Two Disaster Risk Reduction leaders, one practice. Together we bring more than 40 years of combined experience across government, multilateral institutions, and the private sector — from national emergency agencies to the World Bank’s disaster risk management portfolio.
Cristóbal Mena | Disaster Governance and Crisis Management Expert
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience specialist with over 20 years of experience across Latin America, the Caribbean and other regions. I design and implement public policies, risk governance frameworks, and disaster risk and crisis management. I work with governments, development banks, and the private sector. I can connect with diverse organizational contexts and multicultural environments.
Current Roles and Key Trajectory
Currently:
- Senior Specialist Consultant in Disaster Risk Management with the World Bank (multiple countries across LAC and other regions)
- Lecturer in Resilience at Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) — undergraduate programs
- Student of Risk Prevention Engineering at DUOC UC
- Volunteer firefighter since 2003 with Santiago Fire Department (including USAR deployment to Haiti in 2010)
- Climate Reality Leader (trained 2021)
Key Public Sector Achievement: Deputy National Director of ONEMI (National Office of Emergencies), where I led the drafting of Law 21.364 — Chile’s first comprehensive disaster-prevention law, which transformed the country’s risk governance framework.
Peer-Reviewed Research: Co-author of “Identifying the Underlying Risk Factors of Local Communities in Chile,” Disaster Prevention and Management (2020), and “Change with Transformation? Disaster Public Policies in Chile after the 2010 Earthquake, a Case Study,” REDER (2018).
Core Expertise
Specialization in:
- Risk governance and institutional design for disaster reduction
- Early warning systems and emergency preparedness
- Business continuity and organizational resilience planning
- Crisis simulation design and tabletop exercises
- Risk communication and behavioral science applied to disasters
Education: MSc in Risk, Disaster & Resilience (UCL, Chevening Scholar); Degree in Political Science and Public Policy (UDD); Diploma in Disaster Risk Reduction Management (University of Chile).
Joaquín Toro | Disaster Risk Management and Development Expert
Disaster Risk Management specialist with over 30 years working at the intersection of emergency management, development, and resilience — including two decades leading the World Bank’s DRM portfolio across Latin America, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. I design disaster risk financing instruments, mobilize donor resources, and lead multi-sectoral emergency response at the highest levels of government and international organizations. Bolivian, fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
Current Roles and Key Trajectory
Currently:
- Managing Partner & COO, LAkhalTeke — private venture, Argentina (2025–present)
- Independent Development Consultant, Argentina (2025–present)
- Partner, 4DRR.com
- Founder and Lead, Understanding Risk Global Forum — global DRM community with 20,000+ members
Key Achievement: Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist and LAC DRM Regional Coordinator at the World Bank (2020–2025), where he grew the region’s DRM portfolio from $440 million to $1.3 billion, led implementation of the Bank’s Crisis Response Toolkit in 25 countries, and directed simultaneous multi-sectoral emergency response during Hurricanes Eta and Iota (Honduras/Nicaragua), the volcanic eruption and hurricane in Saint Vincent, and the earthquake and hurricane in Haiti — all in 2020–2021.
17 Years at the World Bank (2003–2020): Prior roles include ECA DRM Regional Coordinator (2013–17), Brazil DRM Coordinator (2011–13), and Senior/Hazard Risk Management Specialist (2003–2011) — building DRM portfolios from zero to full national programs, leading emergency response to the Haiti and Chile earthquakes (2009–2011), and managing trust funds exceeding US$50 million (GFDRR, CCRIF, EU facilities).
Before the World Bank: Firefighter and Lieutenant, 14th Fire Company, Santiago Fire Department, Chile (1994–2001) — supervised over 100 firefighters and coordinated more than 4,000 emergencies.
INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Core Expertise
Specialization in:
- Disaster risk financing and contingent liability management (CAT DDO, CERC instruments)
- Multi-sectoral DRM planning and donor resource mobilization
- Post-disaster recovery and reconstruction
- Urban DRM and climate risk adaptation
- Crisis leadership and multi-country emergency response coordination
Education: M.S. in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, specialization in Crisis, Emergency, and Risk Management (George Washington University); B.S. in Marketing Communications and B.S. in Advertising, Magna Cum Laude (Universidad del Pacífico, Chile); Design Thinking Action Lab certificate (Stanford University).
Recognition: Brazilian National Civil Defense Medal; LCR Outstanding Implementation Support — Honduras DRM Development Policy Credit with CAT DDO (2024); multiple World Bank VPU awards for emergency response leadership in Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Serbia, Armenia, Tajikistan/Georgia, and the Balkans.
Let’s foster resilience together.
[Pendiente: LinkedIn de Joaquín — lo agrego cuando me lo pases]
4DRR.com 