Sebastián Piñera
President of Chile
Sebastián Piñera has been the President of Chile since March 2018, following
his election in December
2017. He also served as President from 2010 to 2014.
He holds a degree in Business Administration with a major in Economics, conferred by
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, as well as a Master and Doctor’s Degree in Economics
from the University of Harvard, USA. His education was mainly
Christian, pluralist, with great freedom but also characterized by a sense of duty and a strong
call to public service.
Piñera served as advisor for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) between 1974 and
1976; advisor to the World Bank between 1975 and 1978; and worked at the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). At this latter agency, he played an
active role in a macro project entitled “Mapa de la pobreza en América Latina y políticas para
superarla” (Latin America Poverty Map and Policies to Eradicate it) (1976).
Together with his fellow citizens, Piñera voted “NO” at the October 5, 1988 plebiscite
in order to lay the foundations of free elections and democracy.
In 1989, with his wife Cecilia Morel, he organized Fundación Mujer Emprende (Entrepreneurial
Women Foundation) aimed at promoting training and development for low-income young
women.In 1993, they established Fundación Futuro (Future Foundation), which helps bring
education and culture closer to the Chilean
people. In 2005, in the southern part of Isla de Chiloé, they inaugurated Parque Tantauco, with
an area of 140,000 hectares, including 220 kilometers of trails and camping sites where visitors
can trek, fish, bird watch and spot blue whales. At the park, endangered
ecosystems and species are conserved and protected, research is conducted, and sustainable
ecotourism programs are promoted.
