Ignacio Walker

Ignacio Walker Prieto (born 7 January 1956) is a Chilean lawyer, politician, and, author who was Foreign Minister of Chile (2004–2006).

Upon Walker's graduation from the University of Chile in 1978, he joined Vicaría de la Solidaridad as an attorney-at-law.

At Vicaría de la Solidaridad, Walker defended people against human rights violations committed by the regime of General Augusto Pinochet.

On March 22, 1980, he married the singer Cecilia Echenique.

The couple have three children: Elisa (lawyer), Ignacio (filmmaker) and Benjamin (musician).

In 1982, he earned a PhD in political science from Princeton University.

Walker was a panel member in the Kellogg Institute's Inter-American dialogue on the 30th anniversary of the 1988 Chilean plebiscite, which paved the way for the end of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship and the return to democracy in Chile.

The panel included both Pinochet's supporters and opponents who recalled and discussed the historic "NO" campaign, which ultimately led to Pinochet's defeat in the referendum and Chile's successful transition to democracy.

Along with Walker, members of the historic panel included Andrés Allamand - Senator of Chile, Eugenio Tiron - Executive President of Tironi Associates, Rev. Timothy R. Scully - Professor of Political Science and Hacket Family Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives, and J. Samuel Valenzuela - Professor of Sociology, University of Notre Dame.

Walker is a descendant of Horacio Walker and.

He has eight siblings, including politicians Patricio Walker and Matías Walker.

Walker served as a Deputy in the Chilean Parliament (1994-2002), President of the Christian Democratic Party (2010-2015), and Senator (2010-2018).

He also served as Foreign Minister of Chile (2004-2006).

Between 2007 and 2008, he was a visiting professor and researcher at Princeton University.

In 2018, Walker became the Kellogg Institute’s Hewlett Fellow for Public Policy at the University of Notre Dame.