Guillermo Mealla Castro

Guillermo Mealla Castro was an industrial engineer with more than 20 years of experience leading operations in manufacturing plants, industrial process optimization, circular economy and climate action in Latin America, Asia and international contexts. His career combined technical precision with innovative thinking, applying continuous improvement tools to transform production systems with a focus on sustainability and environmental resilience.

A graduate in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra and with studies at the Escuela Militar de Ingeniería in Bolivia, Guillermo complemented his education with international certifications in integrated quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001), as well as a diploma in environmental management and courses in inspection and industrial safety.

His professional path included prominent roles such as Production Manager at Sinteplast Bolivia for more than 7 years, where he led industrial lines and managed paint and coatings processes with an emphasis on operational efficiency and quality standards. Before that, he served as Production Manager and Safety Manager at Industria Forestal CIMAL IMR S.A., optimizing productivity indicators and leading production planning, integrated logistics and health, safety and environment systems.

At the start of his career he held managerial positions at Industria Cosmética Yama Bolivia, implementing new packaging technologies, redesigning the plant layout and reducing packaging costs through technical innovation. He also worked in Japan as an operator of ALMEGA VX-V6 industrial robots at Tokay Kogyo K.K., where he gained direct experience in robotic automation and precision production.

His international career also included commercial and technical management at Tasquelec, as sales manager for “explosion proof” electrical equipment and advisor on the installation of materials for hazardous areas, where he integrated import and strategic logistics functions.

Guillermo was also an independent consultant specialized in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, supporting organizations in process reengineering, statistical control and the professionalization of operational structures. In his most recent position as Head of General Production Administration at Algar S.A., he maintained a systematic focus on materials management, strategic planning and the deployment of key performance indicators.

Driven by a deep environmental conviction, he developed a low-cost, high-impact logistics solution to mitigate wildfires, reusing industrial containers as devices that can be dropped from aircraft. This innovation was validated in real operations and positioned his work at the frontier between industrial engineering and the protection of critical ecosystems.

Trilingual (Spanish, Portuguese and English) and with skills in technical Japanese, Guillermo combined technical abilities, leadership by example and systems thinking to face environmental and production challenges with viable, scalable solutions oriented toward social impact. His legacy is a testament to how engineering can be a bridge between industry, sustainability and global purpose.

Currently driving strategic alliances to scale El Bosque se Defiende, a climate resilience initiative based on the reuse of industrial containers as a circular, economical and quickly implemented logistics solution for fighting wildfires. Seeking to connect with stakeholders committed to climate action, prevention and environmental justice.