Margarita Alonzo Argueta
Awards
About me
Margarita Alonzo Argueta is a Guatemalan scientist, political leader, and advocate for gender equality. With a background in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and International Relations, she served as Vice President of ONAM (National Women's Office), promoting women’s political participation and leadership. She coordinates the Science Diplomacy team of OWSD Guatemala. Her professional experience includes driving STEAM initiatives and representing the country in global forums, including WIPO and WTO. Recognized with the Olimpia Altuve Medal and as a “Science Heroine,” and Vital Voices fellow, she brings over 18 years of expertise in Intellectual Property and a strong commitment to advancing women's rights in Latin America. Her career bridges the fields of science, public policy, and women’s rights, reflecting a strong commitment to advancing opportunities for women in both academic and political spaces. Alonzo has been at the forefront of promoting women’s rights and political participation in Guatemala. Through her leadership, she has worked to strengthen institutional frameworks, advocate for inclusive policies, and foster visibility for women in decision-making processes.
Margarita Alonzo Argueta is a Guatemalan scientist, politician, and global advocate for gender equality. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology and a Master’s degree in International Relations, building a career at the intersection of science, policy, and women’s empowerment.
She served as Vice President of the National Office for Women’s Issues (ONAM) in Guatemala, leading initiatives to promote women’s rights and political participation. She also has extensive experience as a scientific diplomat, representing Guatemala in major international forums. Most notably, she was part of the Guatemalan delegation that successfully concluded negotiations for the first international treaty on genetic resources and intellectual property at the WIPO Diplomatic Conference (2024). Her contributions extend to global debates on Intellectual Property, Trade, and Public Health, including participation in the WTO expert workshop (2023) and various WIPO committees since 2009.
Alonzo is also dedicated to education, having taught Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sciences, and Legislation at several Guatemalan universities. Her leadership has been widely recognized: She was awarded as IP Changemaker by WIPO in 2025, she received the Olimpia Altuve Medal (2022), was named a “Science Heroine” by Guatemala’s National Secretariat of Science and Technology, and in 2017 was selected as one of only 15 experts worldwide in Intellectual Property Management by WIPO.
Her global recognition also includes being named among the 100 Women World Leaders in Politics, participating in the Global Action Summit “Leading the Rise” in Poland (2024), and fellowships with Vital Voices Global Partnership (Crisis Response TOT 2025, VV Visionaries 2023, VV Engage 2018, VV Lead 2015). In 2014, she became the only Latin American selected as an Andi Parhamovich Fellow by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
With more than 18 years of expertise in Intellectual Property, Alonzo also has built multi-partisan alliances to strengthen women’s political leadership in Guatemala, conducting nationwide trainings to reduce gender gaps and combat violence against women in decision-making roles.
Her journey as a scientist began early, representing Guatemala at the International Mathematical Olympiads in Romania (1999) and South Korea (2000). Today, she coordinates the Science Diplomacy team of the OWSD Guatemala Chapter and the Gender Commission of the Pharmaceuticals and Chemists National Association. She leads STEAM initiatives to boost women’s participation in science and tackle national challenges through scientific innovation. She is also a member of the Academy of Physical, Medical, and Natural Sciences of Guatemala.
Through her pioneering work in science, diplomacy, and gender equality, Margarita Alonzo Argueta continues to be a driving force for transformative change in Guatemala and the global community.
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees:
DOI=10.3389/frma.2021.661508; ISSN=2504-0537.
• Alonzo, M. Intellectual Property in access to genetic resources in Guatemala. July 2010. Journal of the American Network of Experts on Industrial Property. American Institute of Securities & Markets and CEDDET Foundation. Madrid.
Ohio, USA
Guatemala
Costa Rica
Mexico
Guatemala
Guatemala
Chile/virtual
Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Guatemala
Merida, Mexico
USA
Vienna
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Geneva
Panama