SPEAKERS

Natasha Avendaño García, General Manager, Bogotá Water and Sewer Company

General Manager of the Bogotá Water and Sewer Company since January 5, 2024.

An economist with three master's degrees: in Economics from the University of Los Andes, in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and in International Taxation, Foreign Trade, and Customs from the Externado University of Colombia. She holds a PhD in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, with an emphasis on taxation, and has taught Economics and Economic Law at the Universidad de Los Andes and Externado.

Her notable roles include serving as Superintendent of Public Utilities from 2018 to 2022, as Expert Commissioner of the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG) from 2022 to 2023, and as Director of Organizational Management at the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) since 2012, where she also served as Deputy Director of Operational Analysis. For seven years, she served as an advisor to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, as part of the Macroeconomic Policy Directorate and the Technical Vice Ministry.

Lourdes Saurez Barboza, President, Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers – AYA

In 2005, I began my studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Costa Rica. During my studies, I worked as an assistant in the Sustainable Urban Development Research Program (PRODUS) at the University of Costa Rica.

From 2011 to 2015, I worked for Ericsson Costa Rica as an engineer in the Telecommunications Tower Design and Construction Engineering Unit, later becoming the head of that unit. In 2015, I decided to work independently, carrying out residential design and construction projects. I continued this work until 2017, when, with the birth of my first daughter, I decided to seek more stable employment and was offered a position in the Directorate of Educational Infrastructure. From 2017 to 2023, I worked as a project engineer in indigenous territories, and from 2023 to August 2025, I served as the director of the infrastructure department at the Ministry of Public Education. In August 2025, I was offered the opportunity to assume the executive presidency of the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, a position I am currently fulfilling with great gratitude for the opportunity and responsibility.

Emerson Castro, Director, Special Projects Directorate, ProInversión

A licensed and registered Civil Engineer from the National University Federico Villarreal, he also holds a Master's degree in Construction Management from the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences. He has over 15 years of experience in public-private partnerships, as well as experience in project management, execution, and monitoring.

He has served as Director General of Transportation Programs and Projects at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Director of the Disaster Reconstruction Management Unit at PRONIED (National Program for Educational Infrastructure), Director of Investment Planning at the General Directorate of Educational Infrastructure at the Ministry of Education, Director General of the Project Portfolio Directorate at ProInversión, and Director of the General Directorate of Private Investment Promotion Policy at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He is currently the Director of the Special Projects Directorate.

Fabián Cazar, Manager of Potable Water and Sanitation, ETAPA EP

Civil Engineer with a strong academic background, supported by four master’s degrees in Water Engineering, Project Management, Business Administration, and Applied Mathematics. He has over 20 years of experience in the public sector, specializing in the planning, construction, and supervision of potable water, sewage, and sanitation systems.

He has served as Manager of Potable Water and Sanitation at ETAPA EP, leading strategic projects, strengthening water infrastructure management, and coordinating international technical cooperation processes.

In parallel, he teaches university courses in Engineering, Architecture, and Mathematics at highly prestigious academic institutions. He is recognized for his analytical ability, professional commitment, and technical leadership in the development of urban infrastructure works and environmental sustainability projects.

Jacobo Moreno Mora, Export Manager, Molecor

Jacobo Moreno Mora. 49 years old - . Agricultural Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Valencia- Spain, with more than 20 years of experience in the water sector. With extensive experience in the company, initially in the national market and for 10 years in international markets, initially developing the European and North African markets with extensive commercial experience, in team management and opening of new markets. I currently hold the position of Export Manager at Molecor, focused mainly on the South American market, where we have set clear growth objectives for the coming years.

In addition to my experience, I have an Executive MBA, speak English perfectly and have an intermediate level of French. I have a strong reputation for interpersonal relationships and communication.

Alberto Sánchez, Vice President, Health Services Company of Paraguay, ESSAP S.A.

Currently: Member of the Board of Directors. Vice President of the Health Services Company of Paraguay, ESSAP S.A.

Economist. UFRR – Curitiba Brazil

MBA in Project Management. Getulio Vargas Foundation. Brazil PM4R Master Professional. IDB

Master in Government and Public Management. American University

Other studies:

• Specialization in Strategic Management. University of Belgrano- Argentina. 2024

• Water 2.0 Efficient Companies for the 21st Century. IDB Academy. 2023

• Diploma in Governance and Public Innovation. Getulio Vargas Foundation. Brazil. 2022

• Specialization in Operational Coordination in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the humanitarian field. UNICEF. August 2020

• Project Management Applied to the Public and Private Sectors of Latin America. INDES/IDB September 2020

• Specialization in Public-Private Partnerships and Concessions. Faculty of Economics – University of Chile. Asunción, Paraguay. March 2019

• Specialization in Strengthening Basin Organizations and Water Governance in Central America. Antigua Training Center – Guatemala. AECID, UNESCO, and CODIA September 2019

• Diploma in Evaluation of Public Policies and Programs. ECLAC - Institute of Planning and Socioeconomic Studies – ILPES – Santiago, Chile. July 2018

• Diploma in Logical Framework and Project Management. ECLAC - Institute of Planning and Socioeconomic Studies – ILPES – Santiago, Chile. July 2017

• Diploma in Strategic Planning for Water Supply Systems. AECID Training Center – Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. June 2016