Myriam Méndez-Montalvo is the founder and CEO of Brave is to Dialogue – Valiente es Dialogar, a national platform fostering consensus among diverse leaders on Colombia’s most pressing governance challenges. A lawyer from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana with a master’s in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School, she brings over 25 years of international leadership across public, philanthropic, and multilateral institutions.

Her previous roles include Deputy Attorney General for Territorial Affairs and Social Dialogue in Colombia; Director of the Ford Foundation for the Andean Region and Southern Cone; and senior leadership positions at UNDP, where she managed the Global Governance Practice and Trust Fund. She has also worked with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Myriam founded the Dialogue Group on Mining and Sustainable Development in Colombia (GDIAM) and currently serves on the Peace and Reconciliation Commission of the Catholic Church in Colombia. Her work has focused on bridging divides in polarized environments, advancing democratic governance, and promoting inclusive development. She is widely respected for her ability to convene multisectoral actors, design strategic programs, and facilitate social dialogue in complex contexts. A committed advocate for women’s political participation and the inclusion of marginalized communities, she brings a deep understanding of conflict, peacebuilding, and institutional reform.

Having lived and worked across Latin America, Europe, and the United States, she offers a rich global perspective and a grounded approach to governance futures. Through GFN, she seeks to contribute to new thinking on democratic resilience, inclusive leadership, and collaborative governance in divided societies.