Lorena Céspedes

Lorena Céspedes
Member of the Constitutional Convention
In office
4 July 2021 – 4 July 2022
Constituency23rd District
Personal details
Born
PartyNon-Neutral Independents
Alma materUniversity of Chile (B.Sc)
OccupationConstituent
ProfessionPhysics teacher

Lorena Céspedes Fernández (born 18 July 1973) is a Chilean physics teacher and independent politician.[1] She served as a member of the Constitutional Convention, representing the 23rd electoral district of the Araucanía Region.

She served as deputy vice president of the Convention between 29 July 2021 and 6 January 2022 and acted as coordinator of the Committee on Constitutional Principles, Democracy, Nationality, and Citizenship.[1][2]

Biography

Céspedes Fernández was born on 18 July 1973.[1] She is the daughter of Filadelfo Omar Céspedes Galleguillos and Silvia Graciela Fernández Opazo. She is married to Guillermo Venegas Middleton.[1]

She completed her secondary education at Colegio Las Condes.[1] She later studied physics and pedagogy at the University of Chile, obtaining a degree in Physics and a teaching qualification.[1]

Since 1999, she has worked as a teacher in various institutions, promoting the development of science and technology in the Araucanía Region through teaching, educational events, and science-oriented initiatives.[1]

Political career

Céspedes Fernández is an independent politician and a member of the External Advisory Council of the Center for Public Policy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.[1] In 2018, she was one of the five finalists of the Global Teacher Prize Chile.[3]

In the elections held on 15–16 May 2021, she ran as an independent candidate for the 23rd electoral district of the Araucanía Region as part of the Independents for a New Constitution electoral pact, receiving 5,546 votes (3.4% of the valid votes).[1]

On 29 July 2021, she was confirmed as deputy vice president of the Constitutional Convention’s governing board, a position she held until 6 January 2022.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Lorena Céspedes Fernández". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Diálogo "entre personas, más que entre bancadas": la vicepresidencia transversal de Lorena Céspedes". Radio Pauta. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Seremi de Educación reconoce a profesora semifinalista del Global Teacher Prize". Ministerio de Educación – Región de La Araucanía. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2026.