Nicolás Pérez-Marulanda

Nicolás Pérez-Marulanda holds a BS in Economics from Universidad de Los Andes and an MA in International Development Policy from Duke University — Sanford School of Public Policy. He brings twenty years of experience across the public and private sectors, with deep expertise in agribusiness and rural development, economic and financial project appraisal, and development financing.

He began his career in the Colombian financial sector as an investment banker before moving into the public sector, where he served as Head of the Sustainable Rural Development Unit at the National Planning Department and as Government Advisor on Coffee at the Ministry of Finance. He has served on several boards of directors and mentored companies across the Colombian agricultural sector.

Since August 2021, Nicolás has been Executive President of FEDEPALMA, where he leads the strategy to differentiate Colombian palm oil as a sustainable origin, alongside the administration and investment of palm parafiscal resources. Under his leadership FEDEPALMA has increased palm-grower participation in the federation's activities and events, and strengthened communication with strategic stakeholders across the value chain.

At GLOBOIL India 2026 he joins the Day 2 opening plenary on Emerging Origins — Brazil, Argentina & Colombia Rewriting Global Oilseed & Palm Trade, bringing the Colombian producer perspective on sustainability, market differentiation, and the next chapter of South American origin flows into India.