Benigno Lopez is Paraguay’s Minister of Finance. He is a member of the Strategic Committee for the National Education Transformation Plan 2030, responsible for conducting the education reform process. In addition, the Minister serves as the President the Fund for Education Excellence and Research, a public -private partnership to fund innovation initiatives and scholarships. Prior to his appointment as Minister of Finance, Mr. Lopez served as President of the Social Security Institute. In 2013, he was appointed Executive Legal Director of Itaipú, the Binational Hydroelectric Dam between Paraguay and Brazil which holds the world’s production record. He also served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund representing Paraguay in 2012-2013 and worked as legal advisor for the country’s international bonds issuing process. Between 2007 and 2012 he served as Board Director of the Central Bank of Paraguay, institution where he built his professional career for more than 20 years and had a key role during the 1995-2002 financial crisis and in multiple negotiations as the Head of the Legal Department. He graduated from law school at the Universidad Católica de Asuncion and holds a Master in Common Law from the Georgetown University (1987-1988).

López was an event speaker at the Dialogue.