We’re pleased to welcome Luca Bucken to 500 Global as our Executive Director, Government Relations, building on our longstanding experience working with governments and sovereign partners to build the connective tissue between policy, capital, and innovation by developing investable national strategies, local financing mechanisms and in-country capacity building initiatives.

Based in Abu Dhabi, Luca will lead 500 Global’s government relations efforts, working closely with sovereign partners to advance public–private partnerships that align capital and ecosystem development with national priorities across digital transformation, AI, and economic diversification. 500 Global’s approach centers on bridging strategy and delivery, aligning institutional objectives with local realities, and designing sovereign-aligned financing structures — from blended finance vehicles to national innovation funds — that enable credible, scalable public–private partnerships.

Luca Bucken has over a decade of experience shaping national transformation strategies, investment frameworks, and resource mobilization efforts for governments, philanthropies, and the private sector across Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe. Most recently, he was the Founding Partner of Beyond.Representation, where he advised government principals, regulators, and multilateral and development finance institutions on long-term national transformation and innovation strategies and advanced regional resilience and security frameworks. Earlier in his career, he worked across peacebuilding, humanitarian action, and grassroots infrastructure, building complex bilateral and multilateral partnerships, with a consistent focus on delivery in fragile and emerging market contexts.

“Luca brings a rare combination of experience navigating the highest levels of government and multilateral institutions, while remaining deeply grounded in community-led organizing and local delivery,” said Courtney Powell, COO & Managing Partner of 500 Global. “That balance is essential as we work with partners to support long-term economic transformation. His leadership will be central to strengthening our sovereign partnerships, mobilizing capital, and ensuring that private-sector innovation meaningfully supports long-term public outcomes.”

We’re excited to have Luca on board as we deepen our engagement with governments to uplift people and economies around the world through entrepreneurship.

Learn more about our work with governments and institutions.