LEGACY KEYNOTE
Milagro Matus
Milagro Matus is Chief Executive Officer of Belize's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Solid Waste Management. Her career reflects a strong commitment to conservation, agriculture, climate resilience, and public policy across Belize and the Caribbean.
Beginning her career in trade and economics, Ms. Matus developed expertise in policyanalysis, internationalnegotiations, and regionalcooperation before transitioning into publicservice. For more than a decade, she has helped shape policies supporting sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and climate-smart development.
As a Policy Analyst in Belize's agriculture and environment sectors, she strengthened agricultural policy, advanced climate adaptation initiatives, and fostered collaboration among government agencies, farmers, local communities, and international partners. She also helped develop agricultural information management systems and represented Belize in regional policy dialogues and trade negotiations, advocating for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Ms. Matus later joined the CARICOM Secretariat, where she supported regional agricultural policy implementation and resource mobilization to strengthen food security and resilience across Caribbean Member States. As CEO of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, she now leads national efforts that integrate conservation and sustainable development while balancing environmental protection with social and economic growth.
As a leader in fields traditionally dominated by men, Ms. Matus exemplifies perseverance, service, and visionary leadership, demonstrating how strong policy, collaboration, and public service can help build a more sustainable future for Belize and the wider Caribbean.