ICLEI

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.

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 the projects and supports our global climate advocacy work. Specializing in local climate action and sustainable energy, she has over 20 years of experience in the field. Maryke is a visiting lecturer to several summer schools and regularly contributes to key global publications.

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.

Roman Mendle

Program Manager, Smart Cities

Roman Mendle

Program Manager, Smart Cities

Roman manages the smart cities and city-business collaboration practice at ICLEI. Enabling cities to navigate the smart cities space and to evaluate solutions to sustainability challenges through demand-driven interaction with the private sector. He also supports industrial legacy cities transitioning towards sustainability through the Urban Transitions Alliance. Roman has a background in sustainability science and East Asian politics.

Program Manager, Smart Cities

The smart cities team guides local and regional governments towards looking at the big picture of digitization, circular economy and urban transitions management to sustainability - using resource efficiency, good urban governance, sustainability principles as a reflective lens to evaluate the benefits and risks of technologies and innovation for urban development. Their systems thinking approach ensures that the adoption of technologies and innovation in cities is people-focused, resource conscious, prioritizes environmental sustainability over business interests and leads to a safe, inclusive and sustainable future. The team also helps local governments navigate digital transition and other urban development trends by building strategies and developing leadership capacities in line with the SDGs and the Planetary Boundaries.

Tsu-Jui Cheng

Program Manager, EcoMobility

Tsu-Jui Cheng

Program Manager, EcoMobility

Tsu-Jui leads the Sustainable Urban Mobility / EcoMobility Team and coordinates ICLEI interoffice cooperation. He oversees the implementation of the projects and guilds cities to provide liveable, accessible and equitable urban mobility for both citizens and freight through the EcoMobility Alliance and the Ecologistics initiative. Tsu-Jui has a background in transport and city planning.

Program Manager, EcoMobility

ICLEI’s EcoMobility team supports local and regional governments to provide safe, affordable, accessible, resilient, low-emission and overall sustainable mobility to fulfill the mobility needs of all people and securing a high quality of urban life while respecting the limits of one planet. EcoMobility gives priority to walking, cycling, public transport and shared mobility and helps to reduce the dependency on privately-owned vehicles. EcoLogistics promotes the transportation of goods with minimized impacts on air quality, health, safety, and GHG emissions.

Tori Okner

Head of Strategy and Partnerships

Tori Okner

Head of Strategy and Partnerships

Tori supports the Strategy and partnerships team through knowledge management and transfer to enable city-to-city exchange. Her work focuses on strategic planning, multi-stakeholder planning processes, network management and social innovation. She has a background in environmental policy with expertise in climate change, food systems, governance and urban planning. Tori worked as a consultant serving clients from local municipalities and national governments to private universities and research institutions.

Head of Strategy and Partnerships

The strategy and partnerships team facilitates dialogue among the World Secretariat, Regional Offices and key stakeholders, linking thematic expertise around the world, deepening alliances and driving the development and delivery of new relationships and initiatives. Together, we actualize the shared vision of our global experts and local and regional governments.

Yunus Arikan

Head of Global Advocacy & Policy

Yunus Arikan

Head of Global Advocacy & Policy

Yunus leads the global policy and advocacy team at ICLEI. Since 2013, he has led global advocacy towards international bodies and multilateral agreements. Yunus helped establish the Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting – carbonn – and served as the Director of the Secretariat for the World Mayors Council on Climate Change. He has a background in environmental engineering.

Head of Global Advocacy & Policy

The global advocacy and policy team seeks to build an international policy environment that strengthens subnational government capacity and supports urban sustainability and climate action. Through their efforts, the team has helped reshape the global sustainability landscape where subnational governments are recognized, engaged and resourced.

Eva Madeira

Head of Global Membership and Governance

Eva Madeira

Head of Global Membership and Governance

Eva leads membership and governance at ICLEI, guiding membership policy and communications and supporting engagement with ICLEI governance bodies. Eva has experience in human resources and talent management, conference planning and training facilitation. She has a background in economics and business management.

Head of Global Membership and Governance

The global membership and governance team engages direct outreach to members and members‐to‐be and leads the development and implementation of membership plans for current members and prospective members. The team coordinates of all details of membership meetings and receptions.

Jen Bogle

Head of Global Communications

Jen Bogle

Head of Global Communications

Jen leads global communications at ICLEI, leveraging 10 years of experience in stakeholder outreach and strategic communications with sustainability-minded city governments, private sector actors, academic institutions and international organizations, Jen uses communications as a tool to shape and implement strategic goals. She has a background in environmental science and urban planning.

Head of Global Communications

The global communications team is responsible for leading and coordinating communications across ICLEI offices. The team plays a key role in strategic communications alongside the global advocacy and policy team. The team uses communications to reach a diverse global audience and is responsible for brand positioning, multimedia production and media relations.

Joseph Wladkowski

Head of Global Capacity Center

Joseph Wladkowski

Head of Global Capacity Center

Joseph leads the ICLEI Global Capacity Center. He manages the strategic development of data and knowledge management systems used by the global organization, and advises on the development and use of sustainability indicators and performance reporting systems. Joseph has also coordinated several of global conferences at ICLEI. He has a background in environmental governance.

Head of Global Capacity Center

The ICLEI Capacity Center serves key organizational functions for the World Secretariat and the entire global organization, including global data and knowledge management and research. The Capacity Center also coordinates local ICT services to all offices and organizes key global events.

Sunandan Tiwari

Senior Manager, Global Projects

Sunandan Tiwari

Senior Manager, Global Projects

Sunandan leads the global projects team and coordinates the biodiversity work. He manages and supports the implementation of key projects funded by the International Climate Initiative run by the German government. He previously worked in the ICLEI South Asia Secretariat and developed the urban resilience program. Sunandan has a background in ecology with over 20 years of experience across a range of sectors from rural to urban domains.

Senior Manager, Global Projects

The Global Projects team supports, raises funding for, manages, and implements multi-office projects with the aim of profiling ICLEI globally as a hub of expertise. In addition, it explores and develops new, cross-cutting, emerging thematic areas and related fund raising opportunities.

Edgar Villaseñor Franco

Executive Director ICLEI Mexico, Central America & Caribbean Secretariat

Edgar Villaseñor Franco

Executive Director ICLEI Mexico, Central America & Caribbean Secretariat

Central America & Caribbean Secretariat

Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas 13Building Miguel Abed, Floor 5 Of. 506 and 507,Col. Centro, CP 06050 Del.Cuauhtemoc,

Mexico City, Mexico

Email: iclei-mexico@iclei.org

Rodrigo de Oliveira Perpetuo

Regional Director ICLEI South America Secretariat

Rodrigo de Oliveira Perpetuo

Regional Director ICLEI South America Secretariat

South America Secretariat

Rua Marquês de Itu,

São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Email: iclei-sams@iclei.org

Kobie Brand

Regional Director ICLEI Africa Secretariat

Kobie Brand

Regional Director ICLEI Africa Secretariat

Africa Secretariat

Knowledge park III Century City

Cape Town South Africa

Email: iclei-africa@iclei.org

Zhu Shu

Regional Director ICLEI East Asia Secretariat

Zhu Shu

Regional Director ICLEI East Asia Secretariat

East Asia Secretariat

14/F, Seoul Global Center Building 38 Jongno, Jongno-gu,

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Email: iclei-sea@iclei.org

Steve Gawler

Regional Director ICLEI Oceania Secretariat

Steve Gawler

Regional Director ICLEI Oceania Secretariat

Oceania Secretariat

Level 8, 225 Bourke StMelbourne,

VictoriaAustralia

Email: iclei-oceania@iclei.org

Victorino Aquitania

Regional Director ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat

Victorino Aquitania

Regional Director ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat

Southeast Asia

Units 3-6, Manila Observatory
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights
Quezon City, 1108
Philippines

Email: iclei-sea@iclei.org

Wolfgang Teubner

Regional Director ICLEI European Secretariat

Wolfgang Teubner

Regional Director ICLEI European Secretariat

European Secretariat

Leopoldring 379098

Freiburg, Germany

Email: iclei-europe@iclei.org

Togo Uchida

Executive Director ICLEI Japan Office

Togo Uchida

Executive Director ICLEI Japan Office

Japan Office

Shimbashi SY Building 4F 1-14-2 Nishi-Shimbashi Minato-ku

Tokyo 105-0003,Japan

Email: iclei-japan@iclei.org

Megan Meaney

Executive Director ICLEI Canada Office

Megan Meaney

Executive Director ICLEI Canada Office

Canada Office

401 Richmond St. W, Studio 204

Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A8.Canadas

Email: iclei-canada@iclei.org

Yeonhee Park

Executive Director ICLEI Korea Office

Yeonhee Park

Executive Director ICLEI Korea Office

Korea Office

#320 Deoham Park, 126 Suin-ro,

Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do,Republic of Korea

Email: iclei.korea@iclei.org

Angie Fyfe

Executive Director ICLEI USA Office

Angie Fyfe

Executive Director ICLEI USA Office

USA Office

1536 Wynkoop St., Suite 901

Denver, Colorado, 80202USA

Email: iclei-usa@iclei.org

Associate Partnership

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About
Rates and Dues
Application Form
Contact

Associate Partnership is available to non-governmental organizations, universities, state and national government agencies and not-for-profit research institutions. The purpose of Associate Partnership is to facilitate dialogues between local governments and these partners, to provide knowledge transfer in line with ICLEI's Mission and Charter, and an avenue for which partners can support ICLEI's work and mandate.

HARNESS the power of the ICLEI Network! " Governments need to give (the sense of) direction, as Business leaders we don't make the wind, we sail the boats. So policy should set the winds in the right directions if you want the boat going fast to the right harbor." Philippe Joubert Senior Advisor, World Business Council
on Sustainable Development

Click here to view a full list of our associate partners

All India Institute of Local Self Government
Center for Environmental Studies Foundation
Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board
China Center for Urban Development (CCUD)
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
Council of Wards in Tokyo
Fondation Biladi pour le Developpement Durable
German Federal Association for Sustainability
The Guangzhou Award
ICDI - International Climate Development Institute
IGOB-lnteressengemeinschaft okologische Beschaffung
International Association for Medina-Mary
Local Government Network-LG Net
National Institute of Urban Affairs
National Procurement Ltd.- Denmark
Natureparif
North-West University, Potchefstroom
RADP - Rural Area Development Programme
Selenyi Kirov
Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition
Taiwan Environmental Action Network
TCO Development
The Ideas Bank Foundation
VITO-Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek
Water Research Commission

Rates and Dues

Application Form

Eva Madeira Head of ICLEI Global Membership & Governance

Got any questions? I will be happy to assist. Please contact me at iclei(at)iclei.org

Welcome to the new ICLEI website!

Meet the staff

Program Manager, Resilient Cities

Program Manager, Low Carbon Cities

Program Manager, Smart Cities

Program Manager, EcoMobility

Head of Strategy and Partnerships

Head of Global Advocacy & Policy

Head of Global Membership and Governance

Head of Global Communications

Head of Global Capacity Center

Senior Manager, Global Projects