Our leadership

Ernest Arthur, Cape Coast’s mayor since May 2017, is in his second term. He facilitated Cape Coast’s membership in ICLEI and forged partnerships with cities like Bonn, Little Rock, New Orleans, and Victoria Falls. He’s engaged globally, attending COP events, notably COP23 and COP28, securing UNEP funding post-COP23. Arthur holds an MA in Governance, Environment, and Sustainable Development from the University of Cape Coast.

Regina Bakitte Nakazzi’s career in public service started more than 25 years ago, when she became Chairperson of a sub-county in 1998. She then served as Secretary for Finance, LCV Councillor, Chairperson of the Health Committee, before being elected as the first Mayor of Nansana in 2015, and being reelected in 2021. She’s also the Vice President of the Network of Mayors in Greater Kampala and the Chairperson of the Alliance of Mayors (AMICAAL) in Uganda. She also offers professional advice to the National Association of Professional Environmentalists and is extensively involved in city-to-city exchanges.

Passionate about climate action, Chilando Chitangala became the first elected female Mayor of Zambia’s capital in 2021. Since May 2022, she’s also the Vice-Chairperson of the Regional Mayors Forum (RMF) of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA). A member of the Bloomberg Harvard cohort of 2022 to 2023, the fight against HIV/AIDS, resilience building and equity & inclusivity rank high among her priorities.

Holding a PhD in International Development, Manuel de Araújo has been Mayor of Quelimane since 2011. He was previously a Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Portfolio Committee in the Mozambican Parliament. Mayor de Araújo has been part of ICLEI RexCom and GexCom since 2018, with a special focus on resilience. He has also been involved in the CoM SSA Regional Mayors Forum and GCoM’s Expert Working Group on Cities and Local Governments.

Mohamed Sefiani is the Mayor of Chefchaouen since 2009. He holds an engineering degree from the National School of Mines of Rabat in 1990. Mayor Sefiani is the President of the Federation of Moroccan and Andalusian Cities and a regional ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), which underlines his commitment to representing and amplifying urban voices on the world stage. He also currently chairs the UCLG World Forum and is the Vice-Chairman of the Maison Méditerranée du Climat.

Meet Mayor Mohamed Sefiani.

Governor Dong Yeon Kim of Gyeonggi Province has a 35-year career, rising from a deputy director in finance to Deputy Prime Minister of Economy. After retiring, he founded “Joyful Rebellion,” engaging in social innovation. Elected as the 8th Governor in July 2022, he prioritizes making Gyeonggi a global leader in regional climate efforts. Dr. Kim holds a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Michigann.

Kim Sanghan is the Vice Mayor I for Administrative Affairs at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a position he has held since December 2023. Born on January 5, 1966, he has an extensive background in public administration and law, with a Bachelor of Law from Korea University and a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University.

Kim’s career in public service includes key roles such as Deputy Mayor at both the Planning and Administration Office and the Welfare Policy Office of SMG, and President of the Seoul Human Resources Development Center. His expertise in urban governance and development is demonstrated through various leadership positions within the SMG.

MATSUI Koji, born on April 24, 1960, in Kyoto City, is the 27th Mayor of Kyoto, taking office in February 2024. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a degree in Social and International Relations. Matsui began his career in 1983 at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, now known as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

He has held various significant positions, including Deputy Counsellor at the Cabinet Secretariat in 1994 and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in 2009. Matsui was also a Member of the House of Councilors, first elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2007. Before becoming mayor, he was a Professor at Keio University’s Faculty of Policy Management from 2013.

Holding a Ph.D. of Management and a Master of Education, Liou Her-Ran had led a career in education before joining local government. He became Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City in 2021. He oversees the affairs of the Secretariat, Department of Civil Affairs, Education Department, Economic Development Department, Agriculture Bureau, Environmental Protection Department, Department of Information, Personnel Department, Research and Development Evaluation Commission, and Youth Department.

Ms. Li, current Vice Mayor of Changchun, began her career in 1990 as Deputy Director of Changchun Automobile Industry Development Zone. She held roles including Chairperson of Changchun Women’s Federation, Deputy Secretary of Kuancheng District Party Committee, and District Mayor. Prior to Changchun, she served as Secretary of the Kuancheng District Committee.

Minna Arve serves as Mayor of Turku since 2017. Prior to this, she was Managing Director of Turku Chamber of Commerce. As Mayor of Turku, she has highlighted major issues such as sustainable growth, urban inclusion, social inclusion, and new industrial and business policies. She is a member of Finland’s circular economy steering group, and chairs the working group on cities and regions.

Meet Mayor Minna Arve 

Maider Etxebarria Garcia, Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz since June 2023, holds degrees in Tourism Business, German Philology, and a “Diplôme Supérieur d’Études Françaises Modernes.” She has a background in the private sector and previously served as Director of Tourism for the Basque Government. Her priorities include transitioning the city to a circular production and consumption model, promoting the Agri-Food System, and implementing Nature-Based Solutions.

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.

Meet Lord Mayor Martin Horn

Lasse Frimand Jensen, Mayor of Aalborg since 2023, holds a Master’s in Development and International Relations. Before becoming Mayor, he led the International House in Aalborg and chaired various organizations. As Mayor, he chairs the Finance Committee, Aalborg Business Council, and the Regional Council of Municipalities. He also serves on the board of Destination North Denmark. Jensen actively engages citizens in the green transition, notably through the Green Agent’s project, promoting sustainability among residents.

Luísa Salgueiro has a Bachelor’s degree in law and a postgraduate degree in environmental law. She has served as Mayor of Matosinhos since 2017. Before being elected Mayor, Salgueiro served as legal advisor to the Porto City Council and Councilor of the Matosinhos City Council. Concurrent to her position as Mayor, she is President of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities. She previously was Member of Parliament in Portugal and Vice President of the Energy and Environmental Safety Commission of NATO.

Ginger M. Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama, is the first female appointed to this role. In 2021, she launched ‘Collab’, a unit addressing community issues through partnerships with NGOs, businesses, and government agencies. She also previously served as CEO of Immerse Bahamas and VP of Grand Bahama Port Authority. Her diverse roles include President of People to People International, a member of CIOFF, and Bahamas/Caribbean Representative for Sister Cities International, where President Joe Biden serves as Honorary Chair.

Meet Mayor Jorge Alejandro Aldana Bardales.

Before being elected Mayor of her hometown of Fort Collins in 2021, Jennifer Arndt served four terms as a Colorado State Representative, focusing on climate-related issues such as water and agriculture. Holding a PhD in Literacy & Language, she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco and worked in education in Mozambique. She received recognition from the Climate Reality Project with a leadership award, in addition to presenting in high level national and international forums.

Meet Mayor Jeni Arndt.

In addition to being Mayor of Columbia, MO, Barbara Buffaloe also serves as Chair and Board member for various organizations and was part of the delegation representing US Mayors at COP28 in December 2023. Before being elected Mayor of Columbia, she served as Columbia’s first Sustainability Manager. She also co-founded the Heartland Local Government Sustainability Network, a network of City and County sustainability managers and directors from seven Midwestern states whose charge it is to create additional momentum for promoting sustainability throughout the Heartland.

Jillian is the Environmental Strategist and Program Manager with the City of Fredericton and oversees the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation and adaptation plans. She has a background in earth science, conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Jillian previously worked with a range of local and international non-governmental and inter-governmental institutions before joining the team at the City of Fredericton in 2021.

Ian McVey works as Manager of Sustainability with Durham Region, where he leads the implementation of climate action plans on both mitigation and adaptation.  He has 10 years of experience working in local government, and an additional 5 years working on sustainability issues in a corporate context, as well as with the provincial government.  He is an experienced partnership broker, and is leading efforts to develop collaborative implementation programs to drive down emissions in Durham Region.

Meet Manager of Sustainability Ian McVey (YouTube Video)

Francis F. B. Green was appointed as Chairperson of the Kiribati Local Government Association in 2022 and has been Mayor of Eutan Tarawaieta Council since 2020. His focus is to strengthen the voices of Pacific Island nations for environmentally friendly solutions and promote the multilateral efforts through climate mitigation activities or program for all members.

Mayor of Newcastle since 2014, Nuatali Nelmes holds a Bachelor degree in Business with a double major in industrial relations/human resource management and marketing from the University of Newcastle, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She worked in small business and recruitment before being elected to the City Council of Newcastle in 2008.

Meet Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes (YouTube Video)

Elected Lord Mayor of Hobart in November 2018, Councillor Anna Reynolds began her career by establishing a community legal center in North Queensland, after completing her degree at the Australian National University. She has held various senior roles in advocacy, policy development and management. As Lord Mayor, Anna is focused on a range of issues including affordable housing, climate change, active transport, and protecting Hobart’s heritage.

A doctor in Company Management, German Vladimir Chong Rios is Mayor of the Maynas Province since 2023. In addition to his political office, he seats on the board of various organizations, in particular in the field of education. He also published several academic papers, with a focus on the economy of Peru.

Axel Grael is the mayor of Niterói and a forestry engineer. He served as the president of the State Institute of Forests, the State Foundation for Environmental Engineering, and as the deputy secretary of the Environment for the State of Rio de Janeiro. Currently, he is the vice president of the Sustainable Development Goals at the National Mayors’ Front and the president of the Permanent Commission on Cities Affected or Subject to Disasters.

Meet Mayor Axel Grael.

Pablo Javkin is a lawyer and university professor of Public International Law. He attended Harvard and Stanford. With a rich political history, he presided over the Argentine University Federation and the Youth of the Radical Party. Among other positions, he was City Councilor in Rosario and provincial Deputy in Santa Fe, National Deputy, City Councilor, and General Secretary of Rosario Municipality (2015-2017). He has been Mayor since 2019.

Marjorie Kauffmann is a forestry engineer with degrees from the Federal University of Santa Maria. She worked on infrastructure projects and served as director of the Environmental Secretariat in Lajeado. From 2019 to 2022, she was director-president of Fepam. Since March 2022, she’s the State Secretary of Environment and Infrastructure. Grael represented Rio Grande do Sul at the 2021 and 2022 Climate Conferences. She received honors and awards for her contributions to sustainability at Expointer 2022 and Expodireto 2023.

Cristian Zamora, an Industrial Engineer from the University of Cuenca, holds a Master’s in Sciences and Productivity from TEC de Monterrey and a Ph.D. in Administrative Sciences from EGADE Mexico and EPFL Switzerland. After serving as a Councillor for nine years, he was elected Mayor for the 2023-2027 term in Cuenca. Apart from his leadership role, Zamora is an entrepreneur. He balances his civic duties with teaching at the University of Cuenca and guest lecturing internationally.

Adv. M Anilkumar is the present Mayor of Kochi Municipal Corporation He leads a very active political life and has also been elected previously as a councilor. He is an advocate. Working for the cause of the city and the citizens has been his motto in life. He takes keen interest in activities related to biodiversity conservation, addressing climate change and upliftment of the livelihood conditions of the urban poor.

Prior to being elected Mayor of Thimphu in 2021, Ugyen Dorji worked for the City for 11 years, most recently as deputy chief urban planner. He has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Australia and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the College of Science and Technology in Phuentsholing. Mayor Dorji is committed to improving municipal services, in particular drinking water, waste management, sanitation, pollution and road conditions.

Smt. Naynaben Pedhadiya was elected as councillor in March 2021 and became member of standing committee of Rajkot Municipal Corporation till September 2023. She is presently serving as the 34th Mayor of Rajkot city. She holds a Master of Arts and B,Ed. She has also served as a president of female wing of political party ‘BJP’ in the Rajkot city, before getting elected as councillor.

Datin Sapiah binti Hj. Haron was the city Mayor and President of Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council, Melaka since February 2023. She was former President of Jasin Municipal Council before joining Hang Tuah Jaya City. She starts to involve in urban management and sustainability task through the appointment as Deputy Mayor / President for Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council back to 2012 Melaka and then given a bigger role by state of Melaka to become as President of Jasin Municipal Council since 2018.

Abby Binay was first elected Mayor of Makati City, the financial capital of the Philippines, in 2016, and re-elected in 2019. She has taken steps to make Makati a Smart City that is progressive, inclusive and sustainable. This resulted in Makati being among the finalists of the World Smart Cities Awards in 2019. Mayor Binay holds a Bachelor Degree in Human Ecology, and passed the bar in 2002, following her Juris Doctorate.

Meet Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay

Since 2023, Alfredo Coro is in his fourth term as Mayor of Del Carmen, Philippines. In his years in public service, Del Carmen’s partner-driven approach to development reduced the poverty index by 20%, improved SDG indicators with public service innovations, and public participation on environmental conservation. Del Carmen and Mayor Coro received several acknowledgements for their achievements from various national and international organizations.
Meet Major Alfredo Coro