Port Hope recruits new director of water, wastewater services

Cynthia Islam is the new director of water and wastewater services. /Municipality of Port Hope photo

By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt

The Municipality of Port Hope has recruited a new director of water and wastewater services to help drive meaningful progress towards “Port Hope 2.0” and meet growing needs in the community, say local leaders.

Cynthia Islam officially assumed her new post on July 20, 2026.

“Cynthia will provide leadership and strategic direction for our water and wastewater divisions, helping ensure reliable service, regulatory compliance and long-term planning to meet the needs of our growing community,” said Mayor Olena Hankivsky.

In an announcement on her appointment, the municipality noted Islam prior to her new post most recently held the position of manager of capital projects and infrastructure with the City of Pickering.

She will also be tasked with providing oversight for operations under water and wastewater and capital planning in her new role.

“Strong communities are built on the strength of the services and infrastructure that support them,” said Islam, adding she’s excited to join Port Hope and contribute to an organization focused on long-term stewardship, service excellence and community well-being.

“My leadership approach is rooted in empowering people, sharing knowledge and building trusted partnerships to achieve meaningful outcomes,” shared Islam, in a recent release. “I look forward to working with the talented team at Port Hope to advance strategic initiatives and deliver reliable, sustainable services that will serve the community for years to come.”

According to a bio shared by the municipality, Islam is a licensed professional engineer and project management professional with nearly a decade of municipal experience “leading complex capital programs, asset management initiatives and public works projects.”

In her post at the City of Pickering, officials stated she supported long-range planning, provided leadership to a multidisciplinary team, and guided development and implementation of key municipal projects, including under roads, bridges, sidewalks, multi-use paths, stormwater systems and streetlighting.

Before her time with Pickering, Islam’s career was built with the City of Oshawa, “progressing through a range of positions with increasing responsibility.”

CAO Mike Melinyshyn said the municipality is excited to welcome Islam to Port Hope.

“She brings a wealth of experience in municipal engineering, capital infrastructure and strategic leadership, along with the energy and collaborative mindset needed to drive meaningful progress,” said Melinyshyn. “As we continue shaping what I like to call ‘Port Hope 2.0’ – the next chapter of growth, innovation and service excellence – her expertise will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our ambitious goals for residents, businesses and community partners.”