ICLEI USA today announced the appointment of new members to its Board of Directors, strengthening national leadership to advance local climate action, sustainability, and resilience.
The Board brings together mayors, county officials, and technical experts who guide ICLEI USA’s strategy and governance. Their leadership supports local governments in moving from climate planning to implementation and delivering measurable sustainability and resilience outcomes.
“We are thrilled to welcome our seven new leaders to the ICLEI USA Board. They represent outstanding local leadership from across the country and show how local action drives progress on climate change. We look forward to working with them to continue our efforts to slow and reverse climate change, and to better prepare our residents for its destructive impacts,” said Board Chair and Commissioner Brigid Shea, Travis County, TX.
“ICLEI USA is a member-driven organization. Our priorities are set by our members and led by leaders who represent them,” said Saharnaz Mirzazad, ICLEI USA Executive Director. “This Board reflects the diversity of our network across communities and regions. Together, we will strengthen sustainability and resilience efforts and elevate local leadership at the national and global levels.”
New Board Members:
- Aaron Brockett, Mayor, City of Boulder, CO
- Shereen D’Souza, Program Lead, Climate Solutions, Skyline Foundation
- Supervisor, Lindsey P. Horvath, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, CA
- Mayor Van R. Johnson II, City of Savannah, GA
- Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque, NM
- Mayor Vicki Scaman, Village of Oak Park, IL
- Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, City of Detroit, MI
“I joined the ICLEI USA Board to be in community with forward-thinking leaders who care deeply about and understand the urgency of addressing the impacts of climate change,” said Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero. “I look forward to sharing sustainability and resilience solutions from Detroit while learning from peers across the network.”
“When it comes to addressing the climate crisis, the importance of local leadership cannot be overstated,” said Shereen D’Souza. “ICLEI USA is the premier network of and for local governments advancing climate, sustainability, and resilience. I’m excited to support its mission and contribute to this work.”
“In Savannah, we’re working daily to build a more resilient and sustainable future. I joined the ICLEI USA Board to connect with leaders who understand that climate action is about people, not just policy,” said Mayor Johnson. I’m eager to both share our experience and learn from others doing this work in the United States.”
“Even as federal protections for our environment roll back, LA County is stepping up. I look forward to joining the ICLEI USA Board on behalf of LA County and digging in on urgent challenges like sea level rise, wildfire protection, and extreme heat. By learning from cities around the world and sharing what works locally, we can build healthier, more resilient communities for everyone, ” shared Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath.
Continuing Board Members:
- Brigid Shea, Board Chair; Commissioner, Travis County, TX
- David Driskell, Board Treasurer; Principal, Baird+Driskell Community Planning
- Nicola Armacost, Former Mayor, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; President, Westchester Municipal Officials Association (WMOA)
- Assemblymember Ravi Bhalla, New Jersey General Assembly (32nd Legislative District); Former Mayor, City of Hoboken, NJ
- Mayor Alix Desulme, City of North Miami, FL
- Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, City of Riverside, CA
- Victoria Salinas, Former Deputy Administrator for Resilience, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Dan Stiles, Founding Partner, Stiles.Legal; Senior Strategic Advisor and General Counsel to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project
ICLEI USA works with a broad network of local leaders to drive sustainability and resilience. The Board will help guide continued progress as communities implement climate solutions and strengthen resilience nationwide.
Welcome Messages from New ICLEI USA Board Members
Hear from Mayor Vicki Scaman of Oak Park, IL, as she joins the ICLEI USA Board and shares her commitment to collaboration, practical solutions, and advancing climate action in communities across the country.
Hear from Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero of Detroit City, MI, as she shares why she joined the ICLEI USA Board and how cities across the country are working together to address climate impacts and protect their communities.
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is a global network that works with more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, ICLEI influences sustainability policy and drives local action for zero emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient, and circular development.
As the USA Office of a global ICLEI network, ICLEI USA develops and delivers leading-edge tools and resources, including its state-of-the-art climate action tool, ClearPath 2.0, to support local governments’ climate change efforts. Our standards, tools, and programs credibly, transparently, and robustly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve lives and livelihoods, and protect natural resources in the U.S. communities we serve. Our Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships, and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability. Learn more at icleiusa.org.
Media Contacts:
Anne Marie Cleary Rauker
ICLEI USA | am.clearyrauker@iclei.org