Michael Álvarez Kalverkamp studied political science and worked as a freelance journalist. He served as press spokesperson for the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung in Berlin for several years. In 2008, he established the Foundation's Southern Cone office in Santiago de Chile and expanded its work in the region, heading the office there until July 2014.

From August 2014 to 2023, he was again the foundation's press spokesperson in Berlin. Since May 2023, he has been head of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Buenos Aires office for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.