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Our Judges Our Judges assess and review the submissions of the most pioneering organisations and
high schools creating positive change in their local communities and the world.
MEET THE JURY Selection Committee Our Jury, comprised of renowned global sustainability leaders, evaluates shortlisted submissions to elect
winners whose innovative solutions inspire a brighter future. H.E. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson Former President of the Republic of Iceland Chair, Zayed Sustainability Prize Jury Read More H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi UAE Cabinet Member Minister of State for Foreign Trade Read More H.E. Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui UAE Minister of Community Development Read More H.E. Mariam AlMehairi UAE Cabinet Member Minister of Climate Change and the Environment Read More H.E. Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh UAE Minister of State Read More H.E. Adnan Z. Amin CEO of COP28 UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Read More H.E. Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Read More Sir Richard Branson Founder Virgin Group Read More Dr. Andreas Jacobs Chairman of INSEAD Jacobs Family Council Read More Wang Chuan-fu Chairman and CEO BYD Read More Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim President, Indigenous Women & Peoples Association of Chad Cochair, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change Read More Dr. -Ing. Christian Bruch President and CEO of Siemens Energy AG Read More
H.E. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson Former President of the Republic of Iceland Chair, Zayed Sustainability Prize Jury H.E. Ólafur Grímsson is a former President of Iceland (1996 to 2016), where he oversaw the country’s shift to a clean energy economy. Geothermal electricity production alone increased by 1,700 per cent, in a period closely corresponding to his time in office. Founder and Chairman of the NPO, Arctic Circle, he is also Chairman of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s Global Commission on the Geopolitics of Energy Transformation.
H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi UAE Cabinet Member Minister of State for Foreign Trade H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi is the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and responsible for attracting top talents and boosting the UAE’s strategic direction. Formerly the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, he advanced environmental strategies locally and globally, focusing on climate action and biodiversity preservation. He also served as the UAE’s permanent representative to IRENA.
H.E. Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui UAE Minister of Community Development H.E. Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, is the UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs. Aged 22 at her appointment (2016), she remains the youngest government minister in the world. Her role focuses on representing youth issues and aspirations, setting development plans and strategies for improving youth capabilities, in addition to further utilising their energy in various fields.
H.E. Mariam AlMehairi UAE Cabinet Member Minister of Climate Change and the Environment Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri was appointed as Minister of State for Food Security following the Cabinet reshuffle of October 2017. Her responsibilities include overseeing the development of the necessary infrastructure that would ensure the country’s food security objectives, in line with UAE Centennial 2071 Plan.
H.E. Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh UAE Minister of State UAE Minister of State, H.E Ahmed Al Sayegh is also MD of Dolphin Energy Ltd. In a 36-year career, his wealth of experience in private and public sectors includes: Vice Chair of First Gulf Bank and Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS-WWF), a board member of Etihad Airways, and former chairman of Masdar.
H.E. Adnan Z. Amin CEO of COP28 UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Adnan Z. Amin is an experienced international and development economist specialising in sustainable development with over 20 years experience in senior positions at the United Nations. Mr. Amin is currently a Senior Research fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2011, he was elected and served as the first Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
H.E. Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) H.E. Dr Nawal Al-Hosany is the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Previously serving as Dep. Director-General, Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA), Executive Director of Sustainability at Masdar, and Director of Zayed Future Energy Prize; in 2015, H.E. Dr Al-Hosany was instrumental in the launch of the UAE-led Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative.
Sir Richard Branson Founder Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson is a British business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist. Founder of Virgin Group, in 1970, he built one of the world’s most recognised and diverse brands with 60+ companies, in 35 countries. Sir Richard is also highly active with many organisations addressing global challenges, including the Virgin Green Fund, which invests in the renewable energy and resource efficiency sectors, in the US and Europe.
Dr. Andreas Jacobs Chairman of INSEAD Jacobs Family Council Dr. Jacobs is Chair of INSEAD and Minibar, President of Niantic Holding, he sits on the Advisory Board of the Oetker Group (Germany) Louis Dreyfus (Netherlands), and was previously Chair of Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer. With great insights in sustainable food production and practices from farm to consumer, Dr. Jacobs is also a long-time entrepreneur/investor in youth development and business education.
Wang Chuan-fu Chairman and CEO BYD Mr Wang is founder and CEO of BYD. The Chinese company makes batteries for mobile devices, grid-tied energy storage, and is currently the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, in the world. As the world’s third largest lithium ion battery producer, BYD’s grid-scale energy storage equals 23 per cent of globally commissioned installed capacity (not inc. pumped hydro or compressed air systems).
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim President, Indigenous Women & Peoples Association of Chad Cochair, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is an environmental activist and member of Chad’s pastoralist Mbororo people. She is dedicated to the protection of all Indigenous peoples and to the value of their traditional knowledge in the fight against climate change and biodiversity protection. She is a member of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee and International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change.
Dr. -Ing. Christian Bruch President and CEO of Siemens Energy AG Christian Bruch is also CEO of Siemens Gas and Power Management GmbH and he worked at the Linde Group in various positions before joining Siemens in May 2020. Christian Bruch holds a degree in mechanical engineering (Diplom-Ingenieur) from Leibniz University of Hanover, studied at the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, and received his doctorate from the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.
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