AWARDEE BIO

Francis X. Suarez, the 43rd Mayor of Miami, is the first Miami-born leader to hold the office and a nationally recognized voice for forward-thinking, inclusive governance. Elected with an overwhelming mandate of 86 percent and re-elected with nearly 79 percent, Mayor Suarez has championed his Miami Forever Agenda—a bold vision that integrates climate adaptation, Web 3.0 technology, and free-market solutions to create a city that lasts forever and welcomes everyone.

Under his leadership, Miami has experienced historic progress. Crime and taxes have been cut to their lowest levels in over fifty years, fueling broad-based economic expansion. Mayor Suarez also launched Miami For-Everyone, a comprehensive affordable housing initiative that leverages federal opportunity zones and underutilized land to increase access to housing for working families and communities of color.

At the same time, Suarez has positioned Miami as a global hub for innovation. Through Venture Miami, he has accelerated the growth of the city's tech economy, creating pathways in Fintech, Medtech, and Greentech, while connecting education and job training to these emerging sectors.

A son of former Mayor Xavier L. Suarez, he has carried forward the values of servant leadership, fairness, and reconciliation. Mayor Suarez holds a finance degree from Florida International University and a law degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Recognized as a Time Future 100 Leader, Forbes Top 50 Greatest Leaders, and an Aspen Rodel Fellow, he currently serves as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Mayor Suarez lives in Miami with his wife, Gloria, and their children, Andrew Xavier and Gloriana Pilar.