Gema IGUAL ORTIZ

Mayor of the Santander City Council. Santander, Spain.

After gaining valuable experience in the private sector and serving as manager of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cantabria, she took her first step into public service in 2003, joining the City Council of Santander as Councilor for Tourism. In November 2016, she made history by becoming the first woman to serve as Mayor of Santander — a position she has successfully renewed in both the 2019 and 2023 municipal elections, thanks to her strong leadership and community-focused vision. She is also a member of the Parliament of Cantabria (Spain), holds one of the two Vice Presidencies of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), and is part of the Plenary of the National Commission of Local Administration (CNAL). She also serves as Vice President of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI). Her influence extends well beyond national borders. Internationally, she represents Spain in the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) of the Council of Europe. She is also member of the World Council and Executive Bureau of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and sits on the Steering Committee of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR). Her career stands out for a deep commitment to local governance, sustainability, and pioneering urban policy — always with a focus on building smarter, more inclusive cities for the future.