Andrés Walker Valdés

Andrés Walker Valdés (30 January 1894 – 21 September 1959) was a Chilean mining entrepreneur, self-taught journalist and conservative politician.

Biography He was the son of Juan Walker Martínez—also a member of Congress—and Ana Valdés Vergara. He married Wilma Sheggia, with whom he had four children.

Walker Valdés studied at the Instituto de Humanidades de Santiago. He devoted several years to journalism in Copiapó, while simultaneously developing mining activities.

He began his mining career as an employee of The Cooper Mines of Copiapó (1919–1920), later serving as administrator of the Compañía Minera Agustinas (1920–1922). Between 1925 and 1928, he worked in mining ventures in Argentina.

He was director and owner of the newspaper El Amigo del País, consistently defending the interests of the mining sector. He later served as Counsellor of the Caja de Crédito Minero and of the National Council of Foreign Trade (1940–1943).

A member of the Conservative Party, he was provincial president of the party in Atacama on several occasions and served as a political commentator for El Diario Ilustrado.

He was elected Deputy for the 3rd Departamental Group—Copiapó, Chañaral, Huasco and Freirina—for the legislative period 1945–1949, serving on the Standing Committees on Industries, and on Agriculture and Colonization.

He was also Vice President of the Social Club of Copiapó.