Diogo Ide is a senior program manager in Microsoft’s UN and International Organizations office. He manages Microsoft’s engagement with the UN on early warnings, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability. He is also an active member of the Microsoft LGBTQ+ ERG group. Previously, Diogo was a director of public policy programs at the Americas Society & Council of the Americas, where he was responsible for tracking policy developments and managing relationships with C-suite executives and senior government officials.

Lorrie-Ann “LA” Diaz is a 23-year veteran of the NBA, 22 of them with the Miami HEAT. In her current role of vice president, Business Communications and Social Responsibility, she oversees public relations efforts and community outreach for the business initiatives of the HEAT and Kaseya Center. 

Aldo Alvarez serves as the managing partner and founder of Mercatoria, a private Cuban company that specializes in local food production, international importation of food products, wholesale distribution, and retail sales within Cuba. In addition to leading Mercatoria, Alvarez is a Cuban-trained attorney based in Havana, offering commercial analysis, independent legal advice, and market entry planning assistance to U.S. and international companies navigating the Cuban market.

Alain Garafalo is the CEO of GSI Software Inc., a company with over 25 years of experience in the software development and IT consultancy sectors. With a background that spans academia and industry, including professorship roles and leading the Telecommunications and Telematics Department at the Technical University of Havana, he has significantly contributed to computer networking and telecommunications. Beyond academia, he has served as an IT consultant to diverse companies and institutions.

Nora Gamez Torres is the Cuba/U.S.-Latin American policy reporter for El Nuevo Herald and the Miami Herald. She studied journalism and media and communications in Havana and London. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from City, University of London. Her work has won awards from the Florida Society of News Editors and the Society for Professional Journalists.

Erik Bethel is a global finance professional with experience in the private and public sectors. In 2020, he was nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. Previously, he was nominated by the President and confirmed unanimously by the Senate to represent the United States at the World Bank. At the World Bank, Mr. Bethel spearheaded a number of technology initiatives including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the tokenization of World Bank loans. Earlier in his career, Mr.

Dr. Jin (Julie) Zeng is Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Ph.D. in Political Science in 2007. Her primary research interests are Chinese investment in Latin America, agrarian studies in contemporary China, and political economy of development. She is the author of the book, State-Led Privatization in China—The Politics of Economic Reform (Routledge, 2013). Dr.