Niurka Montero
General Manager - Dell Technologies Panama
Electronic Engineer with more than 20 years of experience leading teams and developing business strategies in multiple transnational companies with regional responsibilities.
Niurka started her career at Dell Technologies in 2004, leading the transition of Corporate sales from Austin, TX, to Panama; Thanks to her passion, vision, and results, she has led different segments in the company, from online sales and Call Center businesses to SMB (Small and Medium Business), the PartnerDirect Channel Program for South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and since 2014, is responsible for Government, Commercial, and SMB as Senior Director of Sales for Regional Accounts in NoLA (North Latin America).
She is passionate about STEM careers and the opportunities they open up for in-demand jobs within the technology industry, as well as gender equality. She is involved in programs that promote the development and mentoring of the next generation of leaders and STEM studies, focusing on diversity and female talent. She has a degree in Electronic Engineering specializing in Digital Systems from USMA and an MBA in Business Administration specializing in Marketing from ULACIT.
Malcolm Muñoz
Director General of Citi since April 2023. Prior to assuming this position, he held the role of Director of Corporate Banking for nine years, providing global solutions to institutional clients, including Capital Markets, Project Financing, Derivatives, and Risk Management Structures. He also led significant transactions with clients in the Public Sector and Local Enterprises, expanding operations throughout the Latin American region. As part of Citi's commitment to the community, Malcolm actively participated as a mentor in Junior Achievement programs to promote financial education in official schools. He has over 23 years of experience in the banking industry.
Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza
Partner - Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán
Mariela is a lawyer specializing in Commercial Law, Intellectual Property, Estate Planning, Personal Data Protection, among others. She has assisted multiple foreign companies in their establishment process in our country, as well as several multinationals under the SEM regime. She has also participated in several fusions and acquisitions of local and foreign companies. Serves companies in infrastructure projects and mega works. She is a member of the Intellectual Property team at Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán. She was recently elected as a member of the Brand Restrictions Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA) for the 2022-2023 terms. She has participated in the debate and drafting of several Law Projects.
She is part of the Board of Directors of Verdes & Co., a company dedicated to the development of hydroponic crops and is secretary and Director of the IGRA Foundation. She is a member of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property (APADEPI), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Directors Association of Panama, WIP Panama, the National Bar Association and the Panamanian Institute of New Technologies (IPANDETEC). Additionally, she is an Electoral Delegate.
Mariela was Chair of the AmCham Legislation and Tax Committee in 2017 and 2018, has been a member of the AmCham Board of Directors since 2019, holding the vice presidency in 2020 and the secretary for the periods 2021 and 2022.
Julio Díaz Cohen
Chief Commercial Officer - AES Panama
Senior executive with 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Currently leads the Commercial Directorate at AES in Panama and the Regional Commercial Center of Excellence for Structuring and Analytics. In his current role, he directly manages over $650M in annual revenue through the Panama Portfolio and indirectly oversees an additional $3B by driving commercial decisions and business growth in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
His international experience spans over 180 projects and 18 markets across the Americas and Eurasia, including international assignments in the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and Panama. Throughout his professional career, he has led high-impact initiatives across a wide range of functions, including strategic and business planning, commercial strategy, risk management, regulatory affairs, business and product development, and digital transformation.
He is a passionate advocate for energy transition and sustainability. He actively participates in professional forums, academic institutions, and industry associations. Since 2022, he has chaired AmCham Panama’s Energy Committee, where he has been recognized as an outstanding Chair for two consecutive years.
His academic background includes two master’s degrees in the Electric Industry and Industry 4.0, both with Excellence distinction, from Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Julio is an Electrical Engineer, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Juan Carlos Arias
General Director - Corporación Continental
He leads a prominent international brokerage and risk management consulting firm that provides services across Latin America and the Caribbean. With over 32 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry, he has been involved in all lines of insurance, including property, liability, marine, employee benefits, and surety. He has been responsible for the international expansion of CORPORACIÓN CONTINENTAL, transforming it into a key player in the Central and South America and Caribbean regions, serving major clients and projects both locally and multinationally.
Juan Carlos holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from American University in Washington, D.C., and a Master's degree in Professional Management from the University of Miami. He has been an active member of the Panamanian business community, serving as an advisor to the Panama Chamber of Commerce. He was President of the Board of Directors of AmCham in 2011 and Vice President of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA) from 2014 to 2016.
Heidy Barahona
General Manager - RICOH Panamá
Ricoh Panama is a global technology company that supports clients in their digital transformation processes. She has over 17 years of international experience, holding various positions in Central American and South American countries in the areas of administration and finance. Heidy has a high level of commitment and a strong focus on achieving results, which has allowed her to contribute to the growth of operations and to develop professionally within Ricoh.
Jorge Barnett Lawton
Managing Director - Centro de Innovación e Investigaciones Logísticas Georgia Tech Panamá
Georgia Tech Panama a joint initiative between SENACYT and the Georgia Institute of Technology. From this institution, he leads local and regional projects related to the advancement of logistics and transportation, digital transformation, cluster performance, supply chain design, distribution networks, and process innovation. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the Technological University of Panama, a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Master's and Doctorate degrees in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program in Zaragoza, Spain. His professional trajectory spans two decades in various roles in the fields of manufacturing, project management, logistics, research, and technology.
Carlos Conde
Graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Business Administration from Universidad Nueva Esparta in Caracas, with postgraduate studies in Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello and the Service Quality Institute. He has over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, focusing on team leadership to achieve goals. For the past 13 years, he has been residing in Panama, where he has successfully developed several brands/services within the tourism industry. For the past 8 years, he has been linked to Air Europa, managing the Central American, Mexican, and now Venezuelan markets. He is currently the President of the Association of Airline Companies of Panama (ALAP), Director of the National Tourism Chamber of Panama (CAMTUR), Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, and he chaired the tourism committee of AmCham.
Jonathan Díaz
Business Director – City of Knowledge Foundation
Bachelor of Law and Political Science from the Universidad Latina. He has a Master's in Business Administration from Francisco Marroquín University and Tulane University, with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
For the last ten years he has been working to attract FDI (foreign direct investment) to Panama, from both the public and private sectors. He has been working for the City of Knowledge Foundation since 2018 as Business Director and is mainly responsible for attracting new organizations (companies, universities, NGOs and international organizations) and their evolution in the project.
In 2021 he was Chair of the Education Committee of AmCham Panama.
Alyssa Lince
Senior Partner - Arden & Price
She graduated from Psychology with a master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She worked in the United States of America as a Training and Organizational Development Coordinator and Ethics Officer.
In 1995 she founded the company Arden & Price, Inc., dedicated to Organizational Development and Strengthening. As head of the firm, she has led projects in both the public and private sectors, executing strategies to create and maintain healthy and cost-efficient operating structures.
In the same way, she has implemented systems for Human Resources planning, taking into consideration the client's organizational goals, costs, budgets, and occupational hygiene. In terms of technology, she has been a pioneer in virtual reality and artificial intelligence offering evaluation and training solutions.
Sandra Miró Navarro
General Manager - DHL Express Panama
Sandra has a track record of more than 20 years in the Deutsche Post DHL group, holding several positions for the division of the courier group DHL Express, including the General Management of DHL Express Chile for 4 years.
In 2004 she assumed the position of Commercial Director for DHL Express and DHL Freight Fowarding Panama, under an integrated scheme of Multimodal Logistics services. In 2006, she assumed the General Management of DHL Express Panama, position that she held until 2012, becoming the first woman to occupy the position of Country Manager, marking an important step in the leadership style of the company. Currently General Manager of DHL Express Panama. She has a degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama, with an MBA from Universidad Latina.
Additionally, she acts as a facilitator of the internal CIM Leadership program (Certified International Manager), which she teaches several times a year in different places in the region, directly sharing our strategy with the new leaders who join the DHL family.
Eyda Varela
Director of Corporate Relations Panama, Dominican Republic, and Colombia - INCAE Business School
She worked for 20 years at the multinational ExxonMobil, where she had a progressive career, culminating in the position of General Manager for Panama. Simultaneously, she managed the service station business in Panama and Nicaragua. She led the transition during the sale of the business to Puma Energy, where she served as General Manager, steering the company’s new business strategies.
She worked in the public sector for five years as Vice Minister of Finance and for the last year as Minister of Economy and Finance. Among her most notable achievements were the launch of the first international bond issuance through the Panama Stock Exchange and the co-organization, alongside the U.S. Department of the Treasury, of the first public-private dialogue between governments and correspondent banks from the United States and Central America.
She has been a member of the Board of Directors of Amcham (Vice President), Esso Standard Oil, S.A. (President), and Caja de Ahorros de Panamá (President), where she led the amendment of its organic law to strengthen corporate governance.
Currently, she is the Director of Corporate Relations at INCAE Business School, a member of the board of directors of Varela Hermanos, S.A., a member of the INCAE National Committee, and a member of the Membership Committee of the Panama Association of Women Directors (ADP).
She graduated with honors from Louisiana State University in Quantitative Business and holds an MBA from INCAE Business School.
Jean Pierre de Roux
Commercial Director, Tropical Energies Corporation (TRENCO)
He previously served as Commercial Counselor and later Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C. (2008-2011).
He earned his Bachelors in Economics from Duke University; he earned his Master's in Philosophy and International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; and recently obtained his MBA from INCAE Business School.
He has been actively involved in corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, and volunteer work. As a member of the Active 20-30 Club of Panama and treasurer of the Active 20-30 Foundation, he has worked extensively in advancing the well-being of children and youth with physical disabilities in Panama.
Served as Energy Committee Chair of AmCham Panama in 2020 and AmCham President 2024
Freddy Rodríguez
With 28 years of experience in the aviation industry and 3 years in the meetings industry, he held prominent roles, including General Manager of United Airlines and Commercial Director at the Panama's Convention Center. Throughout his career he strategically led initiatives to enhance air services, passenger experience, and event management.
Timothy Cannon
Commercial Counselor - US Embassy
Timothy Cannon has been with the Department of Commerce since 2003. Prior to joining the Commercial Service, Tim was a Marine at the barracks in Washington, D.C. where he served as a Presidential Honor Guard. After the Marines he worked as a Personal Protection Officer. He then pursued a career in sales with Gallo Winery, Miller Brewing, and Red Bull. After the beverage business, Tim accepted a position with an aerospace company and while attending the Paris and Australian Airshows, Tim utilized the services of the Commercial Service. He was impressed with their assistance and decided to return to the service of the government as a Commercial Officer himself. Since then, Tim has served in Fargo, North Dakota on a domestic tour, Russia, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia and will be in Panama for the next four years.
Dacil Acevedo
Partner, Strategy & Sustainability - Sinergia507
Disciple of Dr. Bernardo Kliksberg, father of social management and pioneer of social responsibility in Latin America. She is a Senior Consultant in Sustainability and Social Responsibility, with 25 years of international experience advising governments, companies, foundations, international organizations and universities on these issues.
At an academic level, with a 20-year career as a Professor of economics, international business and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at universities in the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Panama.
Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the International Center for Sustainable Development (CIDES) of the City of Knowledge 2017-2021. Senior Consultant of the Center for Sustainability and Responsible Leadership of IESA. Member of the ADEN School of Government Think Tank and founder of the Latin American Center for Innovation in Public Policies (CLIPP).
Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Amcham) in 2018. President of the Private Sector Council for Educational Assistance (COSPAE) in 2019 on behalf of Amcham. Since 2020, she has been the Vice President of the National Council of Former Presidents of Private Sector Unions (CONEXPA).
In 2021, for the second year in a row, it emerged in the MERCO ranking among the leaders with the best corporate reputation in Panama. Of the total of the 75 leaders in this ranking, only 14 women were mentioned, with Dacil Acevedo occupying the No. 8 position among the leading women.
Miguel Bolinaga
President - AES Panamá
Country President of AES Panama, a position that began in June 2013 after having vast experience in the energy sector. Prior to his arrival in Panama, he worked under the position of Corporate Commercial Director and later as Vice President of Electricity Market and External Relations in the AES subsidiary in El Salvador. He worked from 2002 to 2007 at La Electricidad de Caracas (Venezuela).
Miguel is a graduate of the Venezuelan Naval School with a degree in Administration and Logistics. He also has a Systems Engineer degree from the National Armed Forces University Institute (Venezuela) and a master's degree in Information System Development from Simón Bolívar University. He has a Postgraduate - Customer Experience- from the Higher Institute of Economics and Business Administration of El Salvador and a Diploma in Business Finance from FEPADE (El Salvador).
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), Union of Industrialists of Panama, CEPAVEN, United Way (President 2019-2021), as well as AmCham (president 2018 and vice president 2021).
Doriana Hun
Country Manager - Compañía Chevron de Panamá
Her functions include directing sales and marketing in the country, which includes retail sales to Texaco gas stations and commercial sales to companies. In addition, she is responsible for developing and implementing the business plan in the country, as well as operating, together with the Public Affairs area, as a representative before the government, unions and the media in Panama.
Doriana joined Chevron as a Process Engineer in Refinería Panama in October 1999. During her tenure with the company, she has held different positions within the organization, including Planning and Price Specialist as well as Marketing Manager for Colombia and Central America.
She received her Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology in1997 and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Latina de Panamá in 2001.
President AmCham Panama 2022.
Thomas Kenna
President & General Director - Panama Canal Railway Company
Has worked the ast 35 years in various positions related to the maritime industry, international business and multimodal transport. Before joining the Panama Canal Railway Company, he worked on various shipping lines, where he held positions as CEO and President. He joined PCRC in 2000 as Chief Marketing Officer and was appointed President and CEO in 2008.
He has a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.
He was Director of the Asociación de Aerolíneas de Panama (ALAP). He is a founding member of the Board of the Consejo Empresarial Estados Unidos-Panamá (USPA) and of the Asociación del Ejército de los Estados Unidos (AUSA). He has been an active member of the Board of Directors of the Cámara Marítima de Panamá and served as President of the organization in 2003 and 2004. He is currently VP of the Board of Directors of Florida State University Panama. He has served on the Board of Directors of AmCham Panama since 2006, was Secretary in 2007, VP in 2008 and President in 2009. He was part of the Executive Committee of AmCham Panama. In 2015 he was elected president of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA). He currently represents AmCham Panama as a member of the COEL Board of Directors. He served as Trustee of the Fundación Panamericana para el Desarrollo (PADF), established by the OAS in 1962 to implement socio-economic development and disaster assistance programs in Latin America and the region.
Luis Laguerre
Partner Director- KPMG Panama
For more than 30 years, he has provided advice in tax accounting to companies from various industries, as well as natural persons. He has gained experience in international transactions involving Panamanian tax structures. He has also participated in tax planning contracts for multinational clients as well as for local groups.
From 2009 to 2012 he served as Chief Negotiator for the Republic of Panama for the signing of double taxation agreements with Mexico, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Singapore, North Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, among others.
He is a member of the Universidad Especializada del Contador Público Autorizado (UNESCPA) and of the Technical and Accounting Board, an entity attached to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. He was President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Certified Public Accountants of Panama for the years 2003 to 2005. He is also an individual member of the Interamerican Accounting Association (IAA). In 2015, the IAA awarded him the Diploma of Honor for Professional Merit. Currently, he is a member of the Interamerican Tax Commission of the IAA.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Universidad Santa María La Antigua and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Tecnología.
In 2012, he was President of AmCham Panama and is currently Vice Chair of the AACCLA Board of Directors for the period 2020-2022.
He is the AACCLA Chair for the 2021-2022 period.