Sustainable Infrastructure for Development

Alfred Grünwaldt serves as Lead Climate Change Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he acts as climate focal point for the Infrastructure Department. After earning his Mechanical Engineering degree from Universidad del Norte, Master's in Computational Mechanics from Universität Stuttgart, and Master's in Environmental Management from Johns Hopkins University, he has built over 15 years of expertise in climate adaptation and infrastructure sustainability. His leadership includes chairing the MDB Working Group on Climate Change Adaptation Finance (2018-2020) and directing over 50 operations contributing to IDB Group's climate finance objectives. Through his focus on water resources and climate challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean, he has authored numerous technical publications on adaptation, climate resilience, and GHG mitigation, particularly in water, transport, and energy sectors

Ariel Yépez-García serves as Manager of the Infrastructure and Energy Sector at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he leads initiatives promoting energy transition and sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean. After earning his PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago and master's from Colegio de México, he has established himself as a leading voice in energy economics and infrastructure development. His career includes significant roles as Senior Energy Economist at the World Bank, Director of Economic Planning at PEMEX, and General Director of Revenue, Royalties, Prices, and Rates in Mexico's Ministry of Finance. Through his academic positions at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, he has contributed to energy policy research while publishing extensively on topics including household energy consumption patterns, power sector vulnerability, and natural gas opportunities. His work has earned him the National Economics Award from Banco Nacional de México, and his research continues to shape energy transition strategies across the region.

Juan Pablo Bonilla serves as Manager of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he leads initiatives promoting environmental sustainability and climate action. After earning his Civil Engineering degree and MSc in Engineering Management from Universidad Javeriana, and PhD in Environmental and Energy Management from George Washington University, he has established himself as a leading voice in climate policy with over 20 years of experience. His career includes serving as Chief of Staff to IDB's Executive Vice President, Senior Specialist at the World Bank, and member of the UN's Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board. Through his leadership of IDB's Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative and roles in Colombia as Deputy Minister and acting Minister of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development, he continues to influence regional environmental policy. His contributions include launching Colombia's National Climate Change and Biotechnology policies while serving as principal advisor to the country's Vice President, and advancing sustainable development solutions across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Graham Watkins serves as Chief of the Climate Change Division at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he leads efforts to support climate planning and policies across Latin America and the Caribbean. After earning his master's from Oxford University and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, he has built 30 years of experience in biodiversity, sustainable infrastructure, and climate change initiatives. His career includes serving as Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos and General Director of the Iwokrama Center in Guyana. Through his leadership at IDB, he focuses on increasing climate finance availability, integrating climate awareness into banking operations, and advancing knowledge about sustainable infrastructure and decarbonization. His contributions include over 60 published articles and two books on the Galapagos and Rupununi regions, while continuing to drive regional transformation toward climate resilience and sustainable development.

Leandro Safatle serves as researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brasilia, bringing extensive experience in pharmaceutical market regulation. After earning his economics degree from the University of Brasilia and specialized certifications in public administration from ENAP and Fundação Dom Cabral, he has established himself as a leading voice in drug price regulation. His career includes serving as Executive Secretary of Brazil's Chamber for the Regulation of the Drug Market (CMED) from 2014-2019, where he oversaw pharmaceutical pricing and advised both the Council of State Ministers and ANVISA's executive leadership. Through his previous roles at the Ministry of Health's Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Strategic Supplies, he has shaped national pharmaceutical policy. As consultant to organizations including UNDP, ECLAC, and IDB, he continues to influence market regulation while working to ensure affordable access to medicines across Brazil.

Ricardo De Vecchi serves as Head of Green Infrastructure Advisory at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he leads strategies to promote public-private partnerships across Latin America and the Caribbean. After earning his master's degrees in International Relations from Georgetown University and Diplomatic Studies from Mexico's diplomatic academy, along with a bachelor's in International Trade from Tecnológico de Monterrey, he has built over 10 years of experience in infrastructure development. His career includes serving as Coordinator for Mexico, Colombia, and Peru in IDB's Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative and Vice President for Latin America at CG/LA Infrastructure, where he led strategic consulting for governments and multinational companies. Through his work at IDB, he has developed numerous projects in water and sanitation, transportation, and energy sectors while providing expertise in political, environmental, financial, and economic risk assessment for infrastructure initiatives across the region.

Gloria Visconti serves as Climate Change Lead Specialist in the Climate Change and Sustainability Division at the Inter-American Development Bank, where she coordinates international climate finance initiatives. After earning her PhD from the University of Bologna and Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, she has established herself as a leading voice in climate policy and sustainable development. Her career includes significant roles as Senior Policy Adviser at Italy's Ministry of Environment and the Prime Minister's Office G8 Task Force, where she focused on climate and energy policies. Through her current position as IDB's technical focal point for the Green Climate Fund and Climate Investment Funds, she continues to influence global climate finance while promoting innovative solutions for low-carbon and climate-resilient development across Latin America and the Caribbean. Her expertise spans biofuels sustainability, environmental management, and international cooperation, reflected in her publications on topics ranging from global biofuels markets to sustainable transport in the Alpine region

Gema Sacristán is the General Business Director and a member of the Management Committee at BID Invest, part of the Inter-American Development Bank. She oversees commercial and investment strategies, creating value propositions that include financial and non-financial products for clients across the financial, corporate, infrastructure, and energy sectors. With a team of 250 people across 25 countries, BID Invest manages assets worth $16 billion and invests $9 billion annually, solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable finance. Prior to joining BID, Sacristán held leadership roles in commercial and investment banking in Madrid, London, and New York. She is a board member of Internet para Todos and a member of the World Trade Organization's Expert Group on Trade Finance. Sacristán holds degrees from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and master's degrees from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the University of Cambridge.