Professor Andrés Velasco Keynote Speaker

Professor Andrés Velasco, a world-renowned economist and global policy expert, known for his transformative impact on economic policy and his thought leadership on global financial challenges. He serves as the Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he shapes the next generation of global policy leaders.

He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University and a B.A. in economics and philosophy as well as an M.A. in international relations from Yale University. Velasco’s academic career spans some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. He was a postdoctoral fellow in political economy at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also a Professor of Professional Practice in International Development at Columbia University and held the Sumitomo-FASID Professorship of International Finance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School.

From 2006-10, Andrés served as the Minister of Finance of Chile, where he implemented visionary policies that safeguarded the nation’s copper windfall, establishing a rainy-day fund that became a model for fiscal responsibility worldwide. His strategic use of countercyclical fiscal measures positioned Chile as a global example of sound economic management, earning him recognition from international financial institutions and publications.

His global influence extends beyond academia and public office. Velasco was a member of the G20 Eminent Persons Group from 2017-18 and co-chaired the Global Panel on the Future of Multilateral Lending Institutions from 2015-16. He has also provided expert consultation to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, governments and central banks worldwide.

As an accomplished author, Velasco has authored nearly 100 academic articles, multiple books, and two novels on international finance, macroeconomics, and economic development in leading journals and media outlets such as The New York Times, Financial Times, and The Guardian.

In addition to his academic and policy achievements, Andrés ran for the Chilean presidency in 2013, bringing his vision for inclusive economic growth to the national stage. His insights into multilateral governance, fiscal prudence, and sustainable development continue to inform global economic discourse.