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 View 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 Al Mheiri Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court Read More H.E. Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh UAE Minister of State Read More H.E. Adnan Z. Amin CEO, COP28 UAE Read More H.E. Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency Read More Sir Richard Branson Founder Virgin Group Read More Dr. Andreas Jacobs Chairman, INSEAD 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 Faris Al Mazrui was appointed as the UAE’s Minister of Community Development in the Cabinet reshuffle in February 2023. She was previously appointed as the Minister of State for Youth Affairs in 2016 at the age of 22, making her the world’s youngest cabinet minister. She also was assigned by H.H. the UAE President to hold the post of COP28 Youth Climate Champion, as part of the COP28 Presidency team.
H.E. Mariam Al Mheiri Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri was appointed as Minister of State for Food and water 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 As Minister of State, H.E. Al Sayegh is responsible for the economic and trade affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). H.E. Al Sayegh supports the government actively in its initiatives and efforts to drive the nation's economic diversification plans and the sustainable future of the UAE. He holds a number of positions, including Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Board Member of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Deputy Chairman of Emirates Nature - WWF and Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council.
H.E. Adnan Z. Amin CEO, COP28 UAE 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 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, INSEAD 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.
MEET THE SELECTION COMMITTEE View Jury The Selection Committee evaluates submissions to ensure they meet the criteria of impact, innovation and inspiration for final review by the Jury.
H.E. Dr. Maha Barakat Assistant Minister for Medical Affairs and Life Sciences UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Read More H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar Chair UAE Genetic Diseases Association Read More Dr. Juliette M. Tuakli Africa Ambassador Mercy Ships International Read More Frank Beadle de Palomo President and Chief Executive Officer mothers2mothers Read More Dr. María Neira Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health WHO Read More
H.E. Dr. Maha Barakat Assistant Minister for Medical Affairs and Life Sciences UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Dr. Maha Barakat, former Director General of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (2013-2017), was also a Co-Founder and Medical & Research Director at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi. She has served on the Social Development Committee of the Executive Council of the Government of Abu Dhabi and held positions on the boards of several Abu Dhabi government-related entities.
H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar Chair UAE Genetic Diseases Association H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar is a leading scientist promoting genetic disorder awareness in the Middle East. Recognised as a top 20 Arab researcher contributing to humanity, she previously held roles including UAE Ministry of Health’s Undersecretary, Dubai Community Development Authority’s General Manager, and Dubai Cares Foundation’s Vice President.
Dr. Juliette M. Tuakli Africa Ambassador Mercy Ships International In November 2022, Mercy Ships appointed her in the newly created role of Diplomatic Ambassador for Africa, working to deliver free world-class healthcare to those with little access to safe medical, obstetric and surgical care. Dr Tuakli was elected to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Executive Board and Zenith Bank as an independent non-executive director. In 2022 she joined the Global Virus Network (GVN) Board of Trustees, and the Board of CarePoint: an Africa-focused healthcare technology company in 2023.
Frank Beadle de Palomo President and Chief Executive Officer mothers2mothers Frank Beadle de Palomo has an extensive background in HIV prevention, research and advocacy. He assumed the role of CEO at mothers2mothers (m2m) in 2012, following significant positions as Senior Vice President and Director of the Global Health, Population, and Nutrition Group at FHI 360, and Senior Vice President and Director of the Academy for Educational Development (AED). During his tenure, AED played a key role in global AIDS initiatives.
Dr. María Neira Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health WHO Dr. María Neira holds degrees in Medicine and Surgery and Public Health, a Specialization on Endocrinology, and an International Diploma in Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management. She previously served as Vice Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs in Spain and President of the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency. Among other distinctions, Dr. Neira has been awarded the Médaille de l'Ordre du Mérite National by the Government of France.
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