17 February 2021 (Bonn, Germany): The leading network of local and regional governments “ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability” has announced its new leadership following a one-year global democratic election process. Positions in the ICLEI governance bodies have a three-year term and newly elected leaders will meet for the first time at the ICLEI World Congress in April 2021, hosted by Malmö, Sweden.

ICLEI is a network of local and regional governments led by the ICLEI Council and Global Executive Committee (GexCom), two groups of local leaders elected by ICLEI Members every three years. The ICLEI Council is formed by the nine Regional Executive Committees (RexCom), elected by Members in each ICLEI region. One representative from each RexCom is then elected as a regional representative to the ICLEI Global Executive Committee (GexCom), along with portfolio holders who are elected to the GexCom by the members of the ICLEI Council based on their thematic expertise. The ICLEI GexCom and Council have the power to represent ICLEI on the global stage and steer the organization by setting ICLEI global strategy and policies.

“Our inclusive and all-encompassing governance process is a point of pride for the ICLEI network,” said Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI. “Through this process, ICLEI Members can make their voices heard on key issues of urban sustainability within their regions and on the global stage,” he continued.

Elected representatives will spend their three-year term driving the network's global sustainability agenda forward for local and regional governments worldwide. 

“We commend the previous leadership for their dedication, time and efforts in leading ICLEI’s work globally, and we wish to congratulate all the newly elected  - and visionary - leaders taking on the next term [2021-2024], and thank all Members that stood for election and exercised their voting rights during this process,” Van Begin said.

The new ICLEI Council and GexCom include representatives from districts, cities, states and regions from 35 different countries with a combined population of over 65 million. Meet the new ICLEI Global Executive Committee 2021-2024:

ICLEI Global Executive Committee 2021-2024 - Regional seats

Africa: Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor, Municipality of Chefchaouen, Morocco

East Asia: Yeom Tae-Young, Mayor, Suwon City, Republic of Korea

Europe: Minna Arve, Mayor, City of Turku, Finland

Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: Mauricio Vila Dosal, Governor, State of Yucatan, Mexico

North America: Frank Cownie, Mayor, City of Des Moines, USA

Oceania: Amanda Stone, Councillor, City of Yarra, Australia 

South America: Geraldo Julio De Mello Filho, Mayor, Municipality of Recife, Brazil

South Asia: Kinlay Dorjee, Mayor, Thimphu City Corporation, Bhutan

Southeast Asia: Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, Mayor, City of Makati, Philippines

ICLEI Global Executive Committee 2021-2024 - Portfolio seats

Portfolio: Co-Chair Climate Action and Low Emission Development

Mustafa Tunc Soyer, Mayor, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey

Portfolio: Co-Chair Climate Action and Low Emission Development

Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, Mayor, City of Makati, Philippines

Portfolio: Innovative Financing

Jeong Hyup Seo, Acting Mayor, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Republic of Korea

Portfolio: Global Multilateral Representation

Minna Arve, Mayor, City of Turku, Finland

Portfolio: Circular Development

Manuel Araujo, Mayor, Quelimane Municipal Council, Mozambique 

Portfolio: Co-Chair Resilient Development and Risk Management

Atishi Marlena, Member of the Legislative Assembly, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India 

Portfolio: Co-Chair Resilient Development and Risk Management

Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor, City of Malmö, Sweden

Portfolio: Sustainable Circular and Innovation Procurement

Alex Zhang, Executive Director, Eco-Forum Global, China

Portfolio: China Envoy

Mauricio Vila Dosal, Governor, State of Yucatan, Mexico

Portfolio: Nature, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration

Dr. Cathy Oke,  Enterprise Senior Fellow in Informed Cities, Connected Cities Lab, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, Melbourne School of Design, Melbourne, Australia  

Portfolio: Urban research on sustainability challenge solutions

Special Advisors to the Global Executive Committee

Amanda Stone, Councillor, City of Yarra, Australia

Advisor to: Nature, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration portfolio

Alfredo Coro, Vice Mayor, Municipality of Del Carmen, Philippines

Advisor to: Climate Action and Low Emission Development portfolio

Christopher Taylor, Mayor, City of Ann Arbor, USA

Advisor to: Climate Action and Low Emission Development portfolio

Dato' Sr Hj Rozali Bin Hj Mohammud, Mayor, Seberang Perai Municipal Council, Malaysia

Advisor to: Climate Action and Low Emission Development portfolio

Datuk Seri Utama Ir. Ts. Hj. Idris Bin Hj. Haron, Executive Councillor, Melaka State Government, Malaysia

Advisor to: Resilient Development and Risk Management portfolio

Datuk Shadan bin Othman, Mayor, Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council, Malaysia

Advisor to: Circular Development portfolio

Ana Oregi, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Advisor to: Urban research on sustainability challenge solutions portfolio

-----end

About ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

ICLEI– Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 100+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Our Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.

Media inquiries:

Ariel Dekovic
Head of Global Communications
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Bonn, Germany
Tel. +49-(0)228 / 976 299-16
Email: ariel.dekovic@iclei.org
Skype: ariel.dekovic.iclei