinguished Woman of the Year 2012 by the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE). She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Master's in Business Administration.

Currently working as a governance consultant under her freelance consultancy, Isabel continues to leverage her expertise in policy-making and consensus-building to drive positive change both locally and regionally.