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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 SELECTION COMMITTEE View Jury The Selection Committee evaluates to ensure they meet the criteria of impact, innovation and inspiration for final review by the Jury.
Dr. Arunabha Ghosh Founder and CEO Council on Energy, Environment and Water Read More Gonzalo Muñoz Co-Founder and Vice President TriCiclos Read More Nicole Iseppi Managing Director Global Energy Innovation, Bezos Earth Fund Read More Stuart Brocklehurst Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation University of Exeter Read More Ramiz Hamdan Alaileh Energy & Water Efficiency Director Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi Read More Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf Higher Education Expert Read More Dr. Steven Griffiths Vice Chancellor for Research American University of Sharjah Read More Bertrand Piccard Chairman Solar Impulse Foundation Read More Julia Pyper Vice President of Public Affairs GoodLeap Read More David Sandalow Inaugural Fellow Columbia University Read More Eng. Mohammed Ahmad Hamdan Al-Dhahnani Agriculture Expert Read More H.E. Mouza Al Muhairi Executive Director Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority Read More Daphne Ewing-Chow Senior Journalist, Food, Climate & Sustainability Read More Aya Suzuki Professor Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the University of Tokyo Read More Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais Chief Sustainability Officer Emirates Foundation Read More Shakuntala Thilsted Director Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform CGIAR Read More William Asiko Vice President The Africa Regional Office for The Rockefeller Foundation Read More H.E. Dr. Maha Barakat Director General Frontline Heroes Office Read More H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar Founder and Chair UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA) Read More Frank Beadle de Palomo Chief Executive Officer mothers2mothers Read More Dr. Juliette M. Tuakli Chief Executive Officer CHILDAccra Read More Denes Csala Assistant Professor Energy Storage Systems Dynamics Lancaster University Read More Safeena Husain Founder & Board Member Educate Girls Read More Dr. Scott Kennedy Executive Director Energy Action Partners Read More Gunter Pauli Author, Teacher, Activist and Entrepreneur Read More Gayatri Raghwa Environment Education Consultant UN Environment Programme – India Read More Mario Salomone Chairman World Environmental Education Congress Read More Beatrix Schmuelling Senior Advisor Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Read More Rebecca Vukovic Deputy Editor Australian Council for Educational Research Read More Mark Smith Director General International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Read More Omar Abdulla Al Hashmi Executive Director Transmission & Distribution TAQA Read More Dr. Hassan Arafat Senior Director Research & Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials Khalifa University of Science and Technology Read More Tom Pankratz Editor of GWI’s Water Desalination Report Global Water Intelligence Read More
Dr. Arunabha Ghosh Founder and CEO Council on Energy, Environment and Water Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, a public policy expert and author, is the CEO and founder of the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water. He provides counsel to governments, industries, and international organisations worldwide. Dr. Ghosh is currently a member of the Indian government’s G20 Finance Track Advisory Group and has advised India’s G20 Presidency’s Sherpa Track since 2022. He was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the High-level Expert Group on the Credibility and Accountability of Net-Zero Announcements by Non-State Actors last year.
Gonzalo Muñoz Co-Founder and Vice President TriCiclos In 2019, Gonzalo Muñoz was appointed the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the COP25 Presidency. In that position, he designed and co-led the global campaigns Race To Zero, Race To Resilience and Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. He also co-founded TriCiclos, one of the most recognised Latin American companies in circular economy and recycling, as well as Manuia, a strategic consultancy that supports companies to incorporate ESG criteria. Gonzalo has been named a member of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for his fight against climate change by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Nicole Iseppi Managing Director Global Energy Innovation, Bezos Earth Fund Nicole Iseppi has been an active advocate for accelerating solutions for global energy transition, over the past 20+ years. Nicole is currently the Director of Global Energy Innovation at the Bezos Earth Fund. Previously at ENGIE (leading global energy company) for 12+ years as Senior Executive Advisor and MD for Operations & Performance for Global Transformation. She serves on various industry advisory committees and boards and recipient of multiple awards.
Stuart Brocklehurst Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation University of Exeter Stuart Brocklehurst, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation at the University of Exeter, is dedicated to supporting the university’s mission for a greener, healthier, and more equitable future. He serves as a Director at GreenFutures Solutions, an initiative connecting leading climate researchers with global organisations. Stuart has held positions at Barclays, Visa International, Amadeus IT Group, Carbon, and served on the boards of several technology companies. He also founded and managed Applegate Marketplace.
Ramiz Hamdan Alaileh Energy & Water Efficiency Director Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi Ramiz Hamdan Alaileh, the Energy & Water Efficiency Director at the Department of Energy (DOE) – Abu Dhabi, has previously held leadership roles at DOE, including Director of Sustainability & Energy Efficiency and Head of the Powerwise office. He’s a member of IEEE, the Power & Energy Society (PES), the Associated of Energy Engineers (AEE), and is a founding member of the Academy of Regulatory Professionals.
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf Higher Education Expert Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf has worked in higher education and sustainable development for over 30 years. She has led graduate research driven universities in STEM subjects, sustainability, and AI. She currently works as a consultant and advisor, providing guidance and support in the improvement and advancement of STEM fields to regional academic institutions.
Dr. Steven Griffiths Vice Chancellor for Research American University of Sharjah Dr. Steven Griffiths is Professor and Vice Chancellor for Research at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). Before joining AUS, he served as Senior Vice President for Research and Development from 2018 to 2024 at Khalifa University. He led the integration of research functions following the merger of three Abu Dhabi-based universities into Khalifa University. Dr. Griffiths played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the university's research strategy, which contributed to Khalifa University's rise in international rankings and recognition as a top research institution globally.
Bertrand Piccard Chairman Solar Impulse Foundation Bertrand Piccard, the creator of Solar Impulse–the first solar-powered plane capable of perpetual flight without fuel, is an explorer, psychiatrist and advocate for clean technologies. He has identified over 1,000 solutions that harmonise environmental protection and profitability. Piccard’s dedication lies in presenting these solutions to political and economic leaders, promoting widespread implementation, and fostering the adoption of ambitious environmental targets and energy policies.
Julia Pyper Vice President of Public Affairs GoodLeap Julia Pyper is Vice President of Public Affairs at GoodLeap, a leading financier of sustainable home solutions. She also helps lead communications for GivePower, an international NPO committed to extending the environmental and social benefits of clean energy around the globe. Julia is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and host of Political Climate, a podcast presented by Canary Media and the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.
David Sandalow Inaugural Fellow Columbia University David Sandalow serves as the Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy and Director of the Energy and Environment Concentration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, author of the Guide to Chinese Climate Policy, and Chair of the ICEF Innovation Roadmap Project. His extensive career includes senior roles at the White House, State Department, and US Department of Energy.
Eng. Mohammed Ahmad Hamdan Al-Dhahnani Agriculture Expert Eng. Mohammed Ahmad Hamdan Al-Dhahnani, an agriculture expert at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, previously served as the Director of Agriculture Development & Health Department at MOCCAE. He has held roles in agricultural research, managed research stations in the UAE, and contributed to numerous local and international scientific committees.
H.E. Mouza Al Muhairi Executive Director Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority H.E. Mouza Al Muhairi serves as Executive Director of the Strategy & Performance Sector for the Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority. She also chairs the National Codex Committee and holds memberships in 12 local and international scientific committees and associations. She has garnered acclaim for numerous scientific accomplishments and received the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance.
Daphne Ewing-Chow Senior Journalist, Food, Climate & Sustainability Daphne Ewing-Chow, a journalist and food systems expert, is a Forbes Senior Contributor with bylines in renowned publications like The New York Times, The Sunday Times, and Entrepreneur. She has also worked with the International Monetary Fund. She has held key communication roles at the Food and Agriculture Organization and currently serves as a Communications Specialist at the World Food Programme’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office. She holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University.
Aya Suzuki Professor Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the University of Tokyo Aya Suzuki is a Developmental Economist and Professor at the University of Tokyo, where she also serves as Special Advisor to the President. Her primary research interest is on poverty reduction, and she has studied producer-side issues in high-value agriculture in Asia and Africa extensively. She is a founding board member of the Japanese Association for Development Economics and holds a PhD from the University of California, Davis.
Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais Chief Sustainability Officer Emirates Foundation Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation, leads strategy development and monitors socio-economic impact. A key figure in founding the foundation in 2005, she now oversees a national initiative for food loss and waste reduction in the UAE. With over 25 years’ experience in private sector and philanthropy, she excels in thought leadership, research, and policy advocacy, earning recognition as one of The National’s ‘Top 20 Most Influential Women in the UAE’ in 2008.
Shakuntala Thilsted Director Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform CGIAR Shakuntala Thilsted was awarded the 2021 World Food Prize, and 2021 Arrell Global Food Innovation Award for research innovation, in developing nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquatic food systems. She has been appointed Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub; and Co-Chair of the EAT-Lancet 2.0 Commission. She holds Honorary Doctorates from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and The University of the West Indies.
William Asiko Vice President The Africa Regional Office for The Rockefeller Foundation William Asiko, Vice President for the Africa Region Office at The Rockefeller Foundation, directs operations and programmes, encompassing work on energy poverty, health, and food. With over 30 years of leadership experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including roles in the Government of Kenya and The Coca-Cola Company, he previously held the position of Executive Director of GrowAfrica, an agricultural development partnership, and served as CEO of The Investment Climate Facility for Africa, a pan-African development organizsation.
H.E. Dr. Maha Barakat Director General Frontline Heroes Office 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 Founder and Chair UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA) 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.
Frank Beadle de Palomo 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. Juliette M. Tuakli Chief Executive Officer CHILDAccra Dr Juliette Tuakli, a Paediatric and Public Health specialist, was formerly with WHO, Harvard/Boston Children’s Hospital. Previously acclaimed for her work by the African Union and UN (Global Citizen Award), she currently serves on the boards of Zenith Bank, CHRI, Mercy Ships-UK, Global Virus Network and CarePoint. She also serves as a Board Trustee of United Way Worldwide.
Denes Csala Assistant Professor Energy Storage Systems Dynamics Lancaster University Dr. Denes Csala, an Assistant Professor at Lancaster University (UK), explores the evolving intersections of energy, data science, and development. His primary research concerns the application of energy data visualization to enhance STEM education in schools in developing regions. Dr. Csala has been instrumental in organizing and leading workshops on sustainability and renewable energy in countries across Asia and Africa.
Safeena Husain Founder & Board Member Educate Girls Under Safeena Husain’s leadership, Educate Girls has enrolled 1.1 million+ girls in school in rural India. Previously, she has worked extensively with rural and urban underserved communities in South America, Africa and Asia. She won the 2017 NITI Aayog’s Women Transforming India Award and the British Asian Trust’s Special Recognition Award from HRH Prince Charles for outstanding contribution in education.
Dr. Scott Kennedy Executive Director Energy Action Partners Dr. Scott Kennedy has over 20 years’ experience working in international development as an entrepreneur, researcher and educator across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He is co-Executive Director and co-Founder of Energy Action Partners, an international social enterprise working to expand access to sustainable energy for remote communities; CEO and co-Founder of ClearSky Power, a solar energy company in Hargeisa, Somaliland; and Adjunct Faculty at Harvard University.
Gunter Pauli Author, Teacher, Activist and Entrepreneur Gunter Pauli founded the Zero Emissions think tank at the United Nations University. He is author of ‘The Blue Economy’, which is translated into 60 languages. He pioneers breakthrough innovations for water, food, housing, health and energy. His 365 fables based on science inspire children discovering the complexity of life turning them into entrepreneurs for the common good. His pedagogy has been adopted in all Chinese schools.
Gayatri Raghwa Environment Education Consultant UN Environment Programme – India With over four decades’ experience in environmental education, Gayatri Raghwa holds advisory roles at the Global Environment Education Partnership (USA) and serves as an honorary executive director at Wildecologue, India. For 15 years, she contributed to the strategic planning, development, and implementation of environmental education initiatives at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. Currently, she leads the UNEP’s Tide Turners Plastic Champion initiative.
Mario Salomone Chairman World Environmental Education Congress Mario Salomone is an environmental sociologist and serves as Secretary-General of the World Environmental Education Congress Network. He teaches Socio-environmental Sustainability of Agri-food Networks at the University of Torino. He has previously taught at the University of Bergamo and IULM University in Milano. He sits on the Boards at UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development and Territory Management-Torino University.
Beatrix Schmuelling Senior Advisor Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Beatrix Schmuelling has more than 20 years’ experience in environmental consulting on climate change, sustainability and environmental education, across Asia and Europe. Currently, she advises the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in RE policies and technology solutions. Previously, she helped develop and implement Masdar’s carbon and climate change strategies where she also oversaw R&D and GHS project implementation.
Rebecca Vukovic Deputy Editor Australian Council for Educational Research Rebecca Vukovic, Deputy Editor of Teacher, a magazine published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), is a leading voice in education. She serves on the ACER Sustainability Advisory Committee. Her work spans various educational topics, including leadership, student wellbeing, classroom practices, climate action and sustainability. Her contributions to education were recognised with the Professional Teachers’ Council NSW Media Award in 2014.
Mark Smith Director General International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Mark Smith is Director General of the International Water Management Institute. He brings more than 25 years’ research and programme management experience in water resources, agriculture, climate and sustainability. He has a PhD in ecology and resource management from the University of Edinburgh and a Master’s in Climatology from the University of Guelph.
Omar Abdulla Al Hashmi Executive Director Transmission & Distribution TAQA Omar Al Hashmi oversees TAQA’s diverse portfolio of transmission and distribution assets. Prior to his role at TAQA, Omar Al Hashmi was Executive Director – Asset Management at Abu Dhabi Power Corporation (ADPower), where he supported the development of the company’s transformation plan, structure and governance. He previously served as the head of strategy development in Etihad Airways and Vice President in the Industry platform at Mubadala Investment Company.
Dr. Hassan Arafat Senior Director Research & Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials Khalifa University of Science and Technology Dr. Hassan Arafat’s research has been published in 240+ book chapters, journal papers and conference presentations. Among other honours, Arafat received the Khalifa Award for Education, the Mohammad Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence, the United States Department of Energy Secretarial Honor Award, the Mondialogo Engineering Award by Daimler AG and UNESCO, and the Univ. of Cincinnati Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship.
Tom Pankratz Editor of GWI’s Water Desalination Report Global Water Intelligence Tom Pankratz is a Texas-based independent consultant and writes the weekly Water Desalination Report. He has been an expert advisor on some of the world’s most technically advanced desal projects and appointed to serve on committees by the US National Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization, Middle East Desal Research Center, Australia’s National Center of Excellence in Desalination and Rice University’s NEWT Center.
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