Since January 18, 2012, Nathalie Cely has served as the Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States.

From May 2009 until November 2011, she was Coordinating Minister of Production, Employment and Competitiveness. Ambassador Cely served as Ecuador’s Coordinating Minister of Social Development from March 2007 to April 2009, during which time, she articulated the politics of socio-economic inclusion to integrate training, technical assistance and building opportunities for men and women, improving their quality of life. At the same time, she guaranteed rights for all people, especially for the most vulnerable, by creating assistance and generating minimum skills/competencies through the provision of education, health and quality housing for everyone.

An economist, Ambassador Cely served in the private sector from 2002 to 2007. She is the author of various publications about economic-related topics. Her vision has made her a thought leader on issues of economic development and the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized businesses.

She graduated from the Universidad Católica de Guayaquil in 1990. With a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank, she attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, graduating in 2001 with a Master’s in Public Administration and a Diploma in Public and Social Policy.