Theme 3: Regional and Global Connectivity

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM EDT

Topic: Town Leaders Global Network for SDGs

Speakers


Moderator of the Session

Brian Saunderson

  • Mayor of Town of Collingwood, Canada

    I am a husband, father, lawyer, teacher, coach, volunteer and municipal politician. I practiced law for over 22 years starting my career in Ottawa with a national firm, before moving to Collingwood with my wife Susie and our three sons, Dylan, Max and Cole in 2001 and joining local firm, Christie/Cummings. I have appeared before all levels of Courts in Ontario, as well as numerous administrative tribunals and taught business law and ethics at Georgian College as a part-time instructor.


    I am a great believer in the power of the individual in our communities and have served on boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations locally, provincially and nationally. I served as Deputy Mayor of Collingwood from 2014 to 2018 and was elected Mayor in 2018 at which time I stepped away from my law practice. I was a member of Canada’s rowing team from 1987 to 1992, competed at two Olympic Games and won a silver medal in 1990 as a member of the Men's Eight.

Rebecca Alty

  • Mayor, City of Yellowknife, Canada

    Rebecca Alty became the 15th Mayor of Yellowknife when she was sworn into office on November 5, 2018. Prior to being elected as Mayor, she served as a Yellowknife City Councillor for two terms, from 2012 - 2018, and worked in communications and community relations for the Diavik Diamond Mine, NGO's, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.


     Outside of work, she enjoys walking, gardening and traveling.


    Mayor Alty is bilingual in French and English, so feel free to share your concerns, comments or suggestions in either language.


John Woodbury

  • Mayor, Township of Southgate, Canada

    John Woodbury is serving his first term as Mayor for the Township of Southgate. He was appointed as Deputy Mayor in 2018 following the retirement of Deputy Mayor Norm Jack. He has been a long-time member of Council, serving as an elected official for the Village of Dundalk (pre-amalgamation).

Doug Leroux

  • Mayor, Penetanguishene, Canada

    Doug Leroux was elected Mayor of Penetanguishene in 2018, Mayor Leroux has had a long involvement in serving in government. He was first elected in 1993 as a Councillor in the Town of Penetanguishene. He served 25 years on Council before being elected as Mayor. To date, Mayor Leroux is the first bilingual Mayor in over 32 years. 


    Leroux was born and raised in Penetanguishene, where he married his wife, Jenny and raised their daughter, Lise. Before becoming involved in politics, Leroux was the proud owner of a general contracting business, Leroux Contracting. In 2019, he officially retired after 45 years of building custom homes, finishing his career by building his daughter her home on Georgian Bay. 


    As Mayor of Penetanguishene, Doug has focused on infrastructure improvements, including streets and sidewalk repairs as a top priority, along with finding funding opportunities for a new town arena. 

Ismail Rafeeq

  • Mayor, Fuvahmulah, Maldives

    The biography is not available.

Daniel Butler

  • Mayor, the City and County of Limerick, Ireland

    • Cllr. Daniel Butler is a BBS graduate of the University of Limerick where he now sits on the UL Governing Authority. 


    • Daniel has been an elected Councillor since 2014.


    • Daniel is a member of the Fine Gael political party.


    • He sits on the Economic and Planning Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) and the Travel and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) and has a keen focus on urban and sustainable development. 


    • As Mayor his priorities include climate change with a focus on sustainable transport, green energy and the circular economy. 


    • He has also a keen focus on social challenges within Limerick with education as a key driver for change and a focus on mental wellbeing especially as we emerge from the pandemic. 


    • His professional background was business management but recently he has worked extensively in the community and voluntary sector. 


    • Daniel is married to Tania and has two children (Layla and Jacob)



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