ICLEI

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Meet the staff

ICLEI has more than 260 staff in 22 offices around the world, offering expertise that positions local and regional governments to advance sustainable urban development along our five pathways.

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SECRETARY GENERAL AND DEPUTY
WORLD SECRETARIAT STAFF
regional directors

Gino Van Begin

ICLEI Secretary General

Gino Van Begin

ICLEI Secretary General

Gino Van Begin has been the distinguished Secretary General of ICLEI since 2013. Before that, he served as ICLEI Regional Director for Europe and as Deputy Secretary General. He has ensured ICLEI performs as a responsible, forward-looking, not-for-profit local and regional government organization serving its Members worldwide. Gino Van Begin graduated with a law degree from the University of Brussels as a lawyer and speaks Dutch, French, English, German and Russian. For more information, please visit his full profile here.

Emani Kumar

ICLEI Deputy Secretary General Regional Director, ICLEI South Asia Secretariat

Emani Kumar

ICLEI Deputy Secretary General Regional Director, ICLEI South Asia Secretariat

Emani works with all the offices in Asia, to ensure cohesion in implementation of ICLEI’s agendas and spearhead advocacy activities in the region. Emani has a background in environmental management and planning and more than twenty years of experience in climate change policy and planning, local governance, renewable energy, systems management and auditing.

Guilherme Johnston

Program Manager, Resilient Cities

Guilherme Johnston

Program Manager, Resilient Cities

Guilherme supports and guides all activities that fall under the ICLEI Resilient Cities strategy. He has more than 10 years of experience working with local governments and cities related organizations on projects supporting cities and states to improve their urban infrastructure and greening of major events. Guillherme previously worked for ICLEI on energy and greenhouse gas inventory-related projects. He has a background in international relations and global affairs.

Program Manager, Resilient Cities

The resilient cities team manages and connects to a variety of topics that fall under the broader umbrella of resilience. This includes urban risk, resilient urban logistics, financing the resilient city, climate insurance urban agriculture and food, smart infrastructure and other issues, in coordination with other World Secretariat and worldwide teams. They convene the Annual Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation held annually in Bonn.

The team

Victoria Vital Estrada

Officer, Resilient Cities

Victoria Vital Estrada

Officer, Resilient Cities

Matteo Bizzotto

Junior Officer, Resilient Cities

Matteo Bizzotto

Junior Officer, Resilient Cities

Ayan Huseynova

Officer, Resilient Cities, Events

Ayan Huseynova

Officer, Resilient Cities, Events

Maryke van Staden

Program Manager, Low Carbon Cities

Maryke van Staden

Program Manager, Low Carbon Cities

Maryke directs the global low carbon strategy at ICLEI and is the Director of the Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting (carbonn Center). She oversees global programs and projects, working closely with national and subnational governments on integrated climate action. Linked to this, Maryke also supports ICLEI's global climate advocacy work. Specializing in local climate action, sustainable energy and energy security, she has over 20 years of experience in the field.

Program Manager, Low Carbon Cities

The low carbon team provides services to local and regional governments tackling climate change and air pollution, guiding their step-by-step approach towards carbon neutrality, energy security, and improved air quality - all leading to multiple and diverse benefits and sectoral impacts. This multi-disciplinary team guides low emission development and action planning, supports greenhouse gas emissions accounting and reporting, improves relevant standards, explores access to finance for cities and regions, and builds capacity on effective multilevel governance to achieve climate targets. To this end a range of services, tools and guidance is provided, including global platforms to report and seek access to finance, underpinned by climate advocacy to mobilize ambitious, necessary climate action around the globe.

The team

Cesar Carreño