Our leadership

Ashok Sridharan has long-standing experience in local government administration. Mayor Sridharan promotes and advocates low-emission solutions, holistic approaches to sustainable development and multi-level governance cooperation towards the implementation of the global sustainability agenda. © Foto: Barbara Frommann/Bundesstadt Bonn

Cathy Oke was elected to the Melbourne City Council in 2008. As Chair of the City’s Environment Portfolio, Deputy Chair of Transport and Finance and Governance Portfolios and an environmental scientist, Cathy brings 20 years’ experience to her city, ICLEI and to the achievement of both organizations’ agenda. Currently, Cathy combines her role as an elected representative with her work at the National Environmental Science Program.

Stephany Uy-Tan became the first woman Mayor of Catbalogan in 2013. Since then, Mayor Uy-Tan represented ICLEI at international events such as the Climate Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Bonn in November 2017. At the COP21 Cities and Regions Pavilion, Mayor Uy-Tan presented Catbalogan’s transformative Sky City project, in the framework of the Transformative Action Program.

Named one of the U.S’s “cool mayors” by the Mayors for Climate Protection, Mayor Cownie believes in looking to the future and has a long history of civic leadership and community involvement. In his second term as Mayor, he continued to promote the Des Moines’ sustainability goals. Some of his recent achievements include establishing the Des Moines Energy and Environmental Task Force, and securing a grant for purchasing a fleet of resource-efficient hybrid automobiles.

Kim Le Cerf serves as City Councilor of Darebin, the first Council in Australia to declare a state of climate emergency and to hold a long-term commitment to climate action and sustainability. She has been working to further climate and sustainability action within state and local governments since 2006, including the last six years with City of Melbourne, where she currently leads the Low Carbon Future team.

Kinlay Dorjee is the first elected Mayor of Thimphu, Bhutan. Since entering office he has embarked on a number of sustainability projects, including an overhaul of household waste recycling systems. Prior to this, Mayor Dorjee was the General Manager of the Bhutan Power Corporation. In February 2013, he endorsed a Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Strategy to improve urban sanitation and hygiene for Thimphu City.

Elected in 2004 as Councillor for the City of Florence (Democratic Party) Dario Nardella has since held a number of positions politically, including legal advisor to the Minister of Institutional Reforms, Deputy Mayor, Mayor of Florence beginning in 2014 and ANCI coordinator for the metropolitan cities (national municipal association). Dario Nardella holds a law degree and a Ph.D in Public Law, Construction and Environmental Law from the University of Florence.

Currently serving as the Mayor of Suwon City, Republic of Korea, Mayor Yeom’s involvement in sustainable development dates back to the 1990s when he founded the Suwon Center for Environment Movement. With the slogan “Human City, Suwon”, Yeom is committed to promoting civil participation in urban planning. He also founded the Local Sustainability Alliance of Korea.

After occupying several positions in administration at city, state and federal levels, Geraldo Julio De Mello Filho was elected Mayor of Recife in 2012. His diverse experiences are reflected in his various priorities as municipal leader. He stabilized the city’s finances, took actions in favor of participatory democracy, and launched a public safety program. He also launched a large scale project for urban planning and initiated a free transportation system for all primary school students.

Bima Arya was inaugurated as the Mayor of Bogor city in April 2014. He aims to make Bogor a smart city, a heritage city, and a green city. While focusing on these targets, Bogor Municipality has built parks, heritage icons, public spaces, and made innovations to strengthen its profile along these lines.

Mauricio Vila holds a Bachelor in Law as well as M.A. in Political Management and Governance and a MBA. He became a local Member of Parliament for the fourth district of Yucatan in 2012 and remained in office until 2015. He then served as Mayor of Mérida from 2015 to 2018, a time during which the city received recognition for its management, quality of life and transparency.

Elected in 2013, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh serves as the first female Mayor of Malmö. In this capacity, she has been on the board of SKL (Swedish Municipalities and Counties), which gave her invaluable insight into the opportunities and challenges faced by cities around Sweden. In her role as Mayor, Jammeh manages finance, public procurement, business and commerce and steers the city’s corporations and agencies.

Currently the Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique, Manuel de Araújo was first elected in 2011. He previously worked at Amnesty International. He was also a member, board member and Vice-President of several global organizations, such as Parliamentarians for Global Action and Parliamentarians for Small Arms. He holds a PhD in International Development, an MSc in Development Studies, a MPS in Policy Studies and a BA Hons in International Relations.

Mr. Mohamed Shafeeg Mahmood is a management professional who has worked at several top management positions over the past 30 years. He is a business consultant, writer on international affairs and a public speaker. Currently he is the CEO of the Local Government Authority of Maldives, an independent state institution overseeing, developing and regulating the work activities of Local Councils.

Since 2011, Park has been serving as the Mayor of Seoul, Republic of Korea. He has a background in international law and had served as the Executive Director of several national foundations. From 1995 to 2002, he was the Secretary General for the People’s Solidarity for a participatory Democracy.

Alex Zhang is currently serving as the Executive Director of Eco Forum Global (EFG), ICLEI’s primary partner organization in China. As China’s principal international platform for sharing and exchanging best practices and experiences in sustainable development and eco-civilization construction, EFG enjoys a myriad of resources in line with ICLEI’s strategy in China such as promoting resilient and sustainable city concept and practices, and exploring ways of engaging Chinese cities.

Matthew Appelbaum served on the city council of Boulder, Colorado, for 18 years, from 1987 to 1995 and 2007 to 2017, including five years as the Mayor and four as Deputy Mayor. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities (NLC) and was a long-time member of NLC’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee (EENR), for which he served as chair or vice-chair for several years.

Abel Ngwasoh Langsi became Mayor of Bafut in 2007. Due to his background as a teacher, he brought a particular sensitivity to education and youth related matters, reflected in his actions as a Mayor. Throughout his Mayoral term, he also demonstrated his commitment to sustainability. In particular, he directed the planting of 8,000 trees in water catchments, Council forest and road sides. He also received several awards in Cameroon, rewarding his work as one of the country’s best Mayors.

Currently the Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique, Manuel de Araújo was first elected in 2011. He previously worked at Amnesty International. He was also a member, board member and Vice-President of several global organizations, such as Parliamentarians for Global Action and Parliamentarians for Small Arms. He holds a PhD in International Development, an MSc in Development Studies, a MPS in Policy Studies and a BA Hons in International Relations.

Jaakko has been a member of Tampere city council from 2017 and was elected as Deputy Mayor in September 2019. Before 2017, Jaakko has been vice-member of the city council and vice-chair of the urban planning board.<br>In professional life, Jaakko has worked both in the IT sector and in the university – in various sales, administration and management roles.<br>

Elected in 2004 as Councillor for the City of Florence (Democratic Party) Dario Nardella has since held a number of positions politically, including legal advisor to the Minister of Institutional Reforms, Deputy Mayor, Mayor of Florence beginning in 2014 and ANCI coordinator for the metropolitan cities (national municipal association). Dario Nardella holds a law degree and a Ph.D in Public Law, Construction and Environmental Law from the University of Florence.

Martin Horn holds a Bachelor’s degree in International social work from The Ludwigsburg Protestant University of Applied Science (Evangelischen Hochschule Ludwigsburg) and a Masters’ degree in European and World Politics from the University of Bremen. Before being elected Lord Mayor of Freiburg in 2018, Horn worked as European and Development Coordinator for the City of Sindelfingen, Germany and as a freelance lecturer at the Ludwigsburg Protestant University of Applied Science.

Jaakko has been a member of Tampere city council from 2017 and was elected as Deputy Mayor in September 2019. Before 2017, Jaakko has been vice-member of the city council and vice-chair of the urban planning board.<br>In professional life, Jaakko has worked both in the IT sector and in the university – in various sales, administration and management roles.<br>

Elected in 2004 as Councillor for the City of Florence (Democratic Party) Dario Nardella has since held a number of positions politically, including legal advisor to the Minister of Institutional Reforms, Deputy Mayor, Mayor of Florence beginning in 2014 and ANCI coordinator for the metropolitan cities (national municipal association). Dario Nardella holds a law degree and a Ph.D in Public Law, Construction and Environmental Law from the University of Florence.

Martin Horn holds a Bachelor’s degree in International social work from The Ludwigsburg Protestant University of Applied Science (Evangelischen Hochschule Ludwigsburg) and a Masters’ degree in European and World Politics from the University of Bremen. Before being elected Lord Mayor of Freiburg in 2018, Horn worked as European and Development Coordinator for the City of Sindelfingen, Germany and as a freelance lecturer at the Ludwigsburg Protestant University of Applied Science.

Following almost 30 years of entrepreneurship, Juan Nasry Asfura Zablah took his first political position in 2006, when he became City Councilor in Tegucigalpa. He went on to become Minister Director of the Honduran Fund for Social Investment, before becoming member of the Honduran Parliament in 2011. He then successfully ran to become Mayor of the Central District in 2013, and was reelected in 2017.

Leading a municipality located in a province blessed with numerous natural beauties, Verny Valerio Hernández is committed to the preservations of these treasures. A lawyer by training, some of his legal work related to environmental law. He served as city alderman from 2010 to 2016, until he was elected Mayor of San Rafael de Heredia. He is also involved in and serving on the board of various development associations.

Mauricio Vila holds a Bachelor in Law as well as M.A. in Political Management and Governance and a MBA. He became a local Member of Parliament for the fourth district of Yucatan in 2012 and remained in office until 2015. He then served as Mayor of Mérida from 2015 to 2018, a time during which the city received recognition for its management, quality of life and transparency.

Pam O’Connor has championed policies and partnerships that enhance community livability and wellbeing on the Santa Monica City Council from 1994 to 2018 and has served as Mayor five times. She is particularly interested in issues that advance sustainability and mobility. She also served on the California Coastal Commission as an alternate from 2010 to 2012. This body oversees land use issues that impact California’s coastline, with the goal of protecting and conserving the environment and preserving public access to this natural resource.

Lynn Robichaud has been the Senior Sustainability Coordinator for the city of Burlington for the past 16 years. She previously worked for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch. During this time, Lynn developed several environmental policies and strategies for the city of Burlington. In particular, 2014 saw the adoption of the city’s first Community Energy Plan accepted by FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection Program as Burlington’s local climate change action plan.

Holding a bachelor BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Mark Brostrom started his career in the private sector, before joining the city of Edmonton in 1990. Since then, he has been working to advance the City’s environmental and energy policy and programs. In recognition of his dedication and achievements, Mark received the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Community Award of Excellence in 2010 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.

Named one of the U.S’s “cool mayors” by the Mayors for Climate Protection, Mayor Cownie believes in looking to the future and has a long history of civic leadership and community involvement. In his second term as Mayor, he continued to promote the Des Moines’ sustainability goals. Some of his recent achievements include establishing the Des Moines Energy and Environmental Task Force, and securing a grant for purchasing a fleet of resource-efficient hybrid automobiles.

Matthew Appelbaum served on the city council of Boulder, Colorado, for 18 years, from 1987 to 1995 and 2007 to 2017, including five years as the Mayor and four as Deputy Mayor. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities (NLC) and was a long-time member of NLC’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee (EENR), for which he served as chair or vice-chair for several years.

Kim Le Cerf serves as City Councilor of Darebin, the first Council in Australia to declare a state of climate emergency and to hold a long-term commitment to climate action and sustainability. She has been working to further climate and sustainability action within state and local governments since 2006, including the last six years with City of Melbourne, where she currently leads the Low Carbon Future team.

Aaron Hawkins has served on the Dunedin City Council since 2013, and chairs its Community and Culture committee, Refugee Steering Group and Creative Dunedin Partnership. He believes strongly in the critical role of local governments in tackling environmental challenges, and in working collaboratively with other councils, governments and NGOs to do so. He’s also committed to supporting the creative industries to play their critical role in communicating challenges and solutions, and in the transition to a low carbon economy.

A Medical scientist by training, Caroline Knight was elected to the City of Mandurah Council in 2011. Her dedication to the environment is demonstrated by her membership of the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, National Sea Change Task Force, Peron Naturaliste Partnership and by her position as Chair of the Mandurah Environmental Advisory Group. She is also one of Mandurah Council’s representatives on the Peel Joint Development Assessment Panel.

Cate Coorey is a community activist, working to represent the people and to restore and build resilience into the natural environment in the area where she lives. She has a background in media and communications in the social justice, non-governmental sector, including for a major Australian charity and an international development agency. She has also worked in Media and Policy for a Greens MP and as a teacher in vocational education.

After occupying several positions in administration at city, state and federal levels, Geraldo Julio De Mello Filho was elected Mayor of Recife in 2012. His diverse experiences are reflected in his various priorities as municipal leader. He stabilized the city’s finances, took actions in favor of participatory democracy, and launched a public safety program. He also launched a large scale project for urban planning and initiated a free transportation system for all primary school students.

A native from Curitiba, Rafael Valdomiro Greca De Macedo was trained as an engineer with a particular focus on urbanism. He was elected to various political offices at all levels, from city councilor to member of the Federal Parliament of Brazil. He was also federal minister of Sport and Tourism from 1999 to 2000. His last election as Mayor of Curitiba took place in 2016. He received various prizes for his action, including the World Habitat Award 1996, from the UN.

As Vice-president of the Municipal Association of Nepal (since 2001) and Mayor of Dhulikhel (since 2017), Ashok Byanju is committed to promoting better urban planning and biodiversity throughout Nepal. He is convinced that preserving biodiversity will have a positive impact on sustainability in South Asia, since it will encourage the conservation of natural resources like soil and water. Photo credit: setopati.net

Kinlay Dorjee is the first elected Mayor of Thimphu, Bhutan. Since entering office he has embarked on a number of sustainability projects, including an overhaul of household waste recycling systems. Prior to this, Mayor Dorjee was the General Manager of the Bhutan Power Corporation. In February 2013, he endorsed a Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Strategy to improve urban sanitation and hygiene for Thimphu City.

Mr. Mohamed Shafeeg Mahmood is a management professional who has worked at several top management positions over the past 30 years. He is a business consultant, writer on international affairs and a public speaker. Currently he is the CEO of the Local Government Authority of Maldives, an independent state institution overseeing, developing and regulating the work activities of Local Councils.

After a career in the social sector started in 1987, Nanda Jichkar worked as an academic and with various NGOs. She became Mayor of Nagpur in 2017. Since then, she oversaw the installation of solar panels on government buildings, favored rain water harvesting, LED street lights, the plantation of over 35,000 trees, the implementation of a recycle and reuse of waste water project and heat action plan, and she promoted the use of eco-friendly green busses. Photo credit: www.nagpurinfo.in

Bima Arya was inaugurated as the Mayor of Bogor city in April 2014. He aims to make Bogor a smart city, a heritage city, and a green city. While focusing on these targets, Bogor Municipality has built parks, heritage icons, public spaces, and made innovations to strengthen its profile along these lines.

Heavily committed to resilience and disaster risk reduction, Leticia Clemente has been working with the city of Baguio for almost 20 years. As a Finance Officer in the city’s administration, she made it her priority to integrate the necessary elements of Baguio City’s Climate Change Adaptation plans into the city’s budget. She also played a major role in the finalization of the City Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Plan and of its Environmental Code.

In addition to being the President of Seberang Perai Municipal Council since 2017, Sr Hj Rozali Bin Hj Mohamud is also the city’s Chief Information Officer. In this capacity, he is in charge of developing initiatives and strategies to achieve the vision of Seberang Perai as a smart city. As Municipal President, he has overseen the implementation of numerous plans, and in particular environmental protection and healthy living.