Mena is the CEO of the Global Methane Hub, a professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, and the former environment minister for Chile under the Michelle Bachelet government (2014–2018). As minister, he spearheaded multiple international environmental initiatives, including helping craft a landmark agreement to phase out coal power generation, South America’s first carbon taxes for power generation and new car sales, creating 45,000 square kilometers of national parks, and protecting 1.3 million square kilometers of ocean. Previously, he was a practice manager at the World Bank, where he led the team that created the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Recognized among the world’s leading climate leaders, he has been included in Latin America’s 50 Climate Leaders (2024–2025), TIME Climate 100 (2024), and Business Insider (2023). Mena was part of the 2024 cohort of The Audacious Project (TED), recognizing bold, high-impact climate action. He has served as a jury member of the Goldman Environmental Prize since 2025, contributing to the evaluation of global environmental leadership.
Mena has received awards from UNEP, National Geographic, Oceans Unite, NASA, and the EPA, as well as fellowships from MIT and the Fulbright Commission.
A biochemical engineer, Mena holds MS and PhD degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Iowa, focusing his research on estimating the externalities of biofuels, power generation, transportation, and residential heating.