After almost seven years dedicated to the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability network, Florence Karine Laloë has decided to leave the position of Executive Secretary of the South America Secretariat for personal reasons. Jussara de Lima Carvalho, former Secretary of the Environment of the City of Sorocaba, will take over the direction of the organisation. Florence Laloë will continue to collaborate on an ad hoc basis with ICLEI on strategic and technical matters during a transition phase in 2014.

During these years representing ICLEI, since 2011 reformed as the Secretariat for South America, Florence served four years as Project Manager, primarily focusing on projects associated with the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign, Sustainable Public Procurement, and Local Action for Biodiversity. From 2011, she took over the leadership of the institution as Executive Secretary, leading the restructuring of the ICLEI regional office with the introduction of new management methods, themes, projects, and sustainable and innovative approaches – such as supporting the implementation of the National Solid Waste Policy at state and municipal level in partnership with the MMA – partnerships and a new strategic vision, and the 1st ICLEI World Congress in the region, which took place in Belo Horizonte in 2012, before Rio+20.

Jussara de Lima Carvalho will take over the role of Executive Secretary from 20 May. Jussara Carvalho holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, a Master's in Sanitation and Hydraulics, and a Doctorate in Water Governance. She previously served as Executive Secretary of the São Paulo State Basin Committee and coordinated the river basin plan and water resource charges. She was also Secretary of the Environment for the City of Sorocaba between 2009 and 2014, leading the city to achieve second place in 2012 and first place in 2013 in the ranking of Paulista municipalities participating in the Green-Blue Municipality Programme, run by the State Secretariat of the Environment.

The ICLEI network thanks Florence Laloë for the excellent work carried out over all these years, which opened new paths for the organisation and advanced the sustainable cities agenda in South America. We welcome Jussara Carvalho, who, from her practical experience leading the environment department, will be able to make important contributions to our global movement.

See below for Florence Laloë's farewell words:

“The end of another great cycle has arrived. I spent 7 years at ICLEI, with nearly 4 of those leading the organisation in South America, a significant period of personal and professional learning and growth. ICLEI provided me with many challenging moments, but also a universe of opportunities, friends, and family, for which I will be eternally grateful.

I have had the privilege of crossing paths with wonderful and inspiring people, who have taught me a great deal. I have had the blessing of working with what I love and believe in, of fighting and striving daily for a more just and sustainable world, for public policies that drive a greener and more inclusive economy, and for more sustainable cities.

I leave with a sense of accomplishment. After years of commitment and dedication, I am confident that I have contributed to the consolidation and strengthening of ICLEI in the region. We still have a long way to go, certainly with many obstacles, but these are in fact proportional to the scale of the challenge ahead: building more sustainable and inclusive cities that provide quality of life, health and happiness to their inhabitants, in the face of a scenario of increasing urban populations, scarce natural resources and the impacts of climate change.

I have nothing but gratitude for my friends and partners for their trust, support, and friendship. I will still be collaborating with ICLEI during the transition phase and on an ad hoc basis on technical and strategic issues. The time has come to explore new worlds and make room for a new phase in the organisation.”