Luis Fernando Pérez Pérez

Luis Fernando Pérez Pérez is the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cali. Prior to this, they worked as a Program Officer for Higher Education for Social Justice at the Ford Foundation from January 2012 to August 2018. There, they designed a new regional portfolio with an emphasis on regional and sub-national cooperation with international actors and intergovernmental organizations. Luis also led a global public debate process of Higher Education experts from China, Egypt, South Africa, USA, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Brazil that evolved into a Community of Practice around policy reform to close inequality gaps.

Pérez Pérez has a long history of working to reform public policy in order to close inequality gaps in the education system. Luis has achieved major reform results in Chile and Peru, and has supported the creation of a new regulatory framework for universities focused on elevating the value of public education and restricting for-profit institutions in higher education. In addition, they have facilitated collaboration amongst different civil society organizations and Latin American governments both at the local and national level, using the Foundation’s assets and capacities to enhance grantees’ work on the ground. Luis has also generated powerful new concepts and evidence to drive inclusion in the Higher Education sector, such as affirmative action, inclusive labor policies, technical education, applied research to reduce inequality gaps, and leadership development.

Luis Fernando Pérez Pérez completed a MA in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University. Afterwards, they pursued a Master of Management from Tulane University - A.B. Freeman School of Business. Afterwards, they completed an MBA from Universidad ICESI. Lastly, they completed a degree in Psicologia from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali.

Some individuals on their team include Luisa Fernanda Cadavid Reyes - Business Strengthening Unit Director, Johanna Paola Díaz Guerra - Head of Market Intelligence Area, and Tatiana Manrique Villegas - Head of Mentality & Culture Area.