I started debating at the age of 15 when I had the chance to study in England, at Ampleforth College in Yorkshire. There we had debates every week; as my first experience, and not been a native english speaker, it was difficult but thrilling.

Back in Chile I returned to the debate arena when I qualified in the Law School Debate Team of Pontificia Universidad Católica. In the year 1999 we participated in the 1st Chilean National Tournament, and after 8 month of competitions, we won. I was elected the best debater of the tournament.

After this I went to Georgetown University at DC, were I had the chance to meet Jeff Parcher, Georgetown´s Debating Society Director, and all of the Debating Society´s work. The experience was amazing. For the first time I realized what was debate all about, and I came back to Chile with the intention to devote myself to this brilliant world.

I started working in COBA (Corporación Cultural de Lo Barnechea), a private non profit organization that was in charge of the National Debate Tournament. My job consisted in travelling all the way up and down Chile (very long country!) teaching debate techniques in every chilean University.

In year 2002 I came to Burlington and spent two weeks in the WDI. I learned a lot! and met great friends.

After two years of traveling I did my first job as a debate coach with Universidad Marítima´s team. We reached the national finals; unfortunately we didn´t win (and Tuna was there!).

At this time I was already a teacher of Rethoric´s and Philosophy in Pontificia Universidad Católica´s Law School. From there I started a debate and critical thinking program at DuocUC, a community college with more than 35.000 students. We now have the biggest debate and critical thinking program in Latin America.

My job as a debate coach continued with Universidad Católica´s debate team, up until now; I´m also the actual Director of it´s Debating Society.

This year has been very special: Tuna and the WDI invited me to Venezuela to start a debate program. We had a one week workshop in february and another in july. Both of them were very succesfull; there´s so much to do! Now the Instituto Nacional de Debates Venezolano is a reality, and more and more people are becoming aware both of the need and the utility of debate to think well and to live in true democracy.

Finally, I´ve been invited as an internacional fellow to the WDI this year. This will hopefully be, among all, the greatest debate experience ever.