Dr. German Ruiz Mendez is the Director General for Sustainable Urban Environmental Development and Performance, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) of the Mexican government.

Germán Ruiz Méndez holds a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master’s degree in Government and Public Affairs, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration. He has built a solid career in public policy design, particularly at the municipal and federal levels, having worked with institutions such as the National Institute for Federalism and Municipal Development (INAFED), the Secretary of Government, the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Public Education, and SEMARNAT.

He was awarded 3rd Place in the INAP 2017 Prize for his doctoral research on local development models, and he has served as a lecturer and speaker both in Mexico and abroad. In addition, he actively participates in academic networks such as IGLOM, INAP, SOMECE, and REMINEO.

His current work focuses on the implementation of the National Waste Policy and the Circular Economy, leading the Directorate-General for Sustainable Urban Environmental Development and Performance at SEMARNAT. Under his leadership, key programs for integrated waste management have been promoted, positioning him as a leading voice in Mexico’s transition toward more sustainable systems.