Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos joined The Elders in January 2019 and was appointed Chair in November 2024. During his time at The Elders, he has played a leading role in the group’s work on conflict resolution and prevention, including a visit to Ukraine in August 2023 with Ban Ki-moon to meet President Zelenskyy and see the sites of Russian atrocities in Bucha and Irpin. He has also been a strong voice in support of the Elders’ work on the climate and nature crisis, and has represented The Elders in briefings to the UN Security Council and at high-level events including the Munich Security Conference and the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly. President Santos is a fierce advocate for promoting peace and reconciliation through dialogue and frequently speaks about these issues. He also works tirelessly to raise awareness of the climate crisis, promoting climate action by nature-based solutions and the importance of a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.