Andrés has been a guest speaker at the Chile Club on several occasions throughout our history, and his presentations have always provided thoughtful and insightful perspectives. On this occasion, he will discuss what Chile needs to do to return to a path of stronger economic growth and his views on the Law on National Reconstruction and Economic and Social Development, frequently referred to in public debate as the "mega-reform".

He is a distinguished economist, academic, and public policy expert. Until the end of August 2026, he served as Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a position held since 2018. He has had an extensive academic career at leading institutions including Harvard, Columbia, and New York University.

He served as Chile’s Minister of Finance from 2006 to 2010 under President Michelle Bachelet. During his tenure, he played a key role in strengthening Chile’s fiscal framework and establishing sovereign wealth funds to manage the country’s copper revenues, earning international recognition as Latin American Finance Minister of the Year.

Velasco holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, as well as degrees in Economics and Philosophy and International Relations from Yale University. He has also served as a consultant to the IMF, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank, and has been involved in several international economic and policy initiatives, including the G20 Eminent Persons Group.

He was a candidate for President of Chile in 2013. Today, through his academic and international work, he remains an influential voice on economics, public policy, democracy, and Chile’s place in the global economy.

Johannes will share his perspective on what comes after President José Antonio Kast’s government, and discuss the future political scene and the role he sees for the Partido Nacional Libertario in Chile’s political and institutional development.
A Chilean politician, Johannes Kaiser is the founder and president of the Partido Nacional Libertario, and a former Member of Congress for District 10 in the Metropolitan Region. He studied law in Chile and later pursued studies in Germany and Austria, where he also worked in a variety of fields before becoming known for his political commentary through his program El Nacional Libertario. He entered Congress in 2022 and was a presidential candidate in the 2025 election.

Richard is a recognized expert in defence, national security, and geopolitical risk, who will assess the current geopolitical and military developments in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and their implications for Chile and the global economy.
His distinguished career spans both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of AthenaLab, one of Chile's leading public policy think tanks on security and strategic affairs, and is also a Councilman for Las Condes.
In addition to his public policy work, Richard is a company director, strategic consultant, and a regular columnist for El Mercurio de Valparaíso, El Líbero, and El Mostrador. He is also Professor of Risk and Crisis Management at the Institute of Directors of Chile.

Ambassador Brandon Judd, will give an assessment of the US-Chile bilateral relationship and his priorities to advance it further.
He is a distinguished public servant whose career has been defined by leadership, service, and his commitment to public safety. He served for 27 years as a US Border Patrol Agent, rising to become President of the National Border Patrol Council, where he advised policymakers on public safety issues, becoming one of the most recognized voices on border security in the US.
He's committed to strengthening the 200-year diplomatic relationship between the US and Chile, prioritizing public safety and prosperity.