Ambassador Alvarez previously served as vice minister of hydrocarbons (2000-03) and director-general of hydrocarbons (1999-2000) at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, director of cooperation at the Universidad Central de Venezuela (1993-94), executive secretary and Venezuelan representative for the Forum on Debt and Development (1988-91), and chief of the Research and Development Division at the Venezuelan Institute of Foreign Trade (1986-87).

He has also been a professor at the School of Political and Administrative Studies at the Universidad Central de Venezuela since 1982 and has held numerous positions within the university as well.

Ambassador Alvarez holds a degree in political science from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and a master’s degree in development studies from the University of Sussex, England. He speaks Spanish, English and French and is married with three children.