Jaime Pumarejo Heins is the Executive Director of Breathe Cities, where he leads the global roll-out, growth, and impact of the initiative to improve air quality and public health in urban centers around the world. He will be stepping down from this role in June 2025.Previously, Jaime served as Minister of Housing and Urban Development for Colombia during the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos. From 2020 to 2023, he was Mayor of Barranquilla, gaining national and international recognition for guiding the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and laying the foundations for a more sustainable and inclusive future. Under his leadership, Barranquilla became Colombia’s first BiodiverCity, and he was named Colombia’s Best Mayor (2020–2023) by the NGO Colombia Líder. He also received the OECD’s distinction as a Champion Mayor for Inclusive Growth.Jaime’s administration was awarded the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities and the OAS Award on Innovation in Effective Public Management. Among his lasting contributions is a groundbreaking partnership with the British Council that made Barranquilla the first city in Latin America to provide 100% bilingual public education—now a national model.Jaime holds degrees from Purdue University and New York University