EBRD
GREEN CITIES

Charles Lin (Chin-rong Lin), Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung City

Charles Lin, Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung City, is a visionary urban planner and public leader who has uniquely led transformation in both of Taiwan's two largest cities — Taipei and Kaohsiung. Under his leadership, Kaohsiung has evolved from a heavy industrial city into a dynamic hub anchored by a semiconductor supply chain and an emerging AI ecosystem. Vice Mayor Lin champions the belief that innovation is the engine of urban regeneration and advances a bold vision of the city as an investor — deploying resources to catalyze green finance, resilient infrastructure, smart governance, and inclusive sustainable development.

Aida Sitdikova, Director, Head of Infrastructure – Middle East and Africa, EBRD

Aida Sitdikova is Director, Head of Sustainable Infrastructure Middle East and Africa at the EBRD where she heads a team covering a diverse group of transition countries in South Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.  Ms Sitdikova has over 25 years of experience in emerging markets with both the private and public sectors, leading complex financings involving debt, equity, syndications and policy dialogue with the governments.

Prior to joining the Bank in 2001 Ms Sitdikova worked in private equity.  She holds the MBA degree in International Finance from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management, and a CFA designation.

Lucy Hockings, Chief Presenter for BBC News

Chief Presenter for BBC News, Lucy Hockings is a highly experienced international broadcaster with more than two decades at the forefront of global journalism. She has reported on all the major news stories of the past twenty years, delivering authoritative coverage of world events to audiences across the BBC’s domestic and global platforms.

Over the course of her career, Hockings has reported from around the world, including the Middle East, Washington, Moscow and Ukraine, covering conflicts, political developments and major international summits on the ground. Her depth of experience and calm command of breaking news have made her a trusted presence during moments of global significance.

In addition to her on-air work, Hockings is an accomplished moderator of high-profile events, leading discussions with senior political and business figures. She has moderated events for organisations including the EBRD, reflecting her ability to guide complex conversations on the global stage.

Odile Renaud-Basso, President, EBRD

Odile Renaud-Basso has served as President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development since 2020. Prior to joining the EBRD, she served as Director General of the French Treasury, overseeing 1,500 staff and leading France's economic, financial, and trade policies. She held senior roles at the Caisse des Dépôts, as Deputy Chief of Staff to the French Prime Minister, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the European Council, where she played a central role in managing the eurozone crisis. Earlier in her career she served as Director at the European Commission's DG ECFIN and Secretary-General of the Paris Club.

Zhanarbek Akaev, Mayor of Osh, Kyrgyz Republic

Zhanarbek Akaev is the Mayor of Osh, the second-largest city in the Kyrgyz Republic. He previously served as a Member of Parliament and chaired the Committee on International Affairs, Defence, Security and Migration of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament of Kyrgyzstan). He also led the parliamentary faction “Alliance” and worked as Press Secretary to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. Mr. Akaev holds degrees in Journalism and Law. His professional experience spans public administration, international cooperation, communications, and legislative affairs.

Jonathan Ammoun, Senior Policy and Programme Officer for Climate Change Adaptation, Greater London Authority

Jonathan Ammoun is a Senior Policy and Programme Officer for Climate Change Adaptation at the Greater London Authority. He works across adaptation policy, planning and programme delivery, with a focus on managing heat and flood risk in London. Jonathan will share practical insights from the development of London’s Heat Plan, with focus on its efforts to advance heat adaptation funding and finance. He will discuss how the plan seeks to move the dial on heat adaptation finance by identifying the benefits adaptation delivers, who those benefits reach, which funding and finance models could support delivery, as well as the changes needed to unlock investment.

Ion Ceban, General Mayor of Chisinau

Ion Ceban has served as General Mayor of Chisinau since 2019, leading major urban development initiatives and strengthening the city's international partnerships. A Moldovan politician and public official with over two decades of experience, he serves as Vice-President of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova and heads Moldova's delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. His career spans senior roles including Member of Parliament, Deputy Chairman of Parliament, and Presidential Advisor on internal policy. He holds degrees in public administration and governance and has pursued executive education in Paris and Berlin.

Ciprian Ciucu, Mayor of Bucharest , Romania

Ciprian Ciucu has been Mayor of Bucharest since December 2025. Before this, he served as Mayor of District 6 in the western part of the city, first elected in 2020. His professional experience includes work in civil society, consulting in public administration, and training in public policy development, public management and strategic planning.

Dzhunushaliev Aibek, Mayor of Bishkek City, Kyrgyz Republic

Aibek Dzhunushaliev holds a degree in Jurisprudence from Kyrgyz National University. He built his career across regional and national government, holding leadership roles in youth policy, social development, and public administration in Chui Oblast. He served as Chief of Staff of the Government's Plenipotentiary Representative in Chui Oblast, State Secretary of the Labour, Migration and Youth Ministry, and First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. In August 2021, he was elected Mayor of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where he continues to lead the city's urban development and governance.

Temuulen Enkhbat, Co-Founder, Ulaanbaatar Oasis

Temuulen Enkhbat is an urban practitioner and civic designer from Mongolia, pursuing a Master in City Planning at MIT. Her work focuses on innovative solutions to climate resilience and informal settlement challenges through community co-design, youth engagement, and policy advocacy. Before graduate school, she led social and environmental impact initiatives at GerHub, focusing on renewable energy transition and informal settlement upgrading. In 2023, she co-founded Ulaanbaatar Oasis, transforming underserved urban spaces into green parks in ger districts. She attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 and is a fellow of the Urban Emerging Leaders Program and the LeadNext Fellowship.

Andrea Fernandez, Managing Director, Climate Finance, C40

Andrea Fernandez is a member of C40's Management Team and leads the Climate Finance Department, working with cities, development finance institutions, development partners and international organisations to mobilise investment into city climate action. She has a background in green and blended finance, subnational climate investment, climate policy, diplomacy and governance. Prior to C40, she worked at Arup's transaction advisory and sustainable infrastructure practices and at the World Bank's private sector development team.

Luc GNACADJA, Mayor of Cotonou, Benin

Luc GNACADJA is a Beninese architect, policy leader, and global advocate for sustainable development, serving as President of GPS-Development. He is widely recognized as the architect of the Land Degradation Neutrality concept, now adopted as Target 15.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

As former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD 2007–2013) and former Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Planning of Benin, he has shaped global and national agendas.

He promotes African cities as engines of sustainable transformation through integrated, place-based approaches and strong community engagement to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

Stephen Hammer, Senior Fellow, Climate Finance at University of Pennsylvania

Stephen Hammer is a specialist in climate policy and finance with more than 30 years of experience. Between 2023 and 2025, he served as Founding CEO of The New York Climate Exchange, leading a coalition of academic, corporate and community partners to create a centre for climate solutions in New York City. Previously, he was a senior policy advisor on international climate policy and strategy at the World Bank's Climate Change Group, where he was a key driver behind the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and the City Climate Finance Leadership Alliance. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics, an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BS from the University of California, Davis.

Heike Harmgart, Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa

Dr. Heike Harmgart is the EBRD's first Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, overseeing the Bank's operations in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. Previously Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, she led the region to record levels of private investment and expanded EBRD operations into Algeria, Libya, and Iraq. A German national, she joined the EBRD in 2006 as an economist and became the Bank's first Head of Office in Jordan in 2013. She serves on the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Fragility and Resilience and holds a PhD in economics from University College London.

Ita Kettleborough, Director of the Energy Transitions Commission

Ita Kettleborough is Director of the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), advocating alongside ETC Commissioners for the technologies, investments and policies needed to deliver climate commitments. She leads the ETC Secretariat, provided by Systemiq, overseeing the organisation's analytical, international and communications programmes and supporting ETC members. As a Partner of the Energy Platform at Systemiq, she brings deep expertise in the clean energy landscape, advising clients in the UK and internationally.

Silvia Kuo, Business Development Director at ASUS (Infrastructure Solutions Business Group)

In charge of developing business opportunities and partnerships in Europe for the ASUS Infrastructure Solutions Business Group. With a multicultural background and having worked in international trade, ecommerce, and technology, she brings a holistic approach to the implementation of innovative solutions in various verticals. Over the past years at Asus, she developed a partner program to create an ecosystem that can accelerate the deployment of end-to-end solutions. Today the program has over 100 technology partners. Together with her team, they help organizations adopt new technologies by facilitating pilot projects and orchestrating large-scale, longer-term projects with governments and enterprises.

Valerie Labi, Co-Founder and CEO of Wahu Mobility

Valerie Labi is Co-Founder and CEO of Wahu Mobility, leading Ghana's first electric vehicle manufacturing plant, launched in Accra in 2023.Valerie Labi is Co-Founder and CEO of Wahu Mobility, leading Ghana's first electric vehicle manufacturing plant, launched in Accra in 2023. Under her leadership, Wahu Mobility is building an e-mobility ecosystem across Africa, projected to generate over 100,000 climate-smart jobs for young Africans by 2030. She pioneered Wahu Mobility's authorisation to sell carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, making it only the second e-mobility company globally to receive this designation. Valerie holds a BSc in Economics from Southampton and a Master's in Sustainability Leadership from Cambridge. Her accolades include the Mandela Washington Fellowship and the Emy Africa Woman of the Year award 2024.

Lucy Lyons, Co-founder and & CEO, Kestrix

Lucy Lyons is Co-Founder and CEO of Kestrix, using thermal drones and AI to map heat loss from buildings and generate retrofit plans at city scale. Since launching in 2023, she has raised $4.5 million in funding, mapped over 9,000 homes for housing providers including Clarion and Peabody, and won the 2024 Unlock Net Zero Innovation of the Year award. Lucy is a Forbes 30 Under 30 listee and was named GP Bullhound's Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2024. She holds an MSc from Oxford in Sustainability, Enterprise, and the Environment and a BA from New York University.

Abdellatif Mâzouz, President of the Council of the Casablanca-Settat Region

Abdellatif Mâzouz is President of the Casablanca–Settat Regional Council and represents Regional Councils on Morocco’s Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research. His extensive professional background includes a professorship at Hassan II University and an associate professorship at ISCAE. Mr. Mâzouz has held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad. He has also served as Director General of the Maison de l’Artisan and Director of Development and member of the Scientific Committee at the Moroccan Center for Conjuncture (CMC). He was a Senior Consultant to USAID for Regional Development and Investment Promotion as part of the support program for Regional Investment Centers (CRI). He holds doctorate degrees in economics and management and was awarded the National Order of Merit by His Majesty the King in 2006, in recognition of his services to the country.

Ana Mijic, Professor of Water Systems Integration, Imperial College London

Ana is a Professor of Water Systems Integration at Imperial College London, leading the development of novel systems tools focused on quantifying the interaction between the water cycle and sustainable development. The work aims to inform regulatory bodies and the water industry if and how we can support economic growth whilst ensuring sustainable water use and flood and water quality management under future uncertainties. Ana is a member of the Mayor of London Infrastructure Advisory Panel, where she provides independent scientific and technical expertise on water systems, infrastructure planning, and urban resilience to support strategic decision-making for London’s long-term development.

Paula Romocean, Deputy Mayor, Timișoara

Paula Romocean is Deputy Mayor of Timișoara and the first woman to hold this position in the city's history. She oversees urban mobility, neighbourhood regeneration and heritage preservation. An economics graduate from the West University of Timișoara, she brought extensive senior management experience to public service. She works to advance sustainable urban development, strengthen civic participation and improve quality of life across the city's neighbourhoods.

Mayor Andriy Sadovyi Mayor of Lviv

After Ukraine declared independence in 1991, Andriy Sadovyy became actively involved in independent media and public life. He founded the NGO Institute of City Development, which created Lviv's first development strategy, and in 2004 founded the Samopomich civil association. Two years later, he won the Lviv mayoral election for the first time, transforming the city into a tourist and cultural centre of Ukraine. He founded the Samopomich Union party in 2013. Re-elected in 2020, he has focused on medical strategy and, following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, co-launched UNBROKEN, a large-scale medical rehabilitation centre for veterans and the military.

Madam Fatma Şahin, Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality

Madam Fatma Şahin was born in 1966 in Gaziantep. In 1987, Mrs. Şahin received a BS degree in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University.

Following the general elections due November 2002, Mrs. Şahin performed the duty as the first female parliamentarian of Gaziantep and Southeast Anatolia Region in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. During her tenure as parliamentarian, Fatma Şahin became a member of Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission as well as the Commission of Investigation for Child Battering. After the 2011 general election, Fatma Şahin was appointed as the only female Minister at the Cabinet and she was appointed as the Founding Minister of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies. She became the first minister of the South-eastern Anatolian Region.

Elected as the Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality after the local elections due 2014 and she was elected as the Chairman of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey in 2018.

VAHAP SEÇER, Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Deputy President, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye

Vahap Seçer was born in 1963 in Tarsus, Mersin, and holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He served as a Member of Parliament for Mersin from the Republican People's Party during the 23rd and 24th legislative terms (2007–2015), contributing to the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission and the Plan and Budget Commission.

Elected Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, he has advanced policies focused on inclusive governance, sustainable urban development, and social equity. In July 2025, he was elected Deputy President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye.

Josué Tanaka, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics

Josué Tanaka is the founding leader of the EBRD's climate finance initiative, launched in 2006, covering investment, policy development, capacity building, and technical assistance. As Managing Director for climate action at the EBRD until 2020, he led green finance to 46% of total EBRD investment in 2019, with cumulative green finance exceeding USD 42 billion across close to 2,000 projects. He developed major programmes including the EBRD's Green Economy Transition approach. Josué has worked on development and environmental matters for nearly 40 years, beginning at the World Bank. He holds a PhD and MSc from MIT and a BSE from Princeton.

Dr. Cemil Tugay, Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality

Cemil Tugay was born in Van in 1967 and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Ege University in 1989. He specialised in Plastic Surgery, completing his doctorate at Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital in 2000, and spent a year as a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. He joined the Republican People's Party in 2010 and built an active role in civil society, including leadership positions in the Turkish Medical Association. Between 2019 and 2024, he served as Mayor of Karşıyaka Municipality. He is now President of the Union of Healthy Cities of Turkey.

Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Ankara, Turkiye

Mansur Yavaş was elected Mayor of Ankara in 2019 and created the Transparent Municipality model. He was awarded the 2020 Transparency Award by Transparency International and the World Mayor 2021 Award by the City Mayors Foundation. He served as a member of Beypazarı Municipal Council from 1989 to 1994 and was elected Mayor of Beypazarı for two consecutive terms between 1999 and 2009.

Elena Gordeeva, Director, Head of Infrastructure Europe, EBRD

Elena Gordeeva has been Director, Head of Infrastructure Europe at the EBRD since April 2025, leading the Bank's activities on sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure development across Central Europe, the Western Balkans, the Baltic states, Ukraine and Moldova. She supports policy reform and works closely with governments, clients, donors and co-financiers. Prior to this, she led a wide range of transport and municipal investment projects across the EBRD countries of operation, most recently as Regional Head for Infrastructure covering the Caucasus, Moldova and Uzbekistan. Elena has more than 25 years of experience in emerging markets and development finance.

Lin O’Grady, Associate Director, Deputy Head, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy and Project Preparation, Sustainable Infrastructure Group, EBRD

Lin O'Grady has more than 30 years of experience working internationally in transport and municipal infrastructure. She is Associate Director and Deputy Head in the EBRD's Sustainable Infrastructure Group. She started her career as an Overseas Development Institute fellow in Southern Africa, before working for the British Government's Department for International Development. She then moved to the private sector in transport consultancy, followed by the European Commission's Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States programme. At the EBRD, she has been increasingly involved in climate finance and is one of the architects of EBRD Green Cities, mobilising EUR 7 billion to date to tackle environmental challenges through investments and policy reforms across the Bank's countries of operation.

Ekaterina Miroshnik, Director, Head of Infrastructure – Eurasia, EBRD

Ekaterina Miroshnik joined EBRD in 2000. During her career in the EBRD she has covered infrastructure projects in Europe, Eurasia, Turkey and Southern and Eastern Mediterranean.

Currently Ekaterina leads the EBRD Infrastructure Eurasia Team, which invests in transport, municipal and hospital infrastructure in Eurasia.

Ekaterina holds an MSc and PhD in International Economic Relations from the Moscow State Institute for International Relations. Ms Miroshnik became a CFA charter holder in 2004.

Anesa Omersoftic, Associate Banker, Sustainable Infrastructure Group, EBRD

Anesa joined the InfraEurope team at EBRD in London in 2022 after completing a dual Master's degree in Management and International Tax Law from HEC Paris and Paris-Panthéon-Assas University. Born in France to Serbian and Bosnian parents, she has a strong personal connection to the Western Balkans and have worked extensively across the region, while also covering other countries. Her investment experience encompasses major transport and paramount municipal infrastructure projects, including four Green Cities initiatives, with a focus on sustainability, regional connectivity, as well as institutional and corporate governance.

Felicity Spors, Director, Sustainable Business and Infrastructure, Climate Strategy and Delivery, EBRD

Felicity Spors is Director, Sustainable Business and Infrastructure (SBI) in the Climate Strategy and Delivery (CSD) team at the EBRD. She is a senior leader in sustainable finance and climate investment, with over 20 years of experience across international institutions including the World Bank, EIT Climate-KIC and Gold Standard.

At EBRD, she leads cross-cutting strategy to translate climate ambition into investment delivery, working across infrastructure and real-economy sectors.

Felicity oversees SBI’s contribution across key sectors including energy, urban systems, transport, industry and agribusiness, with a particular emphasis on integrating policy, finance and innovation to deliver systemic impact at scale.