This year, the annual alumni meeting of the Georgetown University’s Global Competitiveness Leadership Program has taken place in Barcelona, counting on 100+ academic and professional leaders to strengthen the relationships and connections between America and Europe. The event has made possible that participants from more than 20 countries enjoy of a professional and social program for three days in a great atmosphere.

The Georgetown Club of Spain has been an active collaborator of this event, who counted on sponsors such as Fuster-Fabra Abogados, Abat Oliba CEU, Rafik, Marcet or Sport Itinerantum.

Hoya Saxa!!!

[La Vanguardia press note]

This year has been a wonderful year for the Club!

Last week, the Georgetown Alumni Club of Spain held its annual Gala Dinner, bringing together our community of Hoyas and friends in a warm, festive setting. This year, we were honored to welcome key representatives from the Madrid Town Hall (Inmaculada Sánchez-Cervera -General Coordinating Head; and José Francisco Herrera Antonaya – General Director for International Relations) who shared insights on the city’s growing role as a global hub for talent welcoming and empowering thought leaders from all walks of life to develop their careers and mission with purpose and freedom.

Georgetown University’s values are rooted in its Jesuit heritage and a tradition of educating the whole person. Central to this mission is cura personalis -care for the individual- which emphasizes personal integrity, respect for others, and a commitment to intellectual and spiritual growth. Georgetown fosters a deep sense of service and social responsibility, encouraging its community to engage with the world and work for the common good.

As a non-partisan, no-profit group of friends inspired by Georgetown’s university spirit and values, the Georgetown Alumni Club of Spain strives to create meaningful events that strengthen connections, celebrate service, and foster dialogue. The gala was a wonderful reflection of that mission -uniting our diverse alumni community with the vibrant future of Madrid.

Hoya Saxa!!!

The first big event of 2026 is now behind us, marking the start of an eventful year ahead!

On Thursday, February 5th, we paid our respects with a memorial mass at Iglesia San Francisco de Borja, honoring the members of our community who passed away last year. Following the service, we found ourselves enjoying some fine wine and tapas in the company of fellow club members during our social at Restaurante José Luis.

We were very lucky to celebrate a wine tasting social on Thursday, March 12th at Bodega de los Reyes. The tasting has been a 2-hour enogastronomic experience led by a professional sommelier. We had had the great pleasure to explore Spanish wines from different regions, grape varieties, soils, orientations, winemaking techniques, and aging processes.

The wine tasting has included two white wines, one rosé, and two reds, all paired with selected tapas and small bites designed to enhance the aromas and flavors of each wine.

This social has been organized jointly with Georgetown students currently on exchange in Madrid to encourage their integration with the Club and strengthen connections across the community.

On Saturday March 14th, we have lived an unforgettable day that celebrates shared values of service and community.

In collaboration with the Order of Malta Spain, we offer you a day of wonder at Puy du Fou, where centuries of history come to life spectacularly! We have enjoyed a full VIP visit, including a private guided visit by trained park advisors, simultaneous translation, private cocktail and new networking opportunities

Our participation directly supports Malta Camp (www.maltacamp.com), the Order of Malta’s flagship international summer camp, bringing together young people with disabilities and volunteers from over 20 countries for a week of friendship, faith, and inclusive activities—like adaptive sports and cultural outings.

On March 25, the Georgetown University Club of Spain in Barcelona launched its inaugural Leadership Breakfast Series at the Círculo Ecuestre, bringing together a select group of diplomats, business leaders, and members of the Ryder Club.

The session focused on the geopolitics of the South Caucasus, a region often overlooked despite its growing strategic importance. The keynote speaker, Levon Grigorian, Partner at an international law firm and Representative of the Armenian General Benevolent Union in Spain, was joined by Javier Marcet, attorney and founder of the Go Ukraine initiative.

The discussion explored the South Caucasus as a geopolitical crossroads, where the interests of Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Western actors such as the US and the EU converge. Far from being a peripheral region, it is increasingly central to questions of energy security, regional connectivity, and the evolving balance of power between global and regional players.

A key theme was the shifting international landscape. With Russia weakened by the war in Ukraine and the US and Turkey expanding their regional influence, new dynamics are emerging, including strategic corridor projects and external initiatives aimed at reshaping trade and influence across the region, such as the TRIPP project. At the same time, the role of Western actors—particularly Europe—was discussed in terms of both engagement and perceived absence.

The conversation also highlighted a broader concern in international relations: the growing tendency to normalize faits accomplis achieved through force when they align with strategic interests, raising questions about the consistency and credibility of international law and human rights standards, as seen in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On April 29th, the Georgetown University Club of Spain’s Barcelona chapter held its second Georgetown Leadership Breakfast, in collaboration with the Círculo Ecuestre. Our guest speaker was Maria Eugènia Gay, Deputy Mayor for International Relations of the City of Barcelona, in conversation with Nina Khalatyan, Director of World in Progress. Georgetown Club of Spain President Rubén López Rivas opened with a few words on the club’s commitment to creating space for dialogue and exchange of ideas.

Barcelona has a compelling case as a global actor: home to the Mobile World Congress, a magnet for multinationals like AstraZeneca, combining world-class infrastructure, talent, connectivity, and quality of life in a way few European cities can match.

The discussion explored how Barcelona builds on these strengths — on peace, human rights, and urban governance — while addressing what its own residents are asking. The housing crisis generated a lively exchange on whether regulatory tools alone are sufficient, or whether attracting investment, additional job creation, and new construction need to be equally central to the agenda.

A rich conversation, and no easy answers.

Thank you to Maria Eugènia Gay, Nina Khalatyan and the Círculo Ecuestre. A special thank you to Natacha Bobin, Javier Marcet, Levón Grigorián and Maria Carroll for making it happen!!

More to come!!!

On March 30, 2026, the international community observed the International Day of Zero Waste, with this year’s focus on Food Waste. Led by UN-Habitat and the United Nations Environment Programme, the observance highlighting a critical and solvable challenge: how we produce, consume, and discard food.

Each year, about one-third of all food produced globally, roughly 1.3 billion tonnes, is lost or wasted. This contributes nearly 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, places significant pressure on freshwater and land resources, and occurs while nearly 800 million people face hunger.

To mark the 2026 observance, the Hoya Sustainability Network, in partnership with the Georgetown Alumni Club of Spain, hosted a global virtual dialogue bringing together Georgetown alumni and sustainability leaders from different regions. The discussion examined practical strategies to reduce food loss and waste across households, institutions, and supply chains, and explored how more efficient food systems can advance climate action, food security, and economic resilience.

Agenda

• Presentation of the International Day of Zero Waste 2026 and Food Waste Theme – 2 minutes
• Presentation of the Hoya Sustainability Network (Carline Noailles) – 2 minutes
• Presentation of the Georgetown Club of Spain and Housekeeping Rules (Ruben Lopez Rivas) – 4 minutes
• Main Event: Global Virtual Panel – 60 minutes – Ruben Lopez Rivas will introduce each panelist and make the transition between presentations
• • Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju (West Africa) – 15 minutes
  • Flavio Cabrera (Mexico) – 15 minutes
  • Raquel Raquel Díaz Ruiz (Spain) – 15 minutes
  • Audrey Marmon-Halm (Ghana) – 15 minutes
• Q&A Session – 15 minutes
• Closing Remarks – 3 minutes

Queremos expresar nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a todas las personas que hicieron posible el encuentro “América Latina en la agenda global: una lectura desde Washington”, celebrado en Casa de América este martes día 7 de abril de 2026.

En primer lugar, gracias a Casa de América y a todo su equipo por la acogida y el apoyo organizativo. Nuestro reconocimiento a Moisés Morera por la presentación y contextualización del acto, y muy especialmente a Alejandro Werner, Director del Georgetown Americas Institute, por una intervención rigurosa, clara y generosa, que nos permitió situar a América Latina en el centro de los debates estratégicos internacionales, así como a Juan Luis Manfredi, ex Catedrático Príncipe de Asturias y miembro del Comité Ejecutivo del Club, por su moderación impecable. Gracias también al Embajador León De la Torre, Director General de Casa América, y a todas las personas que participaron activamente en la conversación y en el coloquio posterior.

Una mirada transatlántica