ICSC taps new executive director

The board of trustees of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), a Manila-based climate and energy think tank, announced the appointment of Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz as the new ICSC executive director effective January 16, with a one-month transition as the current head, Renato Redentor Constantino, turns over the reins fully by February 17, 2023.

“ICSC needs a leader who can maintain, if not surpass, the organization’s current high sense of strategy, but also one who has the vision and competence to help it endure institutionally. We all intend to be around for the long haul, and we believe that Kairos is the best fit for the position. He has our full confidence and support,” said Jasper Inventor, ICSC Board Chair.

A former ICSC campaign assistant and consultant from over a decade ago, Dela Cruz last  served as the group’s deputy executive director just before he gained the nod of ICSC’s board. Before that, Dela Cruz led the organization’s Climate Finance and Governance units, leading pioneering campaigns on climate finance access and accountability.

“I am honored to have been selected as the new executive director, yet I also believe ICSC’s leadership transition is just a part of its evolution. Everyone can expect ICSC, with its growing arsenal of approaches and perspectives, will continue to advance climate action, largely but not limited to leading the energy transition and enabling durable urban and local resilience. I am confident all my colleagues will rise to the occasion because everyone in the organization knows they are expected to play leadership roles. For sure, I am excited to help hone new ranks of leaders,” said Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz led the campaign for the passage into law of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) in 2012 and currently sits as an alternate NGO representative to the PSF Board and the High Level Consultative Group of the InsuResilience Global Partnership. He also leads the organization’s convenorship of GCFWatch, an initiative established by civil society organizations from the global South to help promote and accelerate readiness to engage and shape the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF).

He succeeds Red Constantino, who has steered the organization since 2010.

“After 13 years at the helm of ICSC, it is time to step down and make way for new energy. It is with pride as well that I welcome the institution’s new executive director Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz. As I step down, I expect a cascade of people to step up and move up – this is the reason why ICSC will continue to grow and flourish under its new leadership.” Constantino said in a statement announcing his resignation last January 16.