Highlights from past summits

Speakers

JOSE LUIS ANDRADE ALEGRE
JOSE LUIS ANDRADE ALEGRE
Minister
Ministry of Public Works, Panama

José Luis Andrade Alegre was born in the Republic of Panama on November 16, 1956. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Panama and also pursued studies at the University of Missouri at Rolla.

He has 44 years of experience in the construction industry, boasting an extensive track record of building roads and bridges for both the public and private sectors.

In 2006, he co-founded the company "Inversiones Los Tres S.A.," which specializes in the construction of roads and bridges.

He currently serves as Minister of Public Works in the administration of President José Raúl Mulino Quintero.

Andrés Avaria
Andrés Avaria
Project Advisor, General Directorate of Concessions
Ministry of Public Works, Chile

Transport Engineer with over 15 years of experience leading the development, structuring, evaluation, and tendering of infrastructure projects under the concession model in Chile and Latin America. Possesses a strong track record in project portfolio planning, technical-economic analysis, risk management, and the coordination of multidisciplinary teams, having participated in end-to-end processes ranging from opportunity identification to contract award.

KAREN CABALLERO
KAREN CABALLERO
Deputy National Director of Studies and Designs
Ministry of Public Works, Panama

Civil Engineer from the Technological University of Panama, holding a Master’s degree in Concrete Engineering and a Doctorate in Construction Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain.

Deputy National Director of Studies and Designs at the Ministry of Public Works; her responsibilities include drafting and formulating technical documents for road infrastructure tender projects in Panama, as well as analyzing and surveying the current state and level of deterioration of the country's road network.

Active member of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Panamanian Structural Code under Panama’s Technical Board of Engineering and Architecture. Certified by ASEP as a national consultant on the structural safety of hydraulic dams in Panama. Specialist in structural pathology.

Author of scientific articles and research regarding the behavior of reinforced concrete structural elements—incorporating metallic fibers—subjected to axial compression and cyclic lateral loading. She also holds a part-time teaching position at the Technological University of Panama, Faculty of Civil Engineering.

Francisco Gallardo Espina
Francisco Gallardo Espina
LATAM Infrastructure Business Manager
Fonroche Lighting

Francisco Gallardo Espina is an Industrial Engineer with an MBA and more than 18 years of experience in business development and technology solutions for transport infrastructure across Latin America. He currently serves as LATAM Infrastructure Business Manager at Fonroche Lighting, leading the strategy for autonomous solar lighting projects across highways, toll roads, airports, ports, and railway systems. His experience includes the development of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, working closely with concessionaires, public authorities, engineering consultancies, and construction companies. His approach combines technical, financial, and operational expertise to deliver high-performance infrastructure solutions, integrating life-cycle analysis, CAPEX and OPEX optimization, infrastructure resilience, and sustainability. At Fonroche Lighting, he drives the adoption of innovative technologies that support decarbonization, energy efficiency, and the development of resilient critical infrastructure prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

Yessica Goti
Yessica Goti
Managing Director
National Highway Company (ENA), Panama

Yessica Goti is the current General Manager of Empresa Nacional de Autopistas (ENA). With over two decades of experience in business administration and management, she has built a career defined by strategic leadership, business development, and the management of multidisciplinary teams. She holds a degree in Marketing and a postgraduate qualification in Advertising, both earned at the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT). Her professional background includes high-level roles such as Country Manager, Regional Channel Manager (Enterprise), Business Manager, and Administrative Manager. At the helm of ENA, she oversees the management of the ENA Norte, ENA Sur, and ENA Este concessions in Panama, driving investment and modernization projects as well as enhancing monitoring and control systems through advanced technology, all with the aim of providing safer and more efficient roadways.

Ricardo Icaza
Ricardo Icaza
Secretary General
Ministry of Public Works, Panama

Ricardo Enrique Icaza Huertas holds a law degree from the University of Panama and possesses a solid professional background in the legal field, spanning both the public and private sectors. He has worked as a corporate lawyer, gaining experience in public procurement, vessel registration, civil and commercial litigation, and the drafting and negotiation of contracts.

In the public sector, he has held various high-level positions, including Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Public Works, President of the Betterment Levy Commission (Comisión de Valorización), Advisor to the Ministry of Security and the National Police, Head of the Legal Department for the Santo Tomás Hospital Board of Trustees, and Customs Administrator for the Northern and Airport Zones.

He currently serves as Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works of Panama. Additionally, he is an active participant in professional associations as a member of the National Council of Private Enterprise (CoNEP).

Julio Jaime Scheib
Julio Jaime Scheib
Sales and Marketing Director
LEOTEK LATAM

Julio Jaime Scheib is the Sales and Marketing Director of LEOTEK LATAM, where he leads commercial growth and market development across Latin America. With more than 25 years of experience in the infrastructure, energy, lighting, and smart city industries, he has built a strong track record in sales, marketing, business development, and strategic partnerships.

He works closely with municipalities, utilities, contractors, and strategic partners to advance smart lighting and urban modernization projects. His approach combines commercial expertise with technical knowledge to help cities improve road safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

Throughout his career, Julio has been involved in the development and implementation of innovative solutions for both the public and private sectors, contributing to the creation of safer, smarter, and more connected communities through intelligent infrastructure and advanced technologies.

Hostos Rizik Lugo
Hostos Rizik Lugo
Managing director
RD Vial Trust, Dominican Republic

He currently heads the RD Vial Trust, where he drives initiatives aimed at improving connectivity, strengthening road infrastructure, and promoting more efficient and safe mobility in the Dominican Republic. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), a Master’s degree in Finance and Banking Management from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), and a Master’s degree in Strategic Governance and Political Communication from The George Washington University (GWU). Additionally, he has pursued studies in Strategic Innovation and Development Economics at the University of Oxford. He has held positions such as Director for the Dominican Republic at the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) and *ad honorem* Executive Director of the Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit (UESP). Under his leadership, RD Vial continues to advance toward innovative solutions that ensure road infrastructure is sustainable, resilient, and aligned with the country's economic development.

Osvaldo Romagnoli
Osvaldo Romagnoli
General Administrator
Provincial Highway Directorate, Mendoza, Argentina

Civil Engineer specializing in Transportation Infrastructure (National University of San Juan). Born in San Martín, Mendoza, he has served as Operations Manager for the Mendoza Provincial Highway Directorate; Head of Construction Inspection for the Mendoza Irrigation Department; Head and Coordinator of Works and Director of Works for the Mendoza Ministry of Environment and Public Works; and Undersecretary of Educational Infrastructure for the Mendoza Government's General Directorate of Schools (DGE). He possesses a distinguished track record in the private sector, having worked on major, high-profile projects.

President of the Federal Highway Council of the Argentine Republic (terms spanning 2023–2025 and from the beginning of the current year through the end of 2027).

Carlos Roberto Sanchez
Carlos Roberto Sanchez
Lead Partner, Infrastructure for Central America and the Andean Region
Deloitte Spanish Latin America

Carlos Roberto Sánchez is a Partner at Deloitte S-LATAM and serves as the Infrastructure Leader for Central America and the Andean Region, while also leading the Public Sector practice for Central America. He brings more than 18 years of experience in the comprehensive structuring of infrastructure projects and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with involvement across all stages of the project lifecycle, from the design of investment and financing frameworks to the implementation of institutional reforms in both the public and private sectors.

He holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Economics from INCAE Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Sciences from ESEN. Since 2010, he has focused his professional career on infrastructure finance, leveraging a unique combination of technical, legal, and financial expertise.

Elias Santana
Elias Santana
Deputy Minister of Road Infrastructure
Ministry of Public Works and Communications, Dominican Republic

Civil Engineer with a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering; professor specializing in construction budgeting and scheduling at the Universidad Central del Este for over 20 years; Technical Director at the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) from 2020 to 2022; and Deputy Minister of Road Infrastructure from 2022 to the present. He is an appraiser and member of the Dominican Institute of Appraisers (ITADO) and the Pan-American Union of Valuers (UPAV). His experience includes real estate project development and numerous courses on valuation topics.

He has directed and planned the most significant road projects in the Dominican Republic over the past four years (including the Baní Bypass, Navarrete Bypass, República de Colombia Avenue, Duarte Highway, San Francisco Bypass, Nagua Waterfront/Malecón, Isabel Aguiar Grade-Separated Intersection, and the Plaza de la Bandera Tunnel, among others).

MAURICIO SOJO QUESADA
MAURICIO SOJO QUESADA
Executive Director
National Highway Council (CONAVI), Costa Rica

A Civil Engineer with over 14 years of experience in the planning, oversight, and execution of nationwide road infrastructure projects. He has led numerous contracts involving road maintenance, road marking, pavement rehabilitation, and the construction of major structures such as bridges and retaining walls. He has served as Regional Director and Deputy Manager of Maintenance, and currently holds the position of Executive Director of the National Highway Council. He possesses extensive experience in project management, budget administration, and the use of Pavement Management Systems. His academic background includes a Master’s degree in Highway Engineering and specializations in Project Management and Public Procurement. He is distinguished by his leadership, sense of responsibility, and ability to work effectively within a team.

PEDRO BRUNO BARROS DE SOUZA
PEDRO BRUNO BARROS DE SOUZA
Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Mobility, and Partnerships
Government of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Pedro Bruno Barros de Souza holds a degree in Public Administration from the João Pinheiro Foundation, a Master’s degree in Administration from PUC-Rio, and a Master’s degree in International Management from Grenoble IAE. Since February 2023, he has served as the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Mobility, and Partnerships for the Government of Minas Gerais, leading strategic projects for the state's development.

He has been a staff member at BNDES since 2010 and has worked to strengthen public-private partnerships, leading the Social Infrastructure and Environmental Services Superintendency as well as the Government and Institutional Relations Superintendency. Between 2016 and 2019, he played a key role in the Investment Partnerships Program (PPI) of the Presidency of the Republic, contributing to the resumption of mining rights concessions and auctions in strategic sectors such as airports, energy, and oil and gas.

Arcelio Tejada Fernández
Arcelio Tejada Fernández
Director of Infrastructure
National Highway Company (ENA), Panama

Engineer Arcelio Tejada Fernández is a civil engineering professional with extensive experience in the management, planning, and execution of road infrastructure projects in Panama.

His career reflects a comprehensive vision of project development, combining experience across the public and private sectors as well as specialized consulting.

In the public sector, he has participated in coordinating and directing strategic national infrastructure projects, including road expansions, highway corridors, bridges, the rehabilitation of major roadways, and high-impact special programs. In the private sector, he has been involved in the acquisition, structuring, development, and execution of infrastructure projects, thereby strengthening his technical, contractual, and financial expertise. Additionally, he possesses experience in contract administration, proposal analysis, subcontract supervision, on-site project management, and the monitoring of physical and financial progress.

He currently leads planning and execution processes aimed at optimizing and expanding strategic highway corridors for the Empresa Nacional de Autopistas.

Jose Ivan Vallejo Velez
Jose Ivan Vallejo Velez
Senior Technical Sales Specialist AEC
Autodesk

A civil engineer specializing in transportation and management, holding master's degrees in infrastructure and the management of concessioned assets. He possesses over fifteen years of experience in the structuring, design, and management of linear infrastructure projects, leading multidisciplinary teams in highly complex environments. His career combines technical vision, strategic management, and the adoption of digital methodologies to drive operational efficiency, collaboration, risk reduction, and improved decision-making throughout the infrastructure asset lifecycle.

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