Lucia Dammert Keynote Speaker

Professor of International Relations at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Chief advisor to the President of the Republic of Chile (2022)
Former Advisor to the Ministry of Environment and Public Works of the Province of Mendoza, Argentina

Lucia Dammert's Biography

Lucia Dammert is a Professor of International Relations at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Born in Peru, her research interests lie in the field of public security, criminal organizations, and criminal justice reform.

Her expertise has been widely acknowledged in Latin America. Among her most recent books in English are Fear of Crime in Latin America (2012, Routledge) and Maras (2011, University of Texas Press), edited with Thomas Bruneau. She has held key advisory positions in Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and Peru and has served as a key advisor to the Organization of American States and other regional organizations.

At the global level, she has been invited to serve on the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. She holds a Ph.D. from Leiden University, a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and a B.A. from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Argentina.

Citizen security

Social conflict and urban issues

Organized crime, corruption and violence

Chilean constituent process

Criminal justice

She is a leading Latin American authority on public security, criminal organisations and justice reform, bringing rigorous academic expertise as a Professor of International Relations in Chile.
She draws on senior advisory roles across Chile, Argentina, Mexico and Peru to translate security challenges into practical guidance for governments, institutions and civic leaders.
She offers deep insight into fear of crime, gang dynamics and institutional reform, grounded in widely cited research and English-language publications on Latin American security.
She has advised the Organization of American States and other regional bodies, helping organisations understand how crime trends and policy responses shape stability and governance.
She brings global credibility through her appointment to the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, connecting regional security realities to international policy priorities.