Luz Stella Murgas Maya was elected this Tuesday, November 10, as the new president of the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia (Andi), in replacement of Bruce MacMasterwho led the union for about 13 years.
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The lawyer, who since 2021 serves as president of the Colombian Natural Gas Association (Naturgas), will take over the leadership of one of the main business representation organizations in the country and will become the first woman to hold that position since the founding of the organization in 1944.
Luz Stella Murgas is elected as the first woman president of Andi in 82 years of foundation Photo:ARCHIVE
The election was held during the meeting of the Andi General Management Boardwhose members They gathered since the morning to define who would assume the presidency.
Murgas came to this point together to Juan Camilo Nariñopresident of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), after Carlos de Hart, who had also been included in the initial shortlist, will withdraw from the process.
The association indicated that the decision “was made after the commission in charge of the search and selection presented to the Board a detailed report on the candidates,” who were evaluated to “respond to the institutional needs of the business community.”
Andi, through a statement published around 1 pm on November 10, pointed out that among the “main challenges” of the new president “will be strengthening Colombia’s competitiveness and promoting the necessary conditions to boost economic growth, productivity, investment and the generation of formal employment.”
🔴 The Andi Board of Directors elected Luz Stella Murgas as the new president of the association. In this statement, they indicated that among their main challenges will be “strengthening Colombia’s competitiveness and promoting the necessary conditions to promote economic growth, productivity, investment and the generation of formal employment.” They also indicated that Murgas will lead the representation of the Colombian business sector and “the defense of fundamental principles such as institutionality, business freedom and sustainable development.” Expansion: https://t.co/xekny6vlE0
— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) November 10, 2026
For its part, in an official statement, Naturgas celebrated the election of Murgas as the new president of Andi and highlighted her management during the five years she was at the head of the association. The union noted that his arrival to business management represents recognition of his career and highlighted his contribution to strengthening the natural gas industry, especially in discussions on supply, investment and competitiveness. In addition, he recalled that during his administration he promoted an agenda to expand access to the service and guarantee the availability of energy for homes, industries and commerce.
Juan Manuel Rojas, president of the Board of Directors of Naturgas, highlighted the work of Murgas and stated: “Luz Stella has been a decisive leader for the natural gas industry. With technical rigor, capacity for dialogue and a deep conviction about the role of this energy in the development of the country, she managed to ensure that the voice of the sector was heard in the most decisive moments for supply.”
The manager added that his management leaves “a stronger, more cohesive and better prepared union for the challenges that lie ahead,” and expressed the organization’s gratitude for his commitment during the five years of leadership.
Who is Luz Stella Murgas?
Luz Stella Murgas. Photo:Naturgas
The current director of Naturgas He has a professional career spanning more than two decades in the business and mining-energy sectors. She is a lawyer from the Universidad del Rosario and specialist in Tax Law from the same institution. His experience includes responsibilities in private companies, public entities and trade organizations, with emphasis on regulatory affairs, corporate strategy, public policy and institutional relations.
According to your LinkedIn page, before assume the head of the Association Colombian Natural Gas, worked for eight years at Ecopetrolbetween November 2005 and November 2013.
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Over there worked as a tax advisor and participated in related processes with the expansion and reorganization of the company. Among his responsibilities was the support for the capitalization of the company “in relation to the determination of its value and consequent share price to go on the market”, in addition to the “contribution to the company’s internationalization process” and the “strategic analysis of tax aspects”.
According to the information about his professional career in the aforementioned social network, participated in the acquisition of assets from British Petroleum Exploration Company in Colombia, in financial matters related to treasury, risks, accounting and taxes.
In November 2013 arrived at the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), where initially held the Contract Management in Exploration. From that agency he was in charge of “controlling and monitoring the execution of the exploratory activities agreed in the hydrocarbon exploration and production contracts, with the purpose of increasing the country’s reserves.”
President of Naturgás, Luz Stella Murgas. Photo:Naturgás
Subsequently, between June 2015 and October 2016, served as vice president of Promotion and Area Assignment. In that position worked in promotion of the potential hydrocarbon Colombian for attract national and foreign investment destined for the exploration and production of oil and gas.
Among the projects he led was the structuring of mechanisms to promote the allocation of areas and the generation of conditions to stimulate investment in offshore activities. Also participated in the construction of agreements of international cooperation with the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia, aimed at exchanging knowledge on hydrocarbon exploration and production, as well as on gas associated with coal seams.
After his time in the ANH, Murgas joined the consulting sector. Between January 2017 and August 2021 She was a partner and general manager of ‘Lambda Consultoría SAS’, a firm from which he directed “legal, financial and political projects specializing in the design, structuring and implementation of high-impact projects for the mining-energy and infrastructure sector.”
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During that period participated in international initiativesamong them the construction of public policy of housing and urban planning for the Government of Honduras. Also was linked to management processes of environmental licenses and authorizations and the structuring of socio-environmental strategies for mining-energy and port infrastructure projects.
President of Naturgás, Luz Stella Murgas. Photo:Naturgás
Your arrival at Naturgas occurred in September 2021. Since then, has represented the related companies to the natural gas chain in discussions with the Government, Congress, regional authorities and other actors in the energy sector.
According to the official page of the association, His management has focused on issues as “lto security of supply, the reduction of energy poverty, competitiveness, regional development and the incorporation of lower emissions solutions, promoting conversations supported by evidence and a long-term vision.
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To that national representation his participation in international stages was added. In May 2025 was elected member of the Executive Committee of the International Gas Union (IGU) and regional coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean during the period 2025-2028. It is an organization that brings together representatives of the gas industry from different countries and, according to the information published by Naturgas, She is the only woman among the eight coordinators regional offices designated for that period.
When announcing his appointment in that instance, Murgas noted in his X account that the appointment would allow the region’s priorities to be brought to international discussions. In that message mentioned three objectives: increase production in a sustainable manner, strengthen regional liquefied natural gas infrastructure and promote standards that allow maintaining competitiveness and making progress in reducing emissions.
Your professional profile It has also been highlighted by Forbes Colombiathat has included it in his selection of the 100 Powerful Women of the country in it 2025.
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