Ecuador and the region are at a turning point. The Business Future of the Americas (BFA) is the premier platform to discuss hemispheric security, forge strategic investments, and define the future of trade in the Americas.
+22
Countries Represented
+300
Top Executives
+25
International Speakers
The Voices of BFA 2026
Lawrence Petroni
Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy in Ecuador
Kerri Hannan
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State
Richard Kaufman
Ecuador Desk Officer, U.S. Dept. of State
Dao M. Le
Senior Advisor, US EXIM Bank
Mike Lebson
Senior Advisor, Emerging and Critical Technology Policy, U.S. Dept. of State
Executive Agenda
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 03
08:30
Registration
09:00
Welcome Remarks
Speakers: Edwin De Los Santos | Felipe Espinosa
09:15 - 09:35
Opening Keynote: Importance of US Cooperation in the Region: Ecuador case
Speaker: H.E. Gabriela Sommerfeld
09:35 - 09:55
Keynote: “U.S. National and Economic Security Priorities in the Americas: Opportunities for Partnerships”
Speaker: Kerri Hannan
09:55 - 10:00
Recognition for 250 years of US Independence
Speakers: Lawrence Petroni, Bettina Carvajal, Felipe Espinosa
10:00 - 10:20
Conference: “Challenges in Hemispheric Security: US Initiatives in the Region”
Speaker: Leonardo Coutinho
10:20 - 11:15
Panel: “A Common Agenda in the Region: National Security and Investment”
Panelists: Maria Claudia Lacouture, Richard Kaufman, Raymond Villanueva.
Moderator: Waleska Sterkel
Moderator: Waleska Sterkel
11:15 - 11:35
Coffee Break
11:35 - 12:00
Conference: “Energy, Infrastructure and the Future of Regional Investment”
Speaker: Christopher Guith
12:00 - 13:00
Panel: Energy Security and Critical Minerals — Strategic Investment
Panelists: Soledad Jeria, Gerardo Guzman, Rocio Velarde, Eduardo López Robayo, Leonardo Lujan.
Moderator: Edwin De Los Santos
Moderator: Edwin De Los Santos
13:00 - 14:00
Official Luncheon & Conference: “Space Technology Redefining Competitiveness in the Americas”
Speaker: David Thomas
14:10 - 15:00
Panel: “Finance Landscape and Investments in LATAM”
Panelists: Ivan Andrade (CEO Banco Pacífico), Alejandro Ribadeneira (CEO Banco Pichincha), Guillermo Lasso Alcivar (CEO Banco Guayaquil).
Moderator: Diana Mejia (CAF)
Moderator: Diana Mejia (CAF)
15:00 - 15:20
Conference: “AI and Cybersecurity in LATAM”
Speaker: Mike Lebson
15:20 - 16:20
Panel: “Protecting the Future: Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence for Business Development in Latin America”
Panelists: Narcizo Lema, Ignacio Conti, Pedro Ribeiro, Diego Urbina.
Moderator: Fabian Garzon
Moderator: Fabian Garzon
16:20 - 16:50
Panel: “Exporting American AI Technology Stack Across the Americas”
Panelists: Prag Mishra, Carl Meacham.
Moderator: Dao M. Le
Moderator: Dao M. Le
16:50 - 17:15
Conference: "Scope of the New U.S. Tariff Policy: Perspectives for the Americas"
Speaker: John Murphy
17:15 - 17:45
High Level Talk: Economic Security – Strengthening Trade and Regional Integration in the Western Hemisphere
Panelists: Luis Alberto Jaramillo
Moderator: Anne Mckinney
Moderator: Anne Mckinney
Our Participants
Official Sector
Lawrence Petroni
Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy in Ecuador
Kerri Hannan
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State
Richard Kaufman
Ecuador Desk Officer, U.S. Dept. of State
Dao M. Le
Senior Advisor, US EXIM Bank
Mike Lebson
Senior Advisor, Emerging and Critical Technology Policy, U.S. Dept. of State
Gabriela Sommerfeld
Chancellor of the Republic of Ecuador
Luis Alberto Jaramillo
Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, and Investments
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Anne Mckinney
Vice President, Americas
Christopher Guith
Senior Vice President, Global Energy Institute
John Murphy
Senior Vice President, Head of International
Private Sector
Edwin De Los Santos
Governing Board Chair, AACCLA
Pedro Ribeiro
Director of AI, Alvarez & Marsal
Diego Urbina
Public Policy Manager, AWS
Maria Claudia Lacouture
Executive President, AmCham Colombia
Waleska Sterkel
Executive Director, AmCham Guatemala
David Thomas
Executive Director, Milo Space Science Institute
Prag Mishra
Chief AI Officer, Armada
Rocio Velarde
CEO, Citibank-DR
Ignacio Conti
Cybersecurity Leader, Fortinet
Gerardo Guzman
VP of Business Development LATAM, Halliburton
Carl Meacham
Head of Sovereign AI, HydraHost
Juan Carlos Zevallos
General Mnager Perú, Ecuador, and Bolivia, IBM
Raymond Villanueva
Director of Investigations, Kaufman Rossin
Fabian Garzon
VP of Digital Transformation, Produbanco
Soledad Jeria
National Director, Rio Tinto Group
Leonardo Coutinho
Executive Director, Center for a Secure Free Society
Eduardo López Robayo
Chairman, Grupo SERTECPET
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Diana Mejia
CAF Representative in Ecuador
Secure your spot
⚡ Registration Open. Limited spots available.
Official Venue
JW Marriott Hotel Quito
Security and comfort in the financial heart of the capital. The perfect meeting point for the hemisphere's brightest business minds.
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Official Sponsors
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