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PREVIOUS KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
At LIWC, our speakers are a crop of international leading public figures across a range of backgrounds including businessmen, policymakers, economists and more.
Milton Friedman was an American economist and statistician who received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy. With George Stigler, Friedman was among the intellectual leaders of the Chicago school of economics, a neoclassical school of economic thought associated with the work of the faculty at the University of Chicago that rejected Keynesianism in favor of monetarism until the mid-1970s, when it turned to new classical macroeconomics heavily based on the concept of rational expectations.[5] Several students, young professors and academics who were recruited or mentored by Friedman at Chicago went on to become leading economists, including Gary Becker, Robert Fogel, Thomas Sowell and Robert Lucas Jr.
David Friedman is an American economist, physicist, legal scholar, author, and anarcho-capitalist theorist. Although he studied chemistry and physics and not law or economics, he is known for his textbook writings on microeconomics and the libertarian theory of anarcho-capitalism, which is the subject of his most popular book, The Machinery of Freedom. Described by Walter Block as a "free-market anarchist" theorist, Friedman has also authored several other books and articles, including Price Theory: An Intermediate Text (1986), Law's Order: What Economics Has to Do with Law and Why It Matters (2000), Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life (1996), and Future Imperfect (2008).
Ron Paul is a notable figure in American politics, renowned for his libertarian stance and his tenure as a U.S. Representative for Texas. Born on August 20, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paul’s early career was in medicine, serving as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force before moving to Texas to practice obstetrics and gynecology. His political career began in the 1970s, serving multiple terms in Congress, first from 1976 to 1977 and again from 1979 to 1985. He made a significant impact with his presidential campaigns, first as the Libertarian Party nominee in 1988, and later as a Republican candidate in 2008 and 2012.
Paul’s political philosophy centers on the principles of liberty and limited government, advocating for a non-interventionist foreign policy, personal freedoms, and a return to what he considers constitutional principles. His views often set him apart from his contemporaries, particularly his opposition to the Iraq War and the USA Patriot Act. Beyond politics, Paul has authored several books on libertarianism and economics, contributing to the discourse on freedom and governance. His legacy continues to influence American libertarian thought and policy.
Murray Rothbard was an American economist of the Austrian School, economic historian, political theorist, and activist. Rothbard was a central figure in the 20th-century American libertarian movement, particularly its right-wing strands, and was a founder and leading theoretician of anarcho-capitalism. He wrote over twenty books on political theory, history, economics, and other subjects.
Rothbard argued that all services provided by the "monopoly system of the corporate state" could be provided more efficiently by the private sector and wrote that the state is "the organization of robbery systematized and writ large". He called fractional-reserve banking a form of fraud and opposed central banking. He categorically opposed all military, political, and economic interventionism in the affairs of other nations.
2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Profound personalities from across the world with a wealth of experience in applying liberty to diverse fields.
Bertie Benegas Lynch, born on November 4, 1967, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, currently serves as a National Deputy for the Province of Buenos Aires, a position he has held since December 10, 2023.
Bertie is the grandson of Alberto Benegas Lynch (senior), aknowledged as the great pioneer in modern days to bring back the classic liberal ideas of Juan Bautista Alberdi, the Father of Argentina's National Constitution. Alberto senior, founded the Centro de Estudios Sobre la Libertad and led multiple editorial and educational programs and seminars, including the famous visit of Ludwig von Mises in 1959 to Buenos Aires. Bertie's father is the well known liberal and influential economist Dr. Alberto Benegas Lynch (jr) that continued his father legacy for 55 years now and has become as one of the greatest champions of liberty. His books carry forwards of Fredrich von Hayek, James Buchanan, Willam E. Simon and Jean François Revel.
Bertie’s academic credentials include a Masters in Economics and Business Administration with honors from the School of Economics and Business Administration (ESEADE). Before venturing into politics, he spent three decades in the private sector, notably as General Director of Universia Argentina and as a Corporate Director of Communication for 23 countries for Universia Holding.
His political journey began with his candidacy as a National Deputy through the La Libertad Avanza party, led by President Javier Milei, who holds a close relationship with Bertie’s father. Milei’s significant electoral support in the province of Buenos Aires was decisive for Bertie’s election on October 22, 2023.
In addition to his political role and since he was young, Bertie has contributed to the cultural battle as a speaker and collaborated as opinion columnist for different local and international newspapers as Infobae, La Prensa de Buenos Aires, The Independent Institute, Ámbito Financiero, Prensa Republicana and Faro Argentino.
Bertie has appeared on television programs and radio stations, enhancing his media presence. His political thought aligns with libertarian principles, advocating for economic freedom, limited government intervention, equality before the law and our rights to life, liberty and property.
Dr. Tom G. Palmer is executive vice president for international programs at Atlas Network where he holds the George M. Yeager Chair for Advancing Liberty. He is co-author with Matt Warner of Development with Dignity: Self-Determination, Localization, and the End to Poverty (Routledge, 2022) and with Bryan Cheang of Institutions and Economic Development: Markets, Ideas, and Bottom-Up Change (Springer 2023). He is also a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Before joining Cato, he was a vice president of the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University. He has worked extensively with NGOs in every region of the world (notably recently including Brazil, Argentina, and Poland).
Palmer has published in journals such as the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Foreign Policy, Ethics, Critical Review, Global Policy, Eurasia Review, and Constitutional Political Economy, as well as in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Die Welt, Caixing, Al Hayat, Boston Review, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and The Spectator of London. He is the author of Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice (Cato Institute, expanded edition 2014), the editor of The Morality of Capitalism (2011), After the Welfare State (2012), Why Liberty (2013), Peace, Love & Liberty (2014), and Self-Control or State Control? You Decide (2016), and a contributor to numerous volumes, mostly recently Truth and Governance (Brookings Institution, 2021), co-edited with William Galston. Palmer received his B.A. in liberal arts from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, his M.A. in philosophy from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and his doctorate in politics from Oxford University.
Tom has written a plethora of essays, a few of which are listed here:
(1) "The Morality of Globalization" (CATO Publications, 2023)
(2) "Radical Illiberalism on the Right," Insomnia Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1
(3) Institutions and Economic Development: Markets, Ideas, and Bottom-Up Change (Springer, 2023, co-authored with Bryan Cheang)
(4) Development with Dignity: Self-Determination, Localization, and the End to Poverty (Routledge, 2022, co-authored with Matt Warner and can be downloaded for free on Routledge's website)
(5) El Liberalismo y Las Pandemias, El Universo, June 15, 2020
(6) The Terrifying Rise of Authoritarian Populism, Reason, August/September 2019 Issue
(7) Debate: Intellectual Property Must Be Protected, Reason, October 2018 Issue
(8) They Cannot Make Us Hate Them, Cato Commentary, July 17, 2017
(9) Why the Worst Now? Liberty Law, February 6, 2017
(10) In Wake of Orlando, Gays Should Arm Themselves: Otherwise, in Gun-Free Zones Like the Pulse Nightclub, We’re Sitting Ducks to Maniacs and Terrorists, New York Daily News, June 13, 2016
(11) Capitalism vs. Communism segment, Fox Business News: STOSSEL, February 13, 2015
(12) Budget 2015: Australia's Greek-lite budget kicks can down the road, Australian Financial Review, May 27, 2015
2024 SPEAKERS
For this year's conference, we have lined up an amazing list of speakers from diverse fields creating change for liberty in innovative ways.
Geoffrey J. Neale is the first and current chair of the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties as well as the former chair of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC), the executive body of the Libertarian Party of the United States. He served two non-consecutive terms in that position. Neale's first term as LNC chair extended from 2002 to 2004. During the beginning of that first term he served for nine months unpaid in order to help the party financially. He served his second term from 2012 to 2014.
Dr. Mary J. Ruwart is a research scientist, ethicist, and a libertarian author/activist. Since 1982, Dr. Ruwart has also been involved in societal ethics with a focus on the political theory and practice of libertarianism. Her award-winning international best-selling book, Healing Our World, demonstrates how the ethical application of libertarian principles has historically created harmony and abundance. Referencing hundreds of studies, Dr. Ruwart demonstrates that many of our current policies surreptitiously violate the basic ethical standards that we hold dear, thereby leading to unintended—and highly undesirable—consequences. She is also the author of “Short Answers to the Tough Questions Libertarians Are Often Asked” and “Death by Regulation,” which demonstrates how the FDA has taken 5-10 years off each of our lives.
Currently, Dr. Ruwart serves as Chair of Liberty International and Secretary of the Foundation for a Free Society. She has been an At-Large member of the Libertarian National Committee, served on the Board of both the Heartland Institute (Michigan Chapter) and the Fully Informed Jury Amendment Association.
Currently, Dr. Ruwart serves as Chair of Liberty International and Secretary of the Foundation for a Free Society. She has been an At-Large member of the Libertarian National Committee, served on the Board of both the Heartland Institute (Michigan Chapter) and the Fully Informed Jury Amendment Association.
Jacek Spendel, a native of Poland, is an experienced manager in the libertarian think-tank world. He started his activism at age 18 with the KoLiber Youth Association. Between 2005-2012, Spendel was the project manager at the Globalization Institute. In 2012, he founded Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation where he is CEO and runs a number of projects with Project Arizona as the most successful one. His adventure with Liberty International started back in 2006 when as a 21-year-old student he attended the Prague LIWC with a scholarship. Two years later, Spendel organized his first LLI Liberty Camp and has managed over a dozen of them in several different countries. In 2019, Jacek Spendel joined the Board of Liberty International.
Simultaneously with his libertarian activism, he ran a pizza business in Katowice between 2014-2017. He studied social sciences at the University of Silesia, Jagiellonian University, and Georgetown University. Spendel is an Alumnus of Atlas Network’s Think-Tank MBA (2013) and The Fund of American Studies programs in Prague (2008) and Washington, DC (2009). Currently, he and his wife Magda divide their time between Phoenix, AZ, and Wrocław in southwestern Poland.
Simultaneously with his libertarian activism, he ran a pizza business in Katowice between 2014-2017. He studied social sciences at the University of Silesia, Jagiellonian University, and Georgetown University. Spendel is an Alumnus of Atlas Network’s Think-Tank MBA (2013) and The Fund of American Studies programs in Prague (2008) and Washington, DC (2009). Currently, he and his wife Magda divide their time between Phoenix, AZ, and Wrocław in southwestern Poland.
Sebastian Weglarz is a prominent advocate for liberty and a key figure in the libertarian movement. As the Lead of the Trainings Department, he has been influential in promoting the philosophy of freedom through various platforms. His expertise extends to connecting music and pop culture with libertarian values, a topic he has spoken about in depth.
Sebastian’s contributions to the liberty movement are multifaceted. He has been involved in organizing Europe’s largest pro-liberty event, LibertyCon Europe, and has delivered speeches on the philosophy of hip-hop and its correlation with libertarian values. His work with Liberty International includes engaging discussions on topics like the new developments in the world of Jonathan Gullible, a character symbolizing the libertarian ethos.
In addition to his advocacy work, Sebastian is active on social media, where he shares insights and engages with a broader audience on issues related to liberty, politics, food, pop culture, and poker. His dedication to spreading the principles of liberty is evident in his efforts to educate and inspire individuals around the globe.
Dr. Lark currently serves as a professor in the Department of Engineering Systems and Environment and the Applied Mathematics Program of the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia. He is the author of publications in mathematics, operations research, and artificial intelligence.
He serves as secretary of Liberty International. He is a member of the Libertarian National Committee of the United States Libertarian Party; he served as the Party’s national chair during the 2000-2002 term. He is the LNC’s representative to the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties. He is a member of the Board of Advisors to Students For Liberty. He served as chairman of the Advocates for Self-Government from 2009 until 2016.
He serves as secretary of Liberty International. He is a member of the Libertarian National Committee of the United States Libertarian Party; he served as the Party’s national chair during the 2000-2002 term. He is the LNC’s representative to the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties. He is a member of the Board of Advisors to Students For Liberty. He served as chairman of the Advocates for Self-Government from 2009 until 2016.
Lobo Tiggre is a long-time libertarian activist and the founder of IndependentSpeculator.com. He researched and recommended speculative opportunities in Casey Research publications from 2004 to 2018, writing under the name “Louis James.” While with Casey Research, he learned the ins and outs of resource speculation from the legendary libertarian speculator Doug Casey.
Previously, Lobo was president of the Henry Hazlitt Foundation, then publishers of Free-Market.Net, the first libertarian internet portal, and later, Bureaucrash.com.
Lobo is most well known in the Liberty International family as a donor, organizer, and participant in our liberty camps. He organized such camps in Lithuania, the Republic of Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, and less formal sessions in the Republic of Belarus.
Previously, Lobo was president of the Henry Hazlitt Foundation, then publishers of Free-Market.Net, the first libertarian internet portal, and later, Bureaucrash.com.
Lobo is most well known in the Liberty International family as a donor, organizer, and participant in our liberty camps. He organized such camps in Lithuania, the Republic of Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, and less formal sessions in the Republic of Belarus.
Ken Schoolland is an Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at Hawaii Pacific University. He is on the Board of Scholars of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a member of the Mont Pelerin Society, and formerly President of Liberty International and Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Hawaii. Schoolland authored The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey, published in 90+ editions in 57 languages, and performed in theatrical productions across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Schoolland was Director of the Graduate Program in Japanese Business Studies at Chaminade University of Honolulu and a professor of economics at Hakodate University in Japan. He served as an international economist in the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations.
Maria Alejandra Londoño is a distinguished figure in the realm of libertarian thought and activism in Colombia. As the Director of the Libertarian Movement of Colombia, she has been instrumental in advocating for economic freedom and individual liberties. A graduate Magna Cum Laude in Finances and International Trade with a Minor in Humanities, Maria’s academic prowess is matched by her passion for libertarian feminism and leadership.
Her contributions extend to founding the Bogotá Chapter of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance and engaging in business intelligence. She’s known for generating insightful content through Alejandra Research’s, focusing on economics and financial technology in the Colombian context. Her expertise has been showcased at various conferences and interviews, discussing topics like privatization, feminist economy, and fintech.
Maria’s commitment to spreading the principles of liberty is evident in her role as a business coach, where she empowers companies and individuals across industries. Her leadership was highlighted as the main host of the Liberty International World Conference 2021 in Medellín, where she facilitated the exchange of innovative libertarian ideas.
Gabriel Caprav is an accomplished illustrator, storyboard artist, and animator hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Born in 1983, he received his foundational education in Fine Arts at an art-oriented high school, where he honed his skills in drawing, composition, and painting. Gabriel furthered his artistic training through various private workshops, including Illustration, Caricature, and Comic Strip Art.
In 2008, Gabriel graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Digital Arts from the University of Oregon, USA. There, he studied traditional and digital animation, audio and video production, and storyboarding for both animation and live-action films. He also took courses in Creative Writing and Screenwriting and attended Robert McKee’s STORY seminar, focusing on storytelling for screenwriters.
Gabriel’s professional journey has seen him work as a freelance Illustrator and Animator, where he brings stories to life through his vivid and imaginative art. His portfolio showcases a diverse range of projects, from book covers to graphic novels, and his work has been recognized for its creativity and impact.
Dr. Mary J. Ruwart is a research scientist, ethicist, and a libertarian author/activist. Since 1982, Dr. Ruwart has also been involved in societal ethics with a focus on the political theory and practice of libertarianism. Her award-winning international best-selling book, Healing Our World, demonstrates how the ethical application of libertarian principles has historically created harmony and abundance. Referencing hundreds of studies, Dr. Ruwart demonstrates that many of our current policies surreptitiously violate the basic ethical standards that we hold dear, thereby leading to unintended—and highly undesirable—consequences. She is also the author of “Short Answers to the Tough Questions Libertarians Are Often Asked” and “Death by Regulation,” which demonstrates how the FDA has taken 5-10 years off each of our lives.
Currently, Dr. Ruwart serves as Chair of Liberty International and Secretary of the Foundation for a Free Society. She has been an At-Large member of the Libertarian National Committee, served on the Board of both the Heartland Institute (Michigan Chapter) and the Fully Informed Jury Amendment Association.
Currently, Dr. Ruwart serves as Chair of Liberty International and Secretary of the Foundation for a Free Society. She has been an At-Large member of the Libertarian National Committee, served on the Board of both the Heartland Institute (Michigan Chapter) and the Fully Informed Jury Amendment Association.
José Luis Cordeiro Mateo is a Venezuelan-Spanish engineer, economist, futurist, and transhumanist, who has worked on different areas including economic development, international relations, Latin America, the European Union, monetary policy, comparison of constitutions, energy trends, cryonics, and life extension. Books he has authored include The Great Taboo, Constitutions Around the World: A Comparative View from Latin America, and (in Spanish) El Desafio Latinoamericano ("The Latin American challenge") and La Muerte de la Muerte ("The death of death").
Cordeiro has been described as "a hopeless optimist always bursting with energy". He advises audiences to “Forget flying cars and robot butlers… the future will be a far more interesting place”. He views nano, bio, info, and cogno as being the four main technologies that “are pushing mankind into the post-human age”, and he predicts that “in the future we will be upgrading our brains every few years in the manner that we currently update our computer hardware”.
Jacek Spendel, a native of Poland, is an experienced manager in the libertarian think-tank world. He started his activism at age 18 with the KoLiber Youth Association. Between 2005-2012, Spendel was the project manager at the Globalization Institute. In 2012, he founded Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation where he is CEO and runs a number of projects with Project Arizona as the most successful one. His adventure with Liberty International started back in 2006 when as a 21-year-old student he attended the Prague LIWC with a scholarship. Two years later, Spendel organized his first LLI Liberty Camp and has managed over a dozen of them in several different countries. In 2019, Jacek Spendel joined the Board of Liberty International.
Simultaneously with his libertarian activism, he ran a pizza business in Katowice between 2014-2017. He studied social sciences at the University of Silesia, Jagiellonian University, and Georgetown University. Spendel is an Alumnus of Atlas Network’s Think-Tank MBA (2013) and The Fund of American Studies programs in Prague (2008) and Washington, DC (2009). Currently, he and his wife Magda divide their time between Phoenix, AZ, and Wrocław in southwestern Poland.
Simultaneously with his libertarian activism, he ran a pizza business in Katowice between 2014-2017. He studied social sciences at the University of Silesia, Jagiellonian University, and Georgetown University. Spendel is an Alumnus of Atlas Network’s Think-Tank MBA (2013) and The Fund of American Studies programs in Prague (2008) and Washington, DC (2009). Currently, he and his wife Magda divide their time between Phoenix, AZ, and Wrocław in southwestern Poland.
Geoffrey J. Neale is the first and current chair of the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties as well as the former chair of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC), the executive body of the Libertarian Party of the United States. He served two non-consecutive terms in that position. Neale's first term as LNC chair extended from 2002 to 2004. During the beginning of that first term he served for nine months unpaid in order to help the party financially. He served his second term from 2012 to 2014.
Dr. Bylund is Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Records-Johnston Professor in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. He is also a Fellow of the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, and an associate fellow of the Ratio Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
Among his books, Bylund authored The Seen, the Unseen, and the Unrealized: How Regulations Affect Our Everyday Lives and edited Sådan är kapitalismen, an anthology in Swedish on free-market ideas with chapters by Margaret Thatcher, Johan Norberg, Gunnar Hökmark, and others. The latter was released as part of the Stockholm edition of the 2002 Walk for Capitalism, which Bylund organized.
Bylund has been a writer and activist in the libertarian movement since the mid-1990s. He was co-founder of Anarchism.net in 1999 and the founding editor of Svenska Libertarianskt Forum (2002-2004). He is presently a writer primarily on economic matters, has a monthly column in Entrepreneur and is active on Twitter @PerBylund .
Among his books, Bylund authored The Seen, the Unseen, and the Unrealized: How Regulations Affect Our Everyday Lives and edited Sådan är kapitalismen, an anthology in Swedish on free-market ideas with chapters by Margaret Thatcher, Johan Norberg, Gunnar Hökmark, and others. The latter was released as part of the Stockholm edition of the 2002 Walk for Capitalism, which Bylund organized.
Bylund has been a writer and activist in the libertarian movement since the mid-1990s. He was co-founder of Anarchism.net in 1999 and the founding editor of Svenska Libertarianskt Forum (2002-2004). He is presently a writer primarily on economic matters, has a monthly column in Entrepreneur and is active on Twitter @PerBylund .