ABOUT US

We are ProChile, the agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that promotes the supply of goods and services thanks to our extensive international network of trade offices. We also foster the expansion of investment opportunities and the Chilean tourism industry.

ProChile General Director
ProChile General Director Ignacio Fernández Ruiz

Ignacio Fernández Ruiz is a Lawyer from the University of Chile, Master of Law in International Politics from the University of Sheffield, England, and has more than 25 years of experience in the area. He was a lawyer in the Department of Investments and Services of the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, Head of the International Unit of the Legal Department of the Economic Directorate of the same undersecretary, commercial attaché of ProChile in Colombia and the United Kingdom, and National Deputy Director of ProChile. He was elected by Alta Dirección Pública (ADP).

National Director
National Director Lorena Sepúlveda

Agricultural Engineer, Master in Management and Public Policies, with specialization courses in International Marketing and Commercial Policy. His work experience has been strongly linked to the field of design, implementation and evaluation of public policies on the promotion of exports of goods and services and internationalization of Chilean companies, as well as in the administration of Economic Complementation Agreements. She has represented the country as Commercial Attaché in Bolivia and Spain. Currently, she is the National Director of ProChile, a senior Public Management position.

Strategic Development Director
Strategic Development Director Felipe Opazo

Commercial Engineer from the University of Chile, with an MBA from the same university; Master in International Strategy and Trade Policy from the University of Chile and Diploma in Business Management, Strategy and Leadership from the Adolfo Ibáñez University. With more than 12 years of experience, he has worked in various functions related to international business management and business strategy, coordination and execution of projects in both the public and private sectors, along with the promotion of exports in Trade in Services. and Mining Suppliers.

Marketing and Events Director
Marketing and Events Director María Julia Riquelme

Publicist by profession and with 23 years of experience in ProChile, she has been the coordinator of the trade promotion instrument “Sabores de Chile”; Head of the Department of International Fairs; Head of Events & Projects; and Commercial Attaché of Chile in Brazil. His leadership and management of work teams have been an important hallmark in his different professional challenges.

International Director
International Director Natalia Arcos Pino

Commercial Engineer with a degree in Business Administration from the School of Law and Business Administration of the Universidad de La Frontera, with public and private experience in the internationalization of companies. She has specialized in Trade Policy at the World Trade Organization, Switzerland. 

He has worked in international markets such as Spain and Canada. She led the Department of South America and Pacific Alliance, as well as the National Coordination of the international trade promotion plan of AgroAlimentos. Additionally, she worked in a technology and artificial intelligence startup supporting sales and internationalization.

Currently, she is the International Director of the General Directorate of Export Promotion, a service under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Administrative Director
Administrative Director Sebastián Fernandez Friedli

Agronomist Engineer from the Catholic University of Chile. Diploma in Management Skills from the Adolfo Ibáñez University. Since 2012 he has worked at the institution, specializing in the areas of Administration and Finance. Between 2019 and January 2022, he was Head of the Finance Department of ProChile, a position from which he led key projects such as the consolidation of ProChile into an autonomous public service in terms of its administration. Sebastián Fernández took office as Administrative Director of ProChile on January 16, 2022 after being elected through the Senior Public Management Contest convened by the National Civil Service Directorate.

Strategic Communications Director
Strategic Communications Director María José Hernández Alcaíno

Journalist, Master in Integrated Communication from the Universidad del Desarrollo, with Diplomas in Engagement Marketing and Management Skills. Extensive experience is institutional and corporate communications, and media. With more than 10 years of experience in ProChile in the Communications area.

Legal Affairs Director
Legal Affairs Director Paulina Valderrama Aravena

Lawyer and Graduate in Legal and Social Sciences from the Law School of the University of Chile, with more than 15 years of experience in the public sphere. He has specialized in matters related to the international and administrative sphere. He has worked in the areas of national and international public law of the Directorate of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Legal Division of the Ministry of Economy and in the Legal Department of the General Directorate of International Economic Relations. Currently, she is the Director of Legal Affairs of the General Directorate of Export Promotion, a Service under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.