Global Network for Zero Advisor Francisco Sifontes is an established sustainability and business transformation leader in Central America with more than 30 years of experience and accomplishments in the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

In his current role as Rector and Academic Director at the Key Institute in El Salvador, Francisco is inspiring future generations of engineers and continuing his dedication to impact-based education, mentoring and enriching the life of others.

Francisco’s journey in sustainability started when he registered in a senior social science elective course, “Economy, Ecology and Ethics” at Louisiana State University. The course was taught by Dr. Herman Daly, a renowned professor whose essays on economic growth, steady state economy, and the ecological impacts caused by the economic activity laid the foundations to what now is known as sustainable development. In addition, Francisco had he opportunity to learn from a multi-faceted sustainable lifestyle in Stockholm where he conducted his studies in Industrial Maintenance in 1994.

Prior to his transition to academia, Francisco served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Sherwin-Williams of Central America for thirteen years. During his leadership at Sherwin-Williams, Francisco oversaw a deep retrofit of their production plant and a transformational shift to sustainability and decarbonization with a focus on energy, water, waste, green products with EPD’s and LEED certified healthy buildings. Francisco also delivered the first LEED Gold certified building in El Salvador. He was also instrumental in
bringing LEED Lab to University Don Bosco in San Salvador and continues to mentor these students and the young professionals who continue to pursue careers in sustainability after they graduate.

Before Key Institute, Francisco served as a Startup Mentor focusing on sustainable affordable housing with MERAKI Sifontes & Gutierrez, Director of Balanced Foods ALIANSA at Corporacion Multi Inversiones, Production Manager for Non-Carbonated Beverages under The Coca Cola Company at Grupo Agrisal, and served as field engineer at Schlumberger Well Services in the U.S. Recognized by his peers for his vast expertise in sustainability practices, Francisco received the prestigious USGBC Sustainability Leadership Award in 2021. Francisco has also been involved with the World Green Building Council, the Green Building Council of El Salvador, Habitat for Humanity and
the Kriete Institute of Engineering and Science.

As an advisor for GNFZ, Francisco will leverage his extensive expertise in corporate decarbonization strategies, sustainable business transformation, the manufacturing sector and Central America toward the growth of the GNFZ net zero certification platform.