Rodrigo González Kelz

With more than five decades of professional experience in both the public and private sectors, Rodrigo González Kelz has established himself as one of the most influential voices in urban planning, housing policies, multimodal transport infrastructure, and public governance. Trained as an architect and urban sociologist in France, he has combined city design with a deep understanding of social systems, delivering integrated solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.

He has held leadership roles in ministries and state banks in Ecuador, including Vice Minister of Transport, General Manager of the Ecuadorian Housing Bank, and Chairman of the Board of the State Bank. His international experience spans collaborations with the United Nations, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNESCO, AFD, and ECLAC, in projects ranging from social housing construction to the design of governance information systems.

In the private sector, he has advised global firms such as SINOHYDRO, ACCIONA, and OIM, managing large-scale projects in infrastructure, housing, education, and culture. Among his most notable achievements is the planning, financing, and management of more than 31,000 social housing units in Ecuador, as well as the direction of educational and social projects that have positively impacted thousands of communities.

Rodrigo’s career is distinguished by his strategic vision and innovative approach to public policy, integrating technical, social, and governance perspectives to achieve sustainable impact. At Nexus for Social Advancement, he brings his visionary leadership and expertise in urbanism, infrastructure, and social policy, strengthening the organization’s mission to drive transformation through innovation and social justice.