Federico Gutiérrez, 45 years old, born in Medellin. He is a civil engineer from the University of Medellin, with graduate studies in management and political science from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. He is the first Mayor of Medellin ever elected by a civil movement and not by a traditional political party.

In 2015, he ran for Mayor again as an independent candidate endorsed by citizen’s signatures. The campaign broke schemes, a low budget, most of the time walking around the city, talking to people and looking them in the eye, which later became the premise of his administration: to govern for the citizens, not denying realities but transforming them. During his term as Mayor, he prioritized education, urban integral security, environment, sustainable mobility, citizen culture, innovation and science, and technology.

He is very passionate about Medellin, and during his entire life – independently from his political career – he has walked the streets of Medellin, talking to the people, working with and for them. His description of his desired city is “secure, equitable and sustainable” and he believes that the way to achieve it is through a governance model based on civic trust. In 2009 he was recognized as Outstanding Young Person of the Year in the category of political, legal and government affairs, by the Junior Chamber of Colombia.