ABOUT THE PROGRAM
This panel will examine investment opportunities and key trends across Latin American markets, offering insight into the region’s economic outlook. Experts will discuss major drivers of growth, evolving market conditions. The conversation will also explore how global forces—such as geopolitics, technology, and sustainability—are shaping capital flows and long-term prospects in Latin America, before concluding with a look at where investors may find the most promising opportunities ahead.
A reception will follow the panel.
PANELISTS
Lauren Swartz is the President & CEO of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, the region’s largest and longest-running international nonprofit. World Affairs opens doors between Philadelphia and the world. From powerful speaker events and international exchanges to youth education, to professional development and curated travel programs, this is where continents, cultures, and ideas connect.
Previously, she was Deputy Commerce Director of International Business & Global Strategy for the City of Philadelphia. With a focus on global business attraction, foreign direct investment, and promoting exports, her work created jobs and strengthened the local economy. She crafted the global strategy for Philadelphia and hosted thousands of delegations, diplomats, businesses and investors.
Lauren has also served as the Deputy Director at the trade association, Food Export USA – Northeast, promoting U.S. exports in over 40 countries. Lauren has experience running her own consulting firm specializing in international project management and food marketing. She has lived and worked abroad in Copenhagen and London.
Lauren is the Honorary Consul of Sweden for Pennsylvania. Lauren serves as a Board Member for the following organizations: Leadership Philadelphia; Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Satell Institute, and Global Philadelphia Association. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, Sunday Breakfast Club and the Forum of Executive Women. She also serves on Pennsylvania Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. She earned a B.A. in Communications at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College with minors in Business Economics, Spanish and Philosophy. Lauren is an accomplished speaker at conferences and events around the world. Awards include: 2023 City & State Above & Beyond, 2023 Titan 100, 2023 Philadelphia Business Journal Women of Influence, 2019 “40 Under 40” from the Philadelphia Business Journal and Temple University’s Fox School of Business International Business Partner of the Year in 2016-2017.
Juan Bautista Zambon is a member of the Corporate & Business practice at Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld. A bilingual attorney fluent in English and Spanish, Juan brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate and securities law, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and cross-border transactions.
Juan advises clients on a wide range of sophisticated transactions and projects, offering strategic counsel from deal inception through execution. His entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative approach make him a valued advisor to both domestic and international clients navigating dynamic and challenging business environments.
Maria Slack is a senior banking executive with over 21 years of experience in Corporate and Commercial Banking, specializing in portfolio management, client coverage, and strategic growth initiatives. She currently serves as Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Mexico, leading the North American Corridor and multiple industry segments. Maria has held leadership roles at J.P. Morgan, Scotiabank, and Citibank, and is recognized for her client-centric approach, strong analytical skills, and collaborative leadership style. She holds an MBA from ITESM, Mexico and the University of Fribourg, Switzerland and is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Marcilio Zanoni Jr., located in Sao Paulo, runs GCB Subsidiary Banking Brazil US Diversified Industries, Natural Resources and Real Estate corridors, besides CB. With a 30-year plus experience in the local financial market, before Joining JP Morgan in 2012, Marcilio worked at BankBoston and Banco Itaú-BBA, one of the largest Brazilian banks, covering large Brazilian and Multinational companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics, with MBAs in Finance and Sustainability.
Benjamin Leavenworth is a founding partner of AFINA international Advisors and Leads the Afina Impact business team focused on building investable businesses off of industrial waste streams using cutting edge and novel technologies. The company’s focus is on cross border business building and investment focused on Food, Agriculture, Biotech and Wellness.
Currently some of Afina’s holdings through its Nurture Capital platform include leading technologies in Synthetic Biology, human nutrition and evelopment of cutting-edge pharmaceutical products derived from the marine fisheries industry. In Afina’s fifteen-year history the firm has raised over $600M for various financial and private equity opportunities ranging from financial services, medical devices to real estate. The firm works alongside a number of privately held businesses and family offices to optimize their operating business holdings.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Chispa Group LLC. an international business consulting services firm based in the United States. He developed the first Chilean branded grass-fed beef program for the U.S. market successfully establishing it as the largest supplier of Grass-Fed beef to Whole Foods Market at the time.
Advised an American private equity group to obtain an iron mine and its corresponding operations with production capacity of 1 million tons of iron ore per month.
As part of the founding management team of Vina Cono Sur, he established distribution channels and developed a brand name for an affiliate of South America’s largest wine company, Vina Cono Sur
is Chile’s fifth largest wine company with sales in all major global markets.
Appointed by the President of Chile as Honorary Consul of Chile for the tri-state region of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey which accounted for 70 percent of Chile’s agricultural trade with the United States Serves as a board Director of the Global Interdependence Center a leading think tank on Central Banking and Global Finance.
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