Laurence Golborne
Encyclopedia
Laurence Nelson Golborne Riveros (born Santiago
, July 11, 1961) is a Chile
an engineer
and entrepreneur
. He is the current Mining Minister and Energy Minister in the administration of President
Sebastián Piñera
.
, where his father, Wilfred, a merchant
of English descent developed his entrepreneurial streak through an ironmonger business.
The youngest of six children in the family, as a teenager Golborne became involved in meetings that the conservative National Party was organizing against the Popular Unity
government. Nevertheless, his family situation is described as diverse, with members sympathetic to both the left and the right.
Golborne graduated from the Instituto Nacional José Miguel Carrera
, and then was admitted to the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
, where he pursued civil engineering
In university he was honored as the best graduate of his class and met Karin Oppermann, who later would become his wife. Later, he studied business administration at Northwestern
and Stanford
universities in the United States
.
rescue operations. His management of the rescue operation resulted in his becoming the most popular politician in Chile.
On January 14, 2011 Golborne was designated Minister of Energy by president Piñera. He was sworn in on January 16, 2011.
In July 2011, Golborne was appointed Minister of Public Works.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, July 11, 1961) is a Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. He is the current Mining Minister and Energy Minister in the administration of President
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
Sebastián Piñera
Sebastián Piñera
Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique is a Chilean businessman and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010.- Education :...
.
Family and education
Golborne grew up in Maipú, a middle-class commune in the south-west of the capital SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, where his father, Wilfred, a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
of English descent developed his entrepreneurial streak through an ironmonger business.
The youngest of six children in the family, as a teenager Golborne became involved in meetings that the conservative National Party was organizing against the Popular Unity
Popular Unity
Unidad Popular was a coalition of left wing, socialist and communist political parties in Chile that stood behind the successful candidacy of Salvador Allende for the 1970 Chilean presidential election....
government. Nevertheless, his family situation is described as diverse, with members sympathetic to both the left and the right.
Golborne graduated from the Instituto Nacional José Miguel Carrera
Instituto Nacional
Instituto Nacional , founded on August 10, 1813 by the Chilean patriot José Miguel Carrera , officially Liceo Ex A-0 - Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera, is Chile's oldest and most prestigious school...
, and then was admitted to the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and...
, where he pursued civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
In university he was honored as the best graduate of his class and met Karin Oppermann, who later would become his wife. Later, he studied business administration at Northwestern
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
universities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Government career
Golborne was appointed Minister of Mining on March 11, 2010 by President Sebastián Piñera. As minister, he oversaw the 2010 Copiapó mining accident2010 Copiapó mining accident
The 2010 Copiapó mining accident, also known as the "Chilean mining accident", began in the afternoon of Thursday, 5 August 2010 as a significant cave-in at the troubled 121-year-old San José copper–gold mine. The mine is located deep in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest and harshest...
rescue operations. His management of the rescue operation resulted in his becoming the most popular politician in Chile.
On January 14, 2011 Golborne was designated Minister of Energy by president Piñera. He was sworn in on January 16, 2011.
In July 2011, Golborne was appointed Minister of Public Works.