FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2025
Contact: Gemma Givens
press@thedialogue.org
Washington, DC – The Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos Ruiz-Hernández and Mary Speck as non-resident senior fellows. They will contribute expertise in inter-American relations, regional security, and the rule of law—areas central to advancing the Dialogue’s mission of democratic resilience, shared prosperity, and sustainable development across the Americas.
Carlos Ruiz-Hernández is a Panamanian diplomat and foreign policy expert with extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, U.S.–Latin America relations, and hemispheric governance. Most recently, he served as vice minister of foreign affairs of Panama (2024–2025), where he helped guide the country’s foreign policy amid intensifying geopolitical crosscurrents, evolving U.S.–Panama dynamics, and complex migration challenges.
Previously, Ruiz-Hernández was Panama’s ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. He contributed to global frameworks on the energy transition and climate change. He has also advised public and private clients on international law, investment arbitration, and legal-financial governance in Latin American markets.
Mary Speck is a senior advisor to the Latin America Program at the U.S. Institute of Peace, where she conducts research and designs programming to prevent violence, strengthen security, and uphold the rule of law.
Speck previously served as executive director of the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission, a bipartisan entity created by Congress to assess U.S. counternarcotics policy in the region. She also led the Mexico and Central America Project at the International Crisis Group and spent over a decade as a foreign correspondent in Latin America, reporting on political, economic, and security developments.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carlos and Mary as non-resident senior fellows at the Inter-American Dialogue,” said Rebecca Bill Chavez, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue. “Carlos brings deep diplomatic experience and a keen understanding of U.S.–Latin America relations at a time of growing complexity in hemispheric affairs. Mary is widely respected for her insightful work on regional security and governance, issues that are central to the Dialogue’s mission. We look forward to their valuable contributions to our work and community.”
About the Inter-American Dialogue:
Founded in 1982, the Inter-American Dialogue is the premier center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with a network of experts and fellows across the Americas, the Dialogue convenes global leaders and institutions to advance democratic governance, shared prosperity, social equity, and sustainable development across the region.
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