Mena is the CEO of the Global Methane Hub, a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, and the former Minister of the Environment of Chile during the Michelle Bachelet administration (2014–2018). As minister, he spearheaded numerous international environmental initiatives, including helping to draft a landmark agreement to phase out coal-fired power generation, South America’s first carbon taxes on power generation and new car sales, the creation of 45,000 square kilometers of national parks, and the protection of 1.3 million square kilometers of ocean. Previously, he was a practice manager at the World Bank, where he led the team that created the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Recognized as one of the world’s leading climate figures, he has been included in the Latin America’s 50 Climate Leaders (2024–2025), TIME Climate 100 (2024), and Business Insider (2023). Mena was part of the 2024 cohort of The Audacious Project (TED), which recognizes bold, high-impact climate action. She has been a member of the Goldman Environmental Prize jury since 2025, contributing to the evaluation of global environmental leadership.
