Juan Manuel Santos Calderón

Juan Manuel Santos Calderon was born in Bogota, Colombia. After a few years in the Navy, he studied economics at the University of Kansas, London School of Economics, and Harvard University. He has worked as a journalist and editor. As a politician, he represents the liberal-conservative Partido Social de Unidad Nacional. Santos has held several key governmental positions since the 1990s, including Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, and Minister of National Defense. He was elected President of Colombia in 2010 and served until 2018. Santos is married and has three children.

Since the 1960s, Colombia endured a prolonged civil war. In 2012, then-President Santos initiated negotiations between the government and the FARC guerrillas. A ceasefire agreement was reached in June 2016, and although a referendum in October of the same year narrowly rejected a draft peace agreement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Santos the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize to encourage continued dialogue and efforts for peace and reconciliation. His peace efforts also earned him other accolades such as the Lamp of Assisi and the Tipperary International Peace Award.

Beyond his peace efforts, Santos is recognized for his environmental policies and advocacy for sustainable development. He received multiple awards for his commitment to the environment, including the National Geographic Society's recognition, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew International Medal, and the Wildlife Conservation Society Theodore Roosevelt Award. Santos's administration was pivotal in leading the international agenda to develop the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Compaz Foundation, is a visiting professor at Oxford University, and a member of influential boards and organizations such as The Elders and the Global Commission on Drug Policy. He has authored several books, including "The Battle for Peace" and "Jaque al Terror" (Checkmate to Terror), providing insights into his leadership and peace-building efforts.