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Environmental Stewardship
Economic Prosperity
Social Inclusion
Just Governance
CORE SPONSOR
The SustainabilityX® Magazine’s Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2026 are proudly presented in partnership with Belnor Engineering Inc., a leading global construction solutions firm. Belnor specializes in sustainable architectural products and services for the green building industry, with expertise in indoor air quality (IAQ), HVAC, critical airflow management, healthcare design, and smart city and renewable energy technologies. Together, we celebrate innovation, leadership, and the future of sustainable design.
PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS
The SustainabilityX® Magazine’s Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2026 are proudly supported by our Promotional Partners. Thanks to them, this celebration is further strengthened by their invaluable contributions whose collaboration helps spotlight the remarkable achievements of women in sustainability. Together, they amplify recognition of these leaders while reflecting a shared commitment to advancing excellence, equity, and sustainability on a global scale.
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The SustainabilityX® Magazine Releases 5th Annual Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2026:
SustainabilityX® 10th Anniversary Special Edition
100 women. Diverse pathways. A shared commitment to a sustainable future.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine proudly presents the 5th Annual Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2026, celebrating women whose leadership is advancing sustainability across sectors, disciplines, and communities worldwide.
To mark 10 years of SustainabilityX®, this special anniversary edition expands beyond our traditional 50 awardees to recognize 100 women. Their contributions span climate action, business, finance, governance, public policy, science, technology, media, education, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, Indigenous leadership, and community advocacy.
Digital unveiling: October 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EST.
This year’s digital release coincides with Barcelona Climate Week and Munich Climate Week, connecting this celebration with wider global conversations about climate action and sustainability. The SustainabilityX® Magazine is also a media partner for Munich Climate Week 2026.
Leading in an Age of Resistance: Moving Forward in a World Moving Backwards
What does it mean to keep leading when progress meets resistance?
This year’s theme inspired by the book "Bold Women, Sustainable Futures: Leadership Lessons in an Age of Resistance" (2026) recognizes the realities facing women advancing sustainability: climate disruption, economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, social polarization, and growing challenges to equity, inclusion, and environmental action.
The 2026 awardees demonstrate the courage, expertise, and persistence required to move forward in these conditions. They are shaping policy, transforming organizations, protecting ecosystems, mobilizing capital, strengthening communities, and opening doors for others.
Their journeys also remind us that sustainability leadership takes many forms. Experience gained across professions, cultures, institutions, and unexpected career turns can become a powerful foundation for change.
A Message From Our Founder
“As SustainabilityX® marks 10 years, we are not only celebrating a milestone for the magazine — we are celebrating the women who continue to lead forward when the world feels uncertain, divided, and resistant to progress. These awards are a reminder that women’s leadership is not secondary to sustainability. It is central to how we build a more just, resilient, and sustainable future.”
— Supriya Verma, WELL AP
Founder, The SustainabilityX® Magazine
Author, Bold Women, Sustainable Futures: Leadership Lessons in an Age of Resistance (2026)
Four Pillars. Interconnected Impact.
SustainabilityX® approaches sustainability through four foundational pillars: Environmental Stewardship, Economic Prosperity, Social Inclusion, and Just Governance.
Together, they reflect the environmental, economic, social, and institutional conditions needed for lasting progress.
Pillar Distinctions
The first 50 awardees are recognized across these four pillars. Each profile includes a symbol and pillar name(s) highlighting areas of contribution.
These distinctions provide a lens into each woman’s work. Many awardees contribute across several pillars, reflecting the interconnected nature of sustainability leadership. The distinctions recognize areas of impact and do not indicate a ranking.
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Recognizing leadership that protects and restores the natural world through climate action, biodiversity conservation, responsible resource use, circular practices, and healthier ecosystems.
◈ Economic Prosperity
Recognizing leadership that advances resilient and inclusive economies through responsible business, sustainable finance, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the creation of lasting shared value.
◎ Social Inclusion
Recognizing leadership that expands opportunity, participation, and wellbeing through gender equality, education, health, human rights, representation, and stronger communities.
⚖ Just Governance
Recognizing leadership that strengthens accountability, transparency, ethical decision-making, equitable institutions, and meaningful participation in the decisions shaping our future.
Meet the 2026 Awardees
Explore the women whose ideas, actions, and leadership are moving sustainability forward.
Through their profiles and selected reflections, discover the experiences shaping their work, the challenges they are addressing, and what it means to lead in an age of resistance.
Join us in celebrating their contributions and sharing their stories.
Ten Years of Bringing the Environment and Economy Together
Founded on May 8, 2016, by Supriya Verma, WELL AP, The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an independent, female-founded and female-led non-profit digital media platform bringing the environment and economy together through dialogue.
Through journalism, storytelling, awards, partnerships, and public conversations, we amplify the people and ideas shaping a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
This anniversary edition celebrates a decade of that mission—and the women helping carry it forward.
Explore the Leadership Lessons Behind This Year’s Theme
Supriya Verma’s debut book, Bold Women, Sustainable Futures: Leadership Lessons in an Age of Resistance (2026), explores women’s leadership journeys through resilience, authenticity, non-linear careers, and systems change.
Its themes inform the spirit of this year’s awards: recognizing women who continue building a sustainable future through uncertainty, resistance, and systemic barriers.
Discover Bold Women, Sustainable Futures
Follow the book tour and author journey on social media:
LinkedIn: @thesupriyaverma
Instagram: @thesupriyaverma
TikTok: @thesupriyaverma
BlueSky: thesupriyaverma.bsky.social
Our Promotional Partners
We thank our promotional partners for helping bring the 2026 awardees’ stories to wider audiences and supporting this special anniversary celebration of women’s leadership in sustainability.
Media and partnership enquiries:
Stephanie Evans · Outreach & Partnerships
stephanie@spsxgroup.com
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
Founded in 2016 by Supriya Verma, The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, female-founded and female-led non-profit digital media initiative bringing the environment and economy together through dialogue and the power of women’s leadership.
Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), our work connects perspectives across sectors through four foundational pillars: Environmental Stewardship, Economic Prosperity, Social Inclusion, and Just Governance. Through journalism, storytelling, partnerships, awards, and global conversations, we champion women’s leadership and explore solutions for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Support independent, high-impact media by becoming a subscribing member and helping power conversations that matter.
SustainabilityX® is a brand of the non-profit social business SPSX Group. SustainabilityX® and SustainabilityX designs are registered trademarks.
Follow SustainabilityX® on social media:
LinkedIn: @The SustainabilityX® Magazine
Instagram: @sustainabilityx
TikTok: @sustainabilityxmag
BlueSky: sustainabilityx.bsky.social
YouTube: SustainabilityX® YouTube Channel
Website: SustainabilityX.Co
Awardees
HISTORIC ICONS
GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS
IN MEMORIAM
CANADIAN MEDIA CHANGEMAKERS
Leading Forward: People, Nature & Public Leadership
Leading Forward: Business, Finance & Innovation
"Leading in an age of resistance is about building bridges when others are digging trenches: showing that climate action is an economic opportunity everyone can share by refusing to wait for permission and bringing people together to build the practical solutions that make progress hard to reverse."
- Becky Park-Romanovsky, Founder and Executive Director, Toronto Climate Week, Canada
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Becky Park-Romanovsky is a global leader in sustainability and climate action, with a track record of launching and scaling climate-focused initiatives across multiple continents. As Founder and Executive Director of Toronto Climate Week, she brings together diverse sectors to advance climate solutions and strengthen Canada’s climate leadership. She also co-founded Climate North and is a lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship at IE University in Madrid. Previously, she developed carbon offset projects across the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Her work connects international experience with community engagement, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation and collective action toward a sustainable future.
Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President, WBCSD - World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Switzerland
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Diane Holdorf is Executive Vice President, Pathways, at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, based in Geneva. She mobilizes business leadership, innovation and collaboration to transform value chains, advance decarbonization, protect nature and accelerate circularity. Before joining WBCSD in 2018, she served as Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Kellogg and held leadership roles at Delta Consultants. Her experience connects corporate strategy with environmental stewardship and equitable development. Diane serves on the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Supervisory Board and co-chairs the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance’s Steering Committee. She holds degrees from Syracuse University and completed an Executive MBA program.
"Leading in an age of resistance means staying anchored to your values even when it would be easier to abandon them, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable along the way."
- Marie Jurcevic, Co-founder Diversity in Sustainability, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Marie Jurcevic is a Calgary-based sustainability strategist with nearly two decades of experience in stakeholder engagement and responsible energy development. In senior roles at Enbridge and Seven Generations Energy/ARC Resources, she led sustainability reporting and the world’s first EO100™ certification for responsible energy development. She co-founded Diversity in Sustainability in 2020, advancing equity and inclusion for underrepresented professionals. Her leadership spans nonprofit boards and the University of Calgary Senate. With degrees from the Universities of Bath and Calgary, Marie is building a portfolio career in consulting, teaching, board service and content creation focused on sustainability, leadership and meaningful career reinvention.
"Leading in an age of resistance means finding where your truest self and deepest joy meet the world’s greatest needs, coming together with others who share that calling, and having the courage to create something better together."
- Elise Young, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Women Rising International, United States
◎ Social Inclusion
Elise Young is a global development leader, social entrepreneur and advocate with over 25 years of experience advancing women’s economic empowerment, inclusion and sustainability. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Women Rising International, she partners with women and locally led organizations across Africa to strengthen economic opportunity, climate resilience, education, health and food security. Her career spans more than 50 countries, including leadership roles at FHI 360, Counterpart International and Women Thrive Worldwide. An educator and advocate for locally led solutions, Elise champions greater resources and decision-making power for women, youth and disability-rights leaders building a more just and sustainable future.
"To lead in an age of resistance means having the courage to stay rooted in your purpose, lead with your strengths, and create meaningful movement even when the path forward is uncertain or uncomfortable."
- Cara Krezek, Founder & Chief Purpose Officer, The Apiary Inc., Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Cara Krezek is Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of The Apiary Inc., helping people and organizations align strengths, purpose and strategy for meaningful, sustainable impact. A certified CliftonStrengths coach, author, speaker and facilitator, she supports executive coaching, leadership development, strategic planning, career consulting and team building. She also founded The Apiary CoWork, a female-focused coworking and community space fostering connection and growth. Her book, I Just Got Fired, explores career disruption and intentional reinvention. With warmth, energy and strategic insight, Cara helps leaders deepen self-awareness, strengthen collaboration and translate personal purpose into professional action, building fulfilling careers and resilient communities.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to have the courage to challenge the status quo, stay grounded in your purpose, and keep moving forward, even when the path is uncertain and the world tells you it can't be done"
- Sara Austin, Founder & CEO, Children First Canada,
Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Sara Austin is Founder and CEO of Children First Canada and a social entrepreneur championing the rights of women and children. Over nearly three decades, her advocacy has influenced initiatives affecting millions of young lives across continents. She led a successful global campaign for a landmark UN treaty enabling children to seek justice for rights violations and now advocates for children’s digital safety in Canada. Recognized among Canada’s most powerful women, Sara holds a Master’s in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University. She brings courage, purpose and entrepreneurial leadership to building a safer, more equitable future for every child.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to build the system you were never invited to sit inside, instead of waiting for permission from the one that wasn't built for you"
- Lori Lalonde, CEO & Founder - Her Executive Ascent Inc., Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Lori Lalonde is CEO and Founder of Her Executive Ascent Inc., an executive leadership development and advisory practice supporting senior women in complex organizations. Over nearly three decades in technology, including leadership roles at Microsoft and Manulife, she built high-performing teams, managed large-scale portfolios and led digital transformation. Beginning in software development, Lori gained firsthand insight into the skills and visibility required for advancement and the barriers women face. She founded her practice to strengthen executive readiness, strategic influence and leadership capacity. Today, Lori accelerates women’s rise into greater responsibility, empowering them to lead confidently and shape organizations at scale.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to hold the line with love, to build community, stay rooted in your values, and keep moving forward even when the world tries to pull you back,"
- Amy Kleist, Author & Founder, Women of Wellness + Blossom Wellness, United States
◎ Social Inclusion
Amy Kleist is a holistic wellness entrepreneur, author and certified practitioner empowering women through community, connection and wellbeing. She founded Women of Wellness (WOW), an ecosystem supporting women’s personal, professional and spiritual growth, and Blossom Wellness, a nonprofit app connecting women with practitioners across seven wellness pillars. Her book, Lead with Well-Being: A Woman’s Strategic Guide to Building Thriving Workplaces, equips leaders to create healthier organizations. With certifications spanning holistic health, Reiki, yoga and breathwork, Amy also holds a healthcare technology leadership role at CenTrak. Based in North Carolina, she connects women’s wellbeing with flourishing communities, workplaces and sustainable futures.
"Leading in an age of resistance means choosing progress over perfection and inviting more people into the conversation through curiosity, not judgment."
- Michelle Li, Founder of Clever Carbon and Co-Founder of Women and Climate, Canada
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Michelle Li is Co-founder and Executive Director of Women and Climate, a global nonprofit advancing women’s careers, visibility and leadership in climate and sustainability. She connects thousands of professionals through events, mentorship, storytelling and career development. As Founder of Clever Carbon, she makes carbon literacy accessible through creative storytelling and interactive learning. Her background spans cancer genetics research, Silicon Valley technology and entrepreneurship. A keynote speaker at SXSW, TEDx, Bloomberg, COP and Davos, Michelle champions diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership. Through community building and engaging education, she empowers women to collaborate, accelerate climate action and shape a more equitable future.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to refuse to let fear, fatigue or backlash shrink our ambition for what is possible—for people, for business and for the planet."
- Carmen Turner, Founder, Carmen Turner Sustainability Ltd., Canada
◈ Economic Prosperity | ◎ Social Inclusion
Carmen Turner is a sustainability strategist, fractional Chief Sustainability Officer, leadership advisor and executive coach with over 23 years of experience, including 13 at Teck Resources. Through Carmen Turner Sustainability, she advises organizations in mining, natural resources and other high-impact sectors on strategy, climate, governance and organizational change. She holds an MSc in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability and champions sustainability as a leadership capability. Carmen also mentors women through career transitions. As co-founder of Gathered, she connects women in sustainability, climate, energy and resources through nature-based experiences, strengthening reflection, courageous leadership and collective action toward a resilient, equitable, sustainable future.
"Gender equality advocates and leaders have been steadfast in their effort for decades, and I am empowered by their strength and work to lead and push gender equality and justice forward."
- Mitzie Hunter, President and CEO, Canadian Women’s Foundation, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Mitzie Hunter is a community leader guided by inclusion, purpose, and social impact. Her 30-year career has spanned the private and non-profit sectors, and government, with a longstanding focus on building stronger, more equitable communities. Mitzie’s expertise in building neighbourhoods, cities, and communities — and the inclusive infrastructure, programs, and economics that support them — has been applied to her career as a non-profit leader, an Ontario MPP for ten years, and currently, as President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Mitzie was the first Black woman to serve as Ontario’s Minister of Education. Mitzie holds an Executive MBA from the University of Toronto, and currently serves on the boards of Fidelity Canada, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to keep building practical, inclusive innovations that move society forward, even when entrenched systems, limited resources, and uncertainty make progress harder."
- Hope Khoury, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Go Vertical ICM, United States
◈ Economic Prosperity | ◎ Social Inclusion
Hope Khoury is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Go Vertical ICM, supporting founders across MedTech, FemTech, digital health, advanced manufacturing, wearables and consumer technologies. She guides early-stage companies from concept to market through product validation, commercialization strategy, manufacturing readiness, regulatory planning, investor preparation and partnerships. Her work prioritizes responsible innovation, resource efficiency, resilient supply chains and meaningful healthcare, social, environmental and commercial value. Hope has supported over 250 startups and innovators, contributed to commercializing more than 50 products and reviewed over 100 grant applications. She champions women-led innovation and accessible support, enabling founders to build scalable, inclusive, sustainable solutions.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to meet regression with unwavering resolve, to root our communities in shared values, and to dare to imagine a future resilient enough to outlast every attempt to silence, divide, or undo the progress we’ve fought for"
- Estatira Shirkhodaee, President, Soroptimist International of Kitchener- Waterloo, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Estatira Shirkhodaee is an award-winning educator, researcher, marketing professional and community leader with over two decades of international experience across the Middle East and Canada. Her work connects social marketing, behaviour change, sustainability, equity, diversity and inclusion. She holds an MBA, a Master of Strategic Marketing and a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. Through teaching and research, she integrates responsible management, sustainability and gender equality into education, connecting business with real-world challenges. A Soroptimist International leader for more than a decade, Estatira champions initiatives empowering women and girls, advancing positive social impact and a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable global community.
"Leading in an age of resistance requires humility, integrity, authenticity, believing in human agency for change, and never, ever giving up hope."
- Ann Dale, Professor Emerita, Royal Roads University, Canada
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Professor Dale held her university’s first Canada Research Chair in sustainable community development (2004-2014), is a Trudeau Alumna, and a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Sciences. She is a recipient of the CUFA Paz Buttedahl Distinguished Career Academic Award (2014); the Canada Council for the Arts, Molson Prize for the Social Sciences (2013) and the 2009 Bissett Award for Distinctive Contributions to the Public Sector. Her most recent research focuses on governance for a post carbon society, https://www.carbonneutralitycanada.ca/, and most recent book, Beyond the edge: Reconciliation, reconnection and regeneration. Professor Dale is deeply passionate about biodiversity conservation and building a regenerative world for young people everywhere. Professor Dale holds degrees in psychology (1975) and public administration (1994) from Carleton University, and a doctorate in Natural Resources Sciences from McGill University (1999), Dean’s Honour List.
"Leading in an age of resistance means staying true to our values when it would be easier to step back. It's about supporting the continued shift toward a sustainable economy, championing human rights and reconciliation, and helping create pathways to prosperity."
- Sara Gelgor, Senior Director, Reconciliation & Human Rights,, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, Canada
⚖ Ethical Governance
Sara Gelgor is Senior Director, Reconciliation & Human Rights at RBC Royal Bank of Canada, leading its Truth & Reconciliation Office and Global Human Rights Program. A lawyer and experienced board director, she brings financial services leadership across compliance, privacy, ethics, conduct and anti-corruption. Her qualifications include degrees from Toronto, Queen’s and Cambridge universities, the ICD.D designation and sustainability training. She serves on CAMH’s Board of Trustees and chairs Toronto’s Compliance Audit Committee. Recognized among Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024, Sara advances corporate responsibility, reconciliation and human rights, connecting governance with equitable, sustainable business practices and leadership.
"I lead by surrounding myself with innovative, creative people who share a commitment to making the clean energy transition equitable. That’s what I’ve found at Pivot Energy. Together, we’re proving that accelerating the transition to renewable energy and delivering meaningful benefits to communities can, and should, go hand in hand."
- Annie Lappé, Senior Vice President, Pivot Energy, United States
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Annie Lappé is Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Pivot Energy, a leading distributed solar and storage independent power producer. With over 20 years of experience in clean energy policy, corporate affairs and community engagement, she leads public policy, marketing, communications, community impact, client partnerships and land stewardship. Since joining Pivot in 2023, she has strengthened partnerships and connected clean energy development with meaningful local benefits. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at Vote Solar, advancing distributed solar policy nationwide. Annie holds degrees in Environmental Policy from Oxford University and Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"Leading in an age of resistance takes courage and resilience -- that means continuing to speak out, even when we're the only voice in the room, and continuing to work towards a sustainable for everyone, simply because it's the right thing to do."
- Ali Wines, CEO, Climate Communications Alliance, Canada
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Ali Wines is an award-winning communication strategist and Founder and CEO of the Climate Communications Alliance, a nonprofit advancing evidence-based climate communication and interdisciplinary collaboration. A former lawyer and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership alumna, she brings over 20 years of global advisory experience with corporations, governments and nonprofits. Previously Executive Director of Protect Our Winters Canada, Ali champions inclusive, engaging approaches that connect diverse communities. She holds degrees in Law, Arts and Organisational Communication. A Nature Canada Woman for Nature, she serves on the Alpine Club of Canada’s Access and Environment Committee, strengthening collaboration, capacity and effective climate engagement.
Leading in an age of resistance means staying grounded in your values, listening with intention, and having the conviction to move forward even when the path isn't the easiest one. It's less about pushing harder and more about creating conditions for change to happen.
- Kim Rapagna, Global Head Sustainability & ESG, TELUS, Canada
🌿 Environmental Stewardship | ◈ Economic Prosperity
Kim Rapagna is Global Head of Sustainability and ESG at TELUS, bringing over two decades of leadership in sustainability, community investment, innovation and responsible business strategy. She has led initiatives at Canada Post, TD Bank, Mondelez International and Target Canada. At TELUS, she advances global sustainability strategy, climate action, its net-zero emissions roadmap and TELUS Environmental Solutions, embedding sustainability into business decisions and measurable impact. Kim champions cross-sector collaboration and systems-level change. Her advisory experience includes PACNext, the National Zero Waste Council and the Retail Council of Canada, complemented by ongoing nonprofit governance, community mentorship and commitment to sustainable innovation.
- Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Hayley Fowler is Professor of Climate Change Impacts in Newcastle University’s School of Engineering, United Kingdom. A leading hydroclimatologist, she researches how climate change alters extreme rainfall, flooding, drought and water resources. Her pioneering work improves climate projections and translates complex scientific information into practical tools for adaptation. A Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, she contributed to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report and the UK’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment. Through collaboration with governments, regulators and communities, Hayley helps strengthen resilience and inform decisions protecting people, infrastructure and ecosystems from climate risks, linking scientific discovery with meaningful societal action.
"To lead in an age of resistance is to continuously drive for a better world even when you are exhausted, and choose to rebuild the rooms that weren't originally made for you."
- Ruth Uy, Vice President - Health and Safety, Environmental Services, GFL Environmental Services, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Sustainable leadership guides Ruth’s work as a professional engineer and senior executive, combining empathy, responsible decision-making and public safety within real-world constraints. She believes achieving a sustainable future begins with addressing today’s global challenges. With over 20 years of experience, from her start at Chevron to infrastructure leadership at Green For Life, she connects engineering expertise with sustainability and practical problem-solving. Her greatest STEM accomplishments extend beyond infrastructure to equipping the next generation of leaders with sustainability values. Through empathy and sound judgment, she champions safer communities, stronger leadership and a more resilient future grounded in responsible engineering and sustainability.
"To lead in an age of resistance means advancing sustainability with courage, scientific integrity, and encouraging system-level changes even when progress faces scrutiny, complexity, and opposition."
- Lori E. Austino, Business Sustainability Leader, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., United States
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Lori E. Austino, Ph.D., is Business Sustainability Leader for Healthcare Solutions at DuPont de Nemours, leading sustainability strategy and Safe and Sustainable by Design initiatives. Her career spans global manufacturing technology, analytical and polymer sciences, biochemical engineering, and product stewardship. She has led international technology teams, managed hazardous manufacturing processes, advanced regulatory compliance, and built cross-functional partnerships supporting sustainable innovation. Recognized as a Distinguished Fellow at Corteva Agriscience, Lori has contributed to scientific publications, presentations, grants, and technical awards. Her leadership combines scientific excellence, mentoring, and collaboration to translate complex technical challenges into practical business solutions and meaningful sustainability outcomes.
- Cristina Gamboa, Chief Executive Officer, World Green Building Council, United Kingdom
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Cristina Gamboa is Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Building Council, leading a global network of more than 80 Green Building Councils representing over 51,000 companies. An economist with extensive experience in sustainability, public policy, and collaboration, she brings business, government, and communities together to accelerate the transformation of the built environment. Her leadership advances scalable solutions, effective advocacy, and the transition to buildings that deliver economic, social, and environmental value. Cristina contributes to international climate dialogue through United Nations Climate Summits and other global platforms. Originally from Colombia and based in London, she champions sustainable, resilient, low-carbon development.
- Margot Hurlbert, Professor & Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability Policy, Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina, Canada
⚖ Ethical Governance
Margot Hurlbert is a professor at the University of Regina’s Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability Policy. Her research examines how laws, policies, and governance can advance climate adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable energy transitions. Working across western Canada and South America, she studies water management, agricultural livelihoods, drought, flooding, and resilience. Margot has served as a Coordinating Lead Author, Contributing Author, and Review Editor for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Her work advances participatory approaches to decision-making and pathways toward net-zero emissions, connecting climate action with equity and sustainability.
- Heather Fitzgerald, Managing Director, Yale Center for Business and the Environment, Yale University, United States
◈ Economic Prosperity
Heather Fitzgerald is Managing Director of the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, connecting students, alumni, and partners with opportunities to advance sustainability through business. She brings together people, ideas, and resources to address challenges facing human and natural systems. Through events, internships, mentorship, and experiential programs, Heather creates pathways for collaboration, learning, and impact within Yale and beyond. She also leads the center’s marketing and communications, highlighting people, projects, and innovations contributing to a just and thriving world. Additionally, she serves as Staff Lead for the Business and the Environment Learning Community at Yale School of the Environment.
- Mette Morsing, Interim Dean and Professor, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
◈ Economic Prosperity | ⚖ Ethical Governance
Mette Morsing is Interim Peter Moores Dean of Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. A scholar of business sustainability, she previously directed Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, leading interdisciplinary research and education supporting net-zero emissions and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Earlier, she headed the UN’s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, engaging more than 800 universities and business schools in transforming leadership education. Her internationally recognized research examines business and sustainability. Through academic leadership, publications, and advisory roles worldwide, Mette advances responsible management education and the role of business in addressing global challenges.
"Leading in an age of resistance means every small help to others grows to a swell of making change wherever you are. Never underestimate the many you touch by leading."
- Sandy Biback, Founder, Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Sandy Biback has been a member of the conference, business, and event industry for over 40 years. For 15 years plus, Sandy taught hospitality and conference management at several colleges. She has served on many industry boards of professional organizations and collaborated on industry textbooks, spoken at many industry events, and published widely. Sandy has won several awards over the years culminating in the Joy Fox Award for innovation, vision and leadership from CanSPEP (Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners). Joy is founding member and presented the Award to Sandy. In 2017. after visiting Cambodia, she founded Meeting Professional Against Human Trafficking (mpaht.com) to create awareness and action within the event community, being a first to openly discuss the issue. Sandy's Legacy-Memoir "Travelogue of My Life-Overcoming, Thriving, A Living Legacy" is about to be published-the culmination of 80 years on this earth.
Back to official awardee list above.
"To lead in an age of resistance means inspiring people to see possibility in uncertainty and turning challenges into catalysts for growth and transformation, and individual aspirations into collective progress."
- Ludmilla Manson, Global Leadership Development Manager, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Ludmilla Manson is a Human Resources leader with over 30 years of experience across industries and international environments. Beginning in fashion, she transitioned into HR, developing expertise in Europe and Canada. She supports talent development, organizational transformation, leadership growth, and people strategy. Following independent coaching and consulting, she joined Alstom in a global Leadership Development role. Ludmilla holds a Business Administration degree and Human Resources Management diploma. A Chartered HR Professional certified in MBTI and Hogan assessments, she is also a speaker, writer, career coach, and nonprofit board member supporting violence prevention and youth empowerment through community engagement and leadership.
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“To lead in an age of resistance is to keep moving forward with courage and conviction, to continue building, creating, and making space for change even when progress feels harder than standing still.”
- Alesha Ray, National Broadcast Meteorologist – Founder, GrowFRWD Sustainability & Environmental Justice Media Hub; Founder & Creator, NYAM (Not Your Average Meteorologist) Podcast; Chair, Sierra Club Charlotte, NC, United States
🌿 Environmental Stewardship | ◎ Social Inclusion
Alesha Ray is a broadcast meteorologist, journalist, entrepreneur, and climate advocate whose work sits at the intersection of science, storytelling, sustainability, and community. With experience across broadcast, digital media, multimedia production, and national media, she has built her career around making complex environmental and scientific issues accessible, relevant, and actionable. She is the Founder & Owner of GrowFRWD, a sustainability-focused digital discovery platform highlighting the people, businesses, advocates, and ideas shaping a more conscious future, and the Host of "Not Your Average Meteorologist (NYAM)", where she brings candid, relatable conversations about climate, sustainability, wellness, and culture to wider audiences. As a former broadcast meteorologist, her experience includes The Weather Channel and Local Now in Atlanta, GA; CBS O&O in Dallas, TX; and top-ranked DMA news stations in New York City. She currently serves as Chair of the Sierra Club in Charlotte, NC.
- Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions, University of Ottawa, Canada
◎ Social Inclusion
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault is a professor at the University of Ottawa and University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions. She leads the Canadian Health Workforce Network and the Empowering Women Leaders in Health initiative, advancing research on health workers, gender equity, and leadership. Her work examines workforce migration, primary and maternity care, and psychological health and safety in professional settings. An internationally recognized scholar, Ivy has advised Canadian health ministries, Health Canada, the World Health Organization, and other international institutions. Her research connects workforce policy with equitable workplaces, strengthening opportunities for women and supporting healthier, inclusive health systems.
- Tanis Marquette, Director of Sustainability Advisory Services, TRC Companies, United States
⚖ Ethical Governance
Tanis Marquette is Director of Sustainability Advisory Services at TRC Companies, bringing more than 30 years of experience leading environmental, health, safety, and sustainability programs for multinational organizations and providing ESG consulting. An award-winning professional, author, and international speaker, she helps organizations integrate sustainability into existing operations and align environmental and social priorities with business performance. Tanis is an accredited trainer for the Natural Capital for Business Decision-Making course and serves on the board of the Global Environmental Management Initiative. Her work emphasizes practical approaches, collaboration, and leadership engagement to strengthen organizational capability and translate sustainability commitments into operational progress.
- Alison Blay-Palmer, UNESCO Chair, Food, Biodiversity & Sustainability Studies and Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
🌿 Environmental Stewardship
Alison Blay-Palmer is a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies. Founding Director of the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, she advances research connecting food security, climate resilience, biodiversity, and equitable livelihoods. Her collaborations bring academics and practitioners together to strengthen regional food systems and inform global policy. She leads the Food Learning and Growing Partnership, involving 35 organizations across four continents, and has advised the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Through research, teaching, and mentorship, Alison champions healthy, culturally appropriate, affordable food and fair treatment for people throughout food systems.
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Government of Canada, Canada
⚖ Ethical Governance
The Honourable Mélanie Joly is Canada’s Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. First elected to Parliament in 2015, she has served in senior portfolios including Foreign Affairs, Canadian Heritage, Tourism, and Economic Development and Official Languages. Her public service has included promoting Canadian culture, supporting tourism and regional economic growth, and protecting Canada’s official languages. A lawyer by training, she holds a law degree from Université de Montréal and a master’s in European and Comparative Law from Oxford. Her career spans law, communications, diplomacy, and public leadership, bringing experience to Canada’s economic agenda.
"In an age of resistance, as climate change, geopolitical instability, and an AI-driven economy upend our world, women leaders, who have long proven themselves in crisis and belong at the table; we belong at the table to speak for ourselves, those in our care, and to shape a better future."
- Cris Banahan, Global Head of Sustainability & Citizenship, TransUnion, United States
🌿 Environmental Stewardship |◈ Economic Prosperity |
◎ Social Inclusion | ⚖ Ethical Governance
Cris Banahan is Global Head of Sustainability & Citizenship at TransUnion, where she built the enterprise sustainability function from the ground up. With over a decade of experience, she connects corporate strategy, climate action, and regulatory policy. Her leadership helped TransUnion achieve net-zero for Scopes 1 and 2 and reduce leased real estate Scope 3 emissions by 25%. Previously, she advised over 100 companies at ISS Corporate Solutions and participated in COP21 as a Climate Change Fellow. Cris holds degrees from Vermont Law School, Columbia University, and Fairfield University and serves as Scientist-in-Residence with the New York Academy of Sciences.
- Shannon Parker, Executive-in-Residence, Duke University, United States
◈ Economic Prosperity
Shannon Parker is an Executive in Residence at Duke University, focusing on sustainable operations and circular models. She helps early-stage companies operationalize climate technologies, bringing operational discipline grounded in CPIM and Lean Six Sigma certifications. A cofounder of reefcycle, an early-stage materials company, she previously led supply and sustainability strategy at Circ, overseeing feedstock sourcing and regulatory engagement. She also founded and sold Carbon Insights, a fintech startup focused on environmental analytics. Shannon holds a BA in Psychology and Behavioral Biology from Johns Hopkins University, an MEM from Duke’s Nicholas School, and an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
“To lead in age of resistance means turning conviction into action by moving beyond short-term pressures, building trust, and embedding change into the systems, governance and people that will sustain it long after you.”
- Amita Chaudhury, Group Head of Sustainability at AIA and Chair, UNEP FI Principles of Sustainable Insurance, Singapore
⚖ Ethical Governance
Amita Chaudhury is Group Head of Sustainability at AIA, integrating sustainability into enterprise strategy across 18 Asian markets. She established sustainability governance, built a network of over 40 sustainability champions, and secured Board-level engagement. Under her leadership, AIA achieved SBTi validation of its near-term targets and net-zero ambition and developed its first Climate Transition Plan. Previously, she led sustainable business at Unilever Southeast Asia and Australasia. As Chair of the UNEP Finance Initiative Principles for Sustainable Insurance Board, she advances governance, accountability, and collaboration, demonstrating how sustainability creates lasting value for businesses, customers, communities, and economies across Asia and beyond.
"Resistance is the moment sustainability stops being a conversation and becomes a test of whether we built it deeply enough into the business to last."
- Preeti Srivastav, Group Head of Sustainability, Asahi Group Holdings, Japan
◈ Economic Prosperity
Preeti Srivastav is Group Head of Sustainability at Asahi, leading the development and implementation of its global sustainability strategy. With over 20 years of experience, she integrates sustainability across planet, people, profit, portfolio, and purpose. She serves on the UN Global Compact Board and co-chairs the World Federation of Advertisers’ Planet Pledge. Preeti advises the UNFCCC and European Commission as a climate change technical expert. Her career spans business, government, and civil society, including work with Greenpeace and We Mean Business. Her honours include Executive of the Year in 2024 and Woman of the Year in Green Business in 2025.
- Dawna Friesen, Anchor & Executive Editor, Global National, Canada
⚖ Ethical Governance
Dawna Friesen is a Canadian journalist and Anchor and Executive Editor of Global National. Her career spans reporting across Canada and international assignments with NBC News, where she worked as a foreign correspondent based in London. She has covered conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, political developments, and major events across Europe and the Middle East. Before joining Global in 2010, she held reporting and presenting roles with CTV and CBC. Raised on a Manitoba farm, she studied communications at Red River College. Her work reflects journalism’s contribution to public understanding, connecting audiences with the people and events shaping their world.
- Susana Malcorra, President & Co-Founder, GWL Voices, Argentina
⚖ Ethical Governance
Susana Malcorra is President and Co-Founder of GWL Voices, advancing women’s leadership and equal participation in international decision-making. An Argentine diplomat and former business executive, she served as Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Her UN career included leading peacekeeping field support and serving as Chief Operating Officer of the World Food Programme. Previously, she was CEO of Telecom Argentina and later Dean of IE’s School of Global and Public Affairs. Her work connects diplomacy, gender equality, and multilateral cooperation to advance peace, human rights, and sustainable development around the world.
- Adrienne Arsenault, Chief Correspondent, CBC News & Anchor, The National, Canada
⚖ Ethical Governance
Adrienne Arsenault is Chief Correspondent of CBC News and host of The National, bringing international reporting experience to Canada’s public broadcaster. Her journalism has taken her to conflict zones and communities confronting crises around the world. She previously served as CBC’s correspondent in Jerusalem and London. In 2015, she won an Emmy for coverage of the Ebola epidemic in Liberia. Her honours also include Gemini Awards and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s Journalist of the Year award. Through reporting and interviews, Arsenault connects audiences with lived experiences, highlighting journalism’s role in strengthening public understanding, accountability, and informed dialogue across global communities.
- The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada, Canada
⚖ Ethical Governance
The Honourable Anita Anand is Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and a lawyer, scholar, and public leader. First elected to Parliament in 2019, she has held cabinet roles including National Defence, Public Services and Procurement, and President of the Treasury Board. Before entering politics, she was a University of Toronto law professor specializing in financial regulation, corporate governance, and shareholder rights. She holds degrees from Queen’s, Oxford, Dalhousie, and the University of Toronto. Recognized with the Royal Society of Canada’s Yvan Allaire Medal, Anita brings legal expertise, governance experience, and a record of community service to national and international leadership.
HISTORIC ICONS
The Historic Icons section pays tribute to the courageous women whose legacies continue to shape the present and inspire the future. These remarkable figures—scientists, activists, artists, Indigenous leaders, cultural visionaries, and political trailblazers—stood at the forefront of change long before sustainability became a global mandate.
This year, we honour 10 extraordinary women who broke barriers, challenged injustice, and redefined what leadership could mean in their time. From pioneering environmental science and defending human rights, to leading nations, protecting cultural heritage, and sparking global movements, their influence transcends generations.
Their lives remind us that today’s progress is built upon yesterday’s struggles. By daring to act with conviction, they carved pathways for the women recognized in the Global 50 today. The Historic Icons section celebrates their enduring impact—beacons of courage, resilience, and vision who paved the way for a more just and sustainable world. Without their sacrifices and trailblazing spirit, none of this would have been possible: our pursuit of environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and just governance—pillars that together uphold the promise of equality, justice, and a sustainable future for all.
- Maria Sibylla Merian, Naturalist, Entomologist & Scientific Illustrator, Germany
Maria Sibylla Merian was a German-born naturalist, entomologist, and scientific illustrator whose observations transformed understanding of insect life. Combining careful research with artistic skill, she documented metamorphosis and depicted insects alongside the plants that sustained them. In 1699, she travelled with her daughter to Suriname to study tropical species, publishing her findings in 1705. Her illustrations revealed relationships between organisms and their habitats, anticipating ecological approaches to studying nature. Working when women faced significant barriers in science, Merian demonstrated the power of curiosity and independent inquiry. Her legacy continues to inspire biodiversity research, environmental education, and women pursuing scientific careers.
- Eunice Newton Foote, Scientist, Climate Science Pioneer & Women’s Rights Advocate, United States
Eunice Newton Foote was an American scientist and women’s rights advocate whose experiments anticipated a foundational insight in climate science. In 1856, she compared the warming of gases exposed to sunlight and observed that carbon dioxide became particularly warm. She proposed that an atmosphere containing more carbon dioxide would increase Earth’s temperature. Her findings preceded later research explaining the greenhouse effect, although her contribution remained overlooked for generations. Foote also signed the Declaration of Sentiments at the 1848 Seneca Falls women’s rights convention. Her legacy unites scientific discovery and gender equality, reminding us why recognizing excluded voices matters to progress.
- Elinor Ostrom, Political Scientist, Nobel Laureate & Pioneer in Commons Governance, United States
Elinor Ostrom was an American political scientist who transformed understanding of how communities govern shared resources. In 2009, she became the first woman awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for her analysis of economic governance, particularly the commons. Studying forests, fisheries, irrigation systems, and other shared resources, she demonstrated that communities can create effective institutions for collective stewardship. Her research challenged assumptions that privatization or government control offered the only solutions to resource depletion. Ostrom’s work emphasized trust, participation, locally appropriate rules, and accountability. Her legacy informs sustainability policy and recognizes communities as capable partners in environmental governance.
- Berta Cáceres, Indigenous Rights Leader, Environmental Defender & Co-Founder, COPINH, Honduras
Berta Cáceres was a Honduran Indigenous Lenca leader and environmental defender who connected ecological protection with human rights. She co-founded COPINH, organizing communities against illegal logging, land dispossession, and destructive development. Her leadership in resisting the Agua Zarca dam defended the sacred Gualcarque River and the livelihoods of Lenca communities excluded from meaningful consultation. The campaign helped persuade a major international dam builder to withdraw, earning her the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize. Despite threats, Cáceres continued advocating for community autonomy and justice until her assassination in 2016. Her enduring legacy inspires Indigenous resistance and demands protection for environmental defenders worldwide.
- Jane Jacobs, Author, Urban Thinker & Community Activist, Canada / United States
Jane Jacobs was an American-born Canadian author, urban thinker, and community activist who reshaped how cities are understood and built. Her influential 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, challenged planning approaches that displaced residents and prioritized automobiles. She championed mixed uses, walkable neighbourhoods, local economies, and the everyday relationships that make urban communities thrive. Through activism in New York and Toronto, Jacobs helped resist destructive expressway projects and strengthened public participation in planning. Her legacy places residents’ knowledge at the centre of city building, inspiring inclusive urban development, community resilience, and cities designed around human needs.
- Hazel Johnson, Environmental Justice Pioneer & Founder, People for Community Recovery, United States
Hazel Johnson was an American environmental justice pioneer and founder of People for Community Recovery in Chicago. Living in Altgeld Gardens, she investigated pollution surrounding her community and organized residents to demand healthier living conditions. Her advocacy connected industrial contamination, public health, housing inequality, and environmental racism, highlighting the disproportionate burdens facing Black and low-income communities. Known as the mother of environmental justice, Johnson helped bring grassroots concerns into national policy discussions and supported stronger community participation in environmental decisions. Her legacy demonstrates that sustainability requires clean air, safe water, accountability, and justice for people living closest to environmental harm.
- Petra Kelly, Environmental & Peace Advocate, Politician & Co-Founder, German Green Party, Germany
Petra Kelly was a German politician, peace activist, and co-founder of the German Green Party who connected environmental protection with feminism, human rights, and nonviolence. Elected to the Bundestag in 1983, she helped bring ecological concerns into mainstream political debate. Her international advocacy challenged nuclear threats, militarism, and oppression while defending grassroots participation and civil disobedience. In 1982, she received the Right Livelihood Award for linking ecological concerns with disarmament and social justice. Kelly’s vision treated peace and planetary wellbeing as inseparable. Her legacy continues to influence green politics and movements seeking democratic, compassionate responses to environmental and social crises.
- Bella Abzug, Lawyer, Former U.S. Congresswoman & Co-Founder, Women’s Environment and Development Organization, United States
Bella Abzug was an American lawyer, congresswoman, and feminist leader who championed equality, peace, and social justice. Serving in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977, she advocated for women’s rights, civil liberties, and greater government accountability. She co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and later the Women’s Environment and Development Organization, connecting gender equality with environmental protection and sustainable development. Her international advocacy strengthened women’s participation in global policy discussions, including the Earth Summit process. Abzug’s legacy challenges institutions to share power and recognizes women’s leadership as essential to building a more equitable and sustainable world.
- Bertha Lutz, Biologist, Feminist Leader & Pioneer of Women’s Rights in the United Nations Charter, Brazil
Bertha Lutz was a Brazilian biologist, feminist, and political leader who advanced women’s rights nationally and internationally. A researcher at Brazil’s National Museum, she combined scientific work with campaigns for women’s suffrage, education, and participation in public life. As a Brazilian delegate to the 1945 San Francisco Conference, she helped secure explicit recognition of women’s equality in the United Nations Charter and was one of four women to sign it. Her leadership challenged exclusion within science and government while expanding opportunities for future generations. Lutz’s legacy connects knowledge, representation, and human rights, demonstrating that inclusive institutions are fundamental to progress.
- Octavia E. Butler, Science Fiction Author, MacArthur Fellow & Afrofuturist Pioneer, United States
Octavia E. Butler was an American science fiction author whose stories explored power, race, gender, environmental disruption, and human survival. Through works including Kindred, Parable of the Sower, and Parable of the Talents, she examined inequality and imagined communities confronting profound social change. Her writing centred perspectives frequently excluded from speculative fiction, expanding possibilities for Black women within the genre. A recipient of Hugo and Nebula Awards, Butler became a MacArthur Fellow in 1995. Her legacy continues to inspire writers, activists, and readers to consider how empathy, adaptation, collective responsibility, and imagination can shape responses to uncertain and changing futures.
GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS
Global Changemakers honours ten influential women whose leadership reaches across borders, industries, and institutions to shape a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future. Working in economics, public policy, technology, journalism, entertainment, and advocacy, they influence how societies respond to shared challenges and imagine new possibilities. Their contributions show that sustainability extends beyond environmental protection to encompass economic resilience, social inclusion, responsible innovation, and accountable governance. This category celebrates women who challenge limiting assumptions, expand participation, and use their expertise and platforms to advance change. Their leadership demonstrates the many ways women are moving the world forward in an age of resistance.
- Gita Gopinath, Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics & Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, United States
Gita Gopinath is the Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard University and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. She previously served as First Deputy Managing Director and Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, helping guide economic analysis and international responses to major global challenges. Her research examines international finance, trade, monetary policy, debt, and financial crises. During the pandemic, she co-authored proposals to accelerate global vaccination and supported coordination across international institutions. Gita’s leadership combines research with policy engagement, demonstrating how economic expertise can inform resilient institutions, international cooperation, and responses to shared vulnerabilities.
- Reshma Saujani, Founder, Girls Who Code; Founder & CEO, Moms First, United States
Reshma Saujani is an American activist, author, and entrepreneur who founded Girls Who Code and serves as Founder and CEO of Moms First. Her work challenges structural barriers limiting women’s economic participation, from unequal access to technology education to unaffordable childcare and inadequate paid leave. Through Girls Who Code, she expanded opportunities for girls to develop computing skills and imagine careers in technology. Moms First advances policies and workplace practices that recognize caregiving and support mothers. Reshma’s writing and public advocacy encourage courage over perfection, connecting individual confidence with systemic change and a more equitable future for women and families.
- Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank, Germany
Christine Lagarde is President of the European Central Bank, bringing experience in international finance, public policy, and law to European economic leadership. She previously led the International Monetary Fund and served as France’s Minister of Economy and Finance. Her work has highlighted women’s economic empowerment and the importance of greater participation in decision-making. At the ECB, she has supported incorporating climate considerations into central banking, recognizing their implications for economic conditions and financial risk. Christine’s leadership connects institutional responsibility with long-term challenges, demonstrating how monetary and financial governance can respond to a changing world while remaining grounded in public mandates.
- Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission, European Union
Ursula von der Leyen is President of the European Commission and the first woman to hold the position. A German physician and former federal minister, she leads the Commission’s political agenda and represents it internationally. Since taking office in 2019, she has advanced the European Green Deal, linking climate action with economic transformation, innovation, and a transition toward climate neutrality. Her second term includes the Clean Industrial Deal, connecting decarbonization with competitiveness and industrial development. Working across European institutions and national governments, von der Leyen’s leadership illustrates the influence of public policy and international coordination in shaping a sustainable future.
- Lilly Singh, Entertainer, Author, Founder of Unicorn Island & UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Canada/United States
Lilly Singh is a Canadian entertainer, author, entrepreneur, and advocate whose work connects storytelling with opportunities for girls and women. Rising to prominence through digital comedy, she expanded into television, film, and production while challenging expectations about who belongs in mainstream entertainment. Through Unicorn Island Productions and the Unicorn Island Fund, she highlights underrepresented voices and challenges restrictive social norms. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she supports children’s rights and opportunities for young people. Lilly’s leadership demonstrates how cultural platforms can influence public attitudes, strengthen representation, and encourage investment in girls and women as essential contributors to a shared future.
- Lisa LaFlamme, Journalist & Former Chief Anchor and Senior Editor, CTV National News, Canada
Lisa LaFlamme is an award-winning Canadian journalist whose reporting has brought audiences closer to major international events and the people affected by them. Former Chief Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV National News, she has covered conflicts, natural disasters, political change, and humanitarian crises throughout her career. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and supports Journalists for Human Rights, Plan International, and the Samara Centre for Democracy. Her work combines reporting with advocacy for democratic participation and human dignity. Lisa’s leadership demonstrates how independent journalism, informed dialogue, and public accountability contribute to more equitable and resilient societies.
- Anne Hathaway, American Actress & UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, United States
Anne Hathaway is an American actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador who uses her international platform to advocate for gender equality. Alongside her acclaimed film career, she has drawn attention to the unequal burden of unpaid care work and the barriers it creates for women’s economic participation. Her advocacy supports affordable childcare, shared parental leave, and policies that enable families to combine caregiving with paid employment. Working with UN Women, she encourages governments and businesses to recognize care as an economic and social priority. Anne’s contribution demonstrates how cultural influence can amplify systemic solutions and advance opportunity for future generations.
- Fei-Fei Li, Sequoia Professor of Computer Science, Stanford University; Co-Founder & CEO, World Labs, United States
Fei-Fei Li is a computer scientist, Stanford University professor, and Co-Founder and CEO of World Labs. A pioneer in artificial intelligence, she developed ImageNet, helping enable major advances in machine learning and computer vision. As a founding leader of Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, she connects technical research with questions about human wellbeing, policy, and societal impact. She also co-founded AI4ALL to expand inclusion within artificial intelligence education and careers. Her research includes healthcare applications and spatial intelligence. Fei-Fei’s leadership emphasizes that technological progress should reflect diverse perspectives and improve human lives, strengthening the foundations of responsible digital innovation.
- Mira Murati, Co-Founder & CEO, Thinking Machines Lab, United States
Mira Murati is Co-Founder and CEO of Thinking Machines Lab, an artificial intelligence research and product company developing customizable systems for collaboration between people and machines. Previously Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, she oversaw research, product development, and safety, helping lead the development and release of technologies including ChatGPT and GPT-4. Born in Albania and trained as an engineer at Dartmouth, her experience also includes Tesla and Leap Motion. She served on the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. Mira’s career highlights the importance of technical leadership, human judgment, and public understanding in shaping rapidly evolving digital systems.
- Jane Fonda, American Actress, Political Activist, Former Fashion Model & UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador, United States
Jane Fonda is an American actor, author, and activist whose work links climate action with human rights and women’s empowerment. Alongside her celebrated screen career, she has devoted decades to organizing, public education, and social change. In 2019, she launched Fire Drill Fridays with Greenpeace USA, bringing scientists, movement leaders, and communities together to demand action on the climate emergency. She also co-founded the Women’s Media Center and supports efforts addressing violence against women and girls. Jane’s advocacy demonstrates the power of collective action, cultural visibility, and sustained civic participation in challenging injustice and pursuing a healthier, more equitable planet.
IN MEMORIAM
The In Memoriam category honours ten trailblazing women who passed away in 2026, celebrating lives that expanded opportunity, challenged exclusion, and enriched our shared world. Across advocacy, politics, entertainment, literature, art, entrepreneurship, and aerospace, their contributions demonstrate the many ways women shape a more just and inclusive future. Some advanced change through public policy and grassroots organizing; others through storytelling, philanthropy, creative expression, or pioneering achievement. This tribute recognizes their enduring influence and the pathways they opened for future generations. Their lives remind us that leadership continues through the ideas, institutions, communities, and possibilities we leave behind.
- Gloria Steinem, Feminist Icon, Journalist, Political Activist & Co-Founder, Ms. Magazine and the National Women’s Political Caucus, United States
Gloria Steinem was an American journalist, author, and feminist organizer whose work helped transform public understanding of gender equality. She co-founded Ms. magazine, the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the Women’s Media Center, creating platforms that strengthened women’s voices in politics and public life. Across decades of writing, speaking, and grassroots organizing, she challenged discrimination and advocated for reproductive freedom, economic opportunity, and human rights. Her leadership emphasized listening, solidarity, and the power of collective action. Steinem’s enduring legacy reminds future generations that a just society depends on representation, equal opportunity, and the courage to challenge systems that exclude people.
- Hayden Panettiere, American Actress, Singer and Animal Rights, Marine Conservation & Social Advocate, United States
Hayden Panettiere was an American actress, singer, and animal welfare advocate known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville. Beyond entertainment, she used her public platform to defend whales and dolphins, serving as spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation and its Save the Whales Again! campaign. She participated in protests, public appeals, and awareness initiatives opposing marine mammal slaughter and exploitation. Her advocacy earned the Humane Society’s Gretchen Wyler Award in 2008. Panettiere’s legacy connects cultural visibility with compassion for animals, demonstrating how public figures can draw attention to ocean protection and encourage audiences to consider their responsibility toward marine life.
- Dolly Parton, American Singer-Songwriter, Actress, Philanthropist and Champion of Literacy & Environmental Stewardship, United States
Dolly Parton was an American singer-songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose influence extended far beyond music. Raised in rural Tennessee, she built a celebrated career while investing in the wellbeing of communities. Her Imagination Library, launched in 1995, provides free books to young children and encourages lifelong learning. She supported disaster recovery, healthcare, and educational opportunity, while Dollywood’s longstanding partnership with the American Eagle Foundation supported conservation and environmental education. Parton’s approach centred generosity, practical service, and connection to place. Her legacy demonstrates that leadership can strengthen communities through culture, opportunity, compassion, and stewardship without depending on formal political activism.
- Nancy Kassebaum Baker, Former U.S. Senator & Champion of Bipartisan Leadership and Women's Rights, United States
Nancy Kassebaum Baker was an American senator from Kansas whose public service combined independence, bipartisan collaboration, and commitment to effective government. Serving from 1978 to 1997, she helped expand women’s representation in the United States Senate and became chair of its Labor and Human Resources Committee. Her legislative work included health insurance reform, while her wider policy interests encompassed international affairs, arms control, and fiscal responsibility. Known for building relationships across political divides, she demonstrated that public leadership requires thoughtful judgment and cooperation. Her legacy continues to inspire women seeking elected office and leaders working to strengthen accountable, responsive institutions.
- Emma Bonino, Former Italian Foreign Minister, European Commissioner & Human Rights Advocate, Italy
Emma Bonino was an Italian political leader and human rights advocate whose career linked civil liberties, women’s equality, humanitarian action, and European cooperation. She served in the Italian and European parliaments, as a European commissioner, and as Italy’s foreign minister. Her advocacy challenged restrictions on reproductive rights and supported international justice, minority protection, and democratic freedoms. As a founding member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, she encouraged a stronger, more principled European role internationally. Bonino’s legacy reflects persistent leadership across institutions and grassroots movements, reminding future generations that dignity and freedom require courage, coalition building, and sustained engagement.
- Marjane Satrapi, Iranian-French Graphic Novelist, Filmmaker & Women’s Rights Advocate, Author of Persepolis, France / Iran
Marjane Satrapi was an Iranian-born French graphic novelist, filmmaker, and artist whose storytelling challenged stereotypes and defended individual freedom. Her internationally acclaimed graphic memoir Persepolis explored childhood during Iran’s Islamic Revolution, war, displacement, and the struggle to define oneself amid political repression. Through books and films, she centred women’s experiences and brought complex histories to audiences worldwide. Her contribution to Woman, Life, Freedom supported understanding of the Iranian movement for women’s rights. Satrapi’s legacy demonstrates how art can deepen empathy, confront authoritarianism, and expand whose stories are heard, strengthening the cultural foundations of a more inclusive, humane, and equitable world.
- Wally Funk, Aviator, Flight Instructor & Aviation and Spaceflight Pioneer, United States
Wally Funk was an American aviator, flight instructor, and aerospace pioneer whose persistence challenged barriers facing women in aviation. She participated in the privately organized astronaut testing associated with the Mercury 13, demonstrating women’s capabilities despite exclusion from NASA’s astronaut corps. Her career included groundbreaking roles with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, alongside training generations of pilots. In 2021, at 82, she reached space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. Funk’s legacy celebrates lifelong learning, technical excellence, and determination, inspiring women and girls to pursue ambitious goals and challenge assumptions about who belongs in scientific fields.
- Yayoi Kusama, Japanese Avant-Garde Artist, Sculptor & Writer, Japan
Yayoi Kusama was a Japanese artist whose paintings, sculptures, performances, and immersive installations transformed contemporary art. Known for polka dots, pumpkins, Infinity Nets, and mirrored environments, she explored repetition, identity, and the relationship between individuals and an expansive universe. Her career crossed cultural boundaries and challenged conventions within an art world that often marginalized women. Kusama also created anti-war happenings and spoke openly about the mental health struggles intertwined with her creative life. Her legacy affirms the importance of imagination, artistic freedom, and persistence, inviting audiences to see beyond familiar limits and recognize creativity as a powerful expression of humanity.
- Doris Fisher, Co-Founder, Gap Inc., Philanthropist and Champion of Arts & Education, United States
Doris Fisher was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and co-founder of Gap Inc., helping establish a global retail business from its first San Francisco store in 1969. An equal partner from the beginning, she influenced merchandising, brand identity, and company culture when few women held comparable business roles. Her philanthropy extended to education, healthcare, and the arts, including longstanding support for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and UC San Francisco. Fisher’s legacy reflects the relationship between enterprise and community investment. She expanded possibilities for women in business while supporting institutions that advance learning, cultural access, discovery, and public wellbeing.
- Robin Morgan, Poet, Author, Journalist, Feminist Activist & Co-Founder, Women’s Media Center, United States
Robin Morgan was an American poet, author, editor, and feminist activist whose work connected cultural expression with social change. She edited the influential anthology Sisterhood Is Powerful and served as editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine, helping shape feminist debate across generations. A co-founder of the Women’s Media Center and the Sisterhood Is Global Institute, Morgan strengthened platforms for women’s voices and international solidarity. Her writing and organizing challenged inequality, violence, and exclusion while insisting on women’s authority over their own experiences. Morgan’s legacy affirms that representation, independent thought, and collective action are essential to advancing human rights and building inclusive societies.
CANADIAN MEDIA CHANGEMAKERS
Canadian Media Changemakers honours ten women of colour whose work is shaping Canadian journalism, broadcasting, storytelling, and newsroom leadership. Across television, radio, digital publishing, and public affairs, these women expand representation and influence whose experiences are heard, understood, and reflected in national conversations. Their contributions demonstrate that an inclusive future depends on more than visibility: it requires meaningful participation in the stories we tell and the decisions behind them. This category celebrates professional achievement, cultural influence, and the pathways these leaders create for future generations. Their work connects media with social inclusion, public understanding, and the foundations of a more equitable society.
- Sangita Patel, Television Host, Media Personality & Philanthropist, Canada
Sangita Patel is a Canadian television host, media personality, and philanthropist whose career spans entertainment reporting, lifestyle programming, and international television. Known for her work with Entertainment Tonight Canada, HGTV’s Home to Win, and TLC’s Love & Translation, she connects with audiences through interviews and storytelling. Her public advocacy includes children’s rights, education, and women’s leadership, supported by her role as a Save the Children Canada ambassador. As a woman of colour in prominent broadcasting roles, Sangita expands visibility and possibility within Canadian media. Her work demonstrates how cultural influence can support community engagement, representation, and opportunities for future generations.
- Aarti Pole, Journalist & News Anchor, CBC News Network, Canada
Aarti Pole is an award-winning Canadian journalist and news anchor who hosts CBC News Network with Aarti Pole. Her career spans reporting across Canada and internationally, including work as a Washington correspondent and coverage of major political developments. Beginning as a video journalist, anchor, and radio reporter in Terrace, British Columbia, she developed experience across broadcast formats before reaching national audiences. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s journalism program, she also contributes to journalism education. Aarti’s work brings clarity to breaking news and complex issues, while her presence strengthens representation for women of colour in Canadian broadcasting and public dialogue.
- Angie Seth, Journalist, News Anchor & Broadcaster, Canada
Angie Seth is an award-winning Canadian journalist, news anchor, broadcaster, and educator with more than 25 years of experience. Her career includes roles at OMNI Television, Global News, CTV News Channel, and CBC, covering major national and international events. She hosted This Hour with Angie Seth and teaches journalism at Seneca Polytechnic. Elected president of RTDNA Canada in 2024, she supports professional dialogue and development within the news industry. Angie advocates for women’s and children’s rights and against domestic violence, racism, and discrimination. Her reporting and leadership strengthen community understanding, journalistic opportunity, and representation for women of colour in media.
- Pooja Handa, Television & Radio Host, Broadcaster, Canada
Pooja Handa is an award-winning Canadian television and radio host known for connecting with audiences through humour, warmth, and storytelling. She co-hosts The Pooja and Gurdeep Show on Toronto’s 98.1 CHFI, following more than a decade on CP24 Breakfast. Her broadcasting experience also includes appearances on The Social, Cityline, Breakfast Television, and other national programs. Beyond daily broadcasting, she hosts events and participates in speaking engagements, bringing her conversational approach to community audiences. Pooja’s visibility as a woman of colour in mainstream media broadens representation and demonstrates how accessible, engaging broadcasting can build connection across backgrounds, experiences, and everyday lives.
- Ginella Massa, Journalist, Broadcaster & CEO, Massa Media & Communication Inc., Canada
Ginella Massa is a Canadian journalist, broadcaster, and CEO of Massa Media & Communication Inc. She made history as Canada’s first hijab-wearing television news reporter, local anchor, and national news host, including hosting Canada Tonight on CBC News Network. Her career challenged restrictive assumptions about who could represent audiences in mainstream broadcasting. Through her media consulting company, she supports strategic communications, crisis response, spokesperson preparation, and media literacy. Ginella also facilitates public conversations and speaks about representation and belonging. Her work connects journalism with inclusive leadership, expanding possibilities for Muslim women and other communities whose perspectives have often been overlooked.
- Tracy Moore, Journalist & Television Host; Former Host, Cityline, Canada
Tracy Moore is a Canadian journalist and television host best known for leading Cityline, where she connected with audiences through conversations about lifestyle, family, and wellbeing. Beyond hosting, she has used her platform to confront systemic racism and advocate for equity, inclusion, women’s empowerment, and body acceptance. She co-produced and co-hosted the special Ending Racism: What Will It Take? and received the Canadian Academy’s Changemaker Award in 2023. Her community involvement includes supporting youth-focused charities. Tracy’s broadcasting legacy demonstrates how mainstream media can address difficult issues with humanity, strengthen representation, and create space for women to speak authentically and confidently.
- Anne-Marie Mediwake, Journalist & Host, CTV Your Morning, Canada
Anne-Marie Mediwake is a Canadian journalist and host of CTV Your Morning, bringing extensive experience in news and current affairs to national audiences. Her career includes reporting for CTV National News, hosting the investigative program 21C, and anchoring television news in Toronto. On Your Morning, she guides conversations spanning daily headlines, public affairs, and issues affecting Canadian families. She has also hosted programming encouraging open discussion of mental health and the need for support. Anne-Marie’s work combines interviewing, storytelling, and public engagement, while her visibility as a woman of colour contributes to broader representation within Canadian journalism and national broadcasting.
- Nam Kiwanuka, Journalist, Host & Producer, TVO, Canada
Nam Kiwanuka is an award-winning Canadian journalist, host, and producer at TVO whose work spans television, podcasts, and written commentary. She has contributed to The Agenda and hosts and produces (MIS)Treated, a podcast examining women’s health. Her journalism engages with social issues, lived experiences, and perspectives that deepen public understanding. Alongside broadcasting, she contributes columns to TVO.org and has written for publications including The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star. Nam’s work creates space for conversations about race, health, belonging, and inequality. Her presence in public media strengthens representation and demonstrates the importance of diverse voices in shaping Canadian dialogue.
- Andree Lau, Senior Director, Digital Publishing & Streaming, CBC News, Canada
Andree Lau is Senior Director of Digital Publishing and Streaming at CBC News, bringing extensive experience in reporting, editing, and newsroom leadership. A Carleton University journalism graduate, she began her career at CBC, working across television and digital formats in communities throughout Canada. She later spent eight years at HuffPost Canada, rising to editor-in-chief before returning to CBC. Her leadership spans digital news and streaming, helping audiences access journalism across changing platforms. Andree’s career demonstrates the importance of women of colour in editorial decision-making, expanding representation beyond the screen and contributing to how Canadian news is shaped, delivered, and understood.
- Marci Ien, Journalist & Broadcasting Trailblazer; Former Co-Host, Canada AM & The Social, Canada
Marci Ien is a Canadian journalist and broadcasting trailblazer whose media career helped shape national conversations. As news anchor and later co-host of Canada AM, she brought reporting and thoughtful interviews to audiences across the country. She subsequently co-hosted The Social, contributing to discussions of current affairs, culture, and everyday life. Her journalism highlighted issues affecting young people and marginalized communities, connecting public dialogue with lived experience. Recognized here for her broadcasting legacy, Marci expanded visibility for Black women in Canadian media. Her work demonstrates how representation and empathetic storytelling can challenge assumptions, strengthen understanding, and inspire future media leaders.
Leading Forward:
People, Nature & Public Leadership
This category honours women advancing sustainability through public service, community leadership, Indigenous rights, conservation, climate diplomacy, and the human dimensions of leadership. Their work connects the wellbeing of people with the health of the planet, strengthening participation, protecting ecosystems, and building more equitable and resilient societies. From shaping public policy to championing belonging and amplifying community knowledge, these leaders demonstrate that lasting progress depends on both institutional change and human connection. In an age of resistance, they continue to move sustainability forward through courage, collaboration, and a commitment to the people and places their leadership serves.
- Brené Brown, Research Professor, University of Houston; Author & Leadership Educator, United States
Brené Brown is a researcher, bestselling author, and leadership educator whose work explores courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. A research professor at the University of Houston, she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair and is a professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin. She also serves as Executive Chair of the Center for Daring Leadership at BetterUp. Through books, research, and her podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead, Brown helps people build trust, navigate difficult conversations, and lead with integrity. Her work offers practical foundations for more courageous organizations, stronger relationships, and inclusive cultures of leadership.
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- Ana Toni, Chief Executive Officer, COP30, Brazil
Ana Toni is a Brazilian economist and climate leader serving as Chief Executive Officer of COP30. Her career connects environmental protection, social justice, philanthropy, and international cooperation. Before joining the COP30 leadership team, she served as Brazil’s National Secretary for Climate Change and led the Institute for Climate and Society. She previously chaired Greenpeace International and held leadership positions with the Ford Foundation and ActionAid in Brazil. Toni brings experience across government and civil society to advancing climate action. Her work emphasizes collaboration, equitable development, and translating international commitments into practical responses to the climate challenges facing communities and economies.
- Anne Hidalgo, Global Ambassador, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy; Former Mayor of Paris, France
Anne Hidalgo is a French public leader and Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. As Mayor of Paris from 2014 to 2026, she championed urban climate action through expanded cycling infrastructure, greener public spaces, and efforts to reduce dependence on cars. Her leadership helped position cities as important actors in addressing climate change and improving everyday quality of life. Through international municipal networks, Hidalgo has advocated for stronger cooperation among local governments. Her continuing work connects urban transformation with public health, environmental responsibility, and the creation of more resilient, accessible, and liveable communities worldwide.
- Frances Seymour, Senior Policy Advisor, Woodwell Climate Research Center, United States
Frances Seymour is a forest policy leader and Senior Policy Advisor at Woodwell Climate Research Center, working closely with Brazil’s Amazon Environmental Research Institute. Her career connects tropical forest conservation, climate policy, development, and cooperation. She previously served as Senior Advisor for Forests in the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate’s office, Distinguished Senior Fellow at World Resources Institute, and Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research. She is the lead author of Why Forests? Why Now? Seymour’s work advances the policies, partnerships, and financial support needed to protect forests while supporting people and addressing climate change.
- Cécile Ndjebet, Founder & President, African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), Cameroon
Cécile Ndjebet is a Cameroonian environmental advocate and founder of the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests, known as REFACOF. For more than three decades, she has championed women’s rights to land, forests, and natural resources while advancing conservation and ecological restoration. She also founded Cameroon Ecology, supporting community participation in environmental protection. Ndjebet’s work recognizes that women’s secure access to resources is essential to sustainable livelihoods and healthy ecosystems. By connecting grassroots organizing with national and international advocacy, she helps strengthen women’s leadership in decisions affecting their communities, forests, and the environmental future of generations to come.
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Rights & Climate Advocate; Founder, Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), Chad
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is an Indigenous rights and environmental advocate from Chad’s Mbororo pastoralist community. She founded the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad, known as AFPAT, and works to strengthen Indigenous participation in climate and biodiversity decisions. Her advocacy connects traditional ecological knowledge with scientific approaches to understanding environmental change. She has also served on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Ibrahim champions the rights, expertise, and leadership of Indigenous women and communities. Her work highlights the importance of protecting ecosystems, securing livelihoods, and ensuring that climate solutions reflect the knowledge and priorities of people.
- Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate, Government of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Rachel Kyte is the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Climate, advancing international cooperation on climate action and the transition to cleaner economies. Her career spans diplomacy, development finance, academia, and energy access. She previously served as Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, and a senior climate leader at the World Bank. Kyte has consistently advocated for aligning finance and public policy with climate and development goals. Her work focuses on building partnerships, supporting equitable transitions, and accelerating solutions that respond to environmental challenges while expanding opportunity and strengthening economic resilience.
- Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO & Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All; Co-Chair, UN-Energy, Nigeria
Damilola Ogunbiyi is Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. A Nigerian energy leader, she advances universal access to electricity and clean cooking alongside a just energy transition. She previously led Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency, helping expand decentralized energy solutions. Her international work brings governments, investors, and development partners together to unlock financing and strengthen energy planning. Ogunbiyi champions approaches that connect decarbonization with economic opportunity, recognizing that affordable, sustainable energy is essential to health, education, livelihoods, and equitable development around the world.
- Dame Jo da Silva, Global Director of Sustainable Development, Arup, United Kingdom
Dame Jo da Silva is Global Director of Sustainable Development at Arup, where she helps address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. An engineer and humanitarian leader, she has worked across infrastructure, urban development, disaster recovery, and community resilience. Her career includes collaboration with nongovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, and international development institutions. As an Arup Fellow, she promotes engineering and design that deliver social outcomes. Da Silva’s work places safety, inclusion, and resilience at the centre of development, demonstrating how technical expertise can help communities adapt, recover, and build a more sustainable future for everyone.
- Jessica Smith, Head of Nature, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), Switzerland
Jessica Smith is Head of Nature at the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, where she works to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem considerations into financial decision-making. Based in Geneva, she has led the initiative’s nature programme since 2020, supporting collaboration across banking, insurance, and investment. Her work helps financial institutions understand their dependencies on nature, assess environmental risks, and identify opportunities to support healthier ecosystems. Smith connects science, policy, and finance to advance approaches to nature-related disclosure and investment. She champions financial systems that recognize the value of biodiversity and contribute to resilient economies, communities, and landscapes around the world.
Leading Forward: Business, Finance & Innovation
This category honours women advancing sustainability through business leadership, finance, philanthropy, and innovation. Their work influences how organizations operate, how capital is allocated, and how ideas become practical solutions to environmental and social challenges. From embedding sustainability into corporate strategy and transforming industrial practices to financing climate action and supporting systemic change, these leaders connect economic decision-making with long-term responsibility. In an age of resistance, they demonstrate the importance of evidence, accountability, and sustained ambition—helping shape businesses, financial institutions, and industries that contribute to a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future.
- Hina Hassan Baloch, Climate, Sustainability & Social Impact Leader, United States
Hina Hassan Baloch is a climate, sustainability, and social impact leader with experience spanning corporate strategy, communications, research, and international diplomacy. At General Motors, she has held executive responsibilities across climate communications, sustainability strategy, data analytics, diversity and inclusion, STEM education, and corporate responsibility. Earlier, she worked with the British government on trade and diplomacy and contributed to research at the Brookings Institution and Results for Development. Her experience bridges business priorities with societal challenges. Through strategy, partnerships, and public engagement, Baloch brings an interdisciplinary perspective to climate action, inclusive innovation, and the role organizations can play in advancing change.
- Jenna Johnson, President, Patagonia, United States
Jenna Johnson is President of Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and equipment company known for integrating environmental responsibility into its business model. She previously led Patagonia’s technical outdoor business before taking responsibility for the company’s apparel and equipment operations. Her leadership sits within an organization that emphasizes product durability, repair, environmental advocacy, and reducing its impacts. Patagonia’s ownership structure directs profits not reinvested in the business toward environmental protection. Johnson brings experience in outdoor products and business leadership to the challenge of balancing commercial operations with environmental commitments, helping guide a company whose mission centres on protecting the planet through business.
- Leslie Johnston, Chief Executive Officer, Laudes Foundation, Switzerland
Leslie Johnston is the founding Chief Executive Officer of Laudes Foundation, leading its mission to accelerate a green, fair, and inclusive economy. She brings more than 25 years of experience across business, entrepreneurship, international development, and philanthropy. Previously, she led C&A Foundation, served as Executive Director of the Argidius Foundation, and held roles with TechnoServe and McKinsey. Her work uses philanthropy to support systemic change rather than isolated interventions. Johnston also contributes through board and advisory roles in organizations addressing sustainable industry and economic transformation. She champions collaboration that aligns business activity with human wellbeing, environmental responsibility, and societal benefit.
- Sarah Kapnick, Global Head of Climate Advisory, J.P. Morgan, United States
Sarah Kapnick is Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan, connecting climate science with financial and business decision-making. She advises clients on climate, energy, biodiversity, and sustainability while overseeing the firm’s climate thought leadership. Previously, she served as Chief Scientist at the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, guiding scientific and technological priorities across issues including greenhouse gas monitoring and climate security. Kapnick holds a doctorate in atmospheric and oceanic sciences from UCLA and studied mathematics at Princeton. Her career bridges research, public service, and finance, helping organizations understand environmental change and develop approaches to resilience and transition.
- Eva Riesenhuber, Global Head of Sustainability, Siemens, Germany
Eva Riesenhuber is Global Head of Sustainability at Siemens, responsible for integrating sustainability into business strategy, operations, investment, and governance. Her background combines law, finance, venture capital, and corporate leadership. Before taking on her sustainability role in 2022, she held senior positions in mergers and acquisitions, served as Chief Financial Officer and General Partner of Next47, and led investor relations. She oversees sustainability reporting, carbon management, governance, and environmental, social, and governance risk management. Riesenhuber works across businesses and regions to connect technological innovation with decarbonization, resource efficiency, and societal impact, helping embed responsibility into the decisions shaping industrial transformation.
- Mindy Lubber, Chief Executive Officer & President, Ceres, United States
Mindy Lubber is Chief Executive Officer and President of Ceres, a nonprofit working with investors, companies, and policymakers to advance sustainable business practices. Her leadership connects capital markets with action on climate change, water, and other environmental challenges. Through investor engagement, corporate accountability, and public policy advocacy, she helps strengthen the business case for sustainability while pressing organizations to translate commitments into action. Lubber has become a voice on the economic importance of addressing environmental risks. Her work emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and responsible leadership, encouraging financial institutions and businesses to support a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable economy for all.
- Nili Gilbert, Climate Finance Leader & Independent Director, Brookfield Asset Management, United States
Nili Gilbert is an investor, board director, and climate finance leader whose work connects financial expertise with the transition to a lower-carbon economy. She serves as an independent director of Brookfield Asset Management and has held leadership roles at Carbon Direct, bringing investment, science, and corporate climate strategy together. Her experience includes advising on decarbonization, supporting climate-focused investment, and convening leaders across finance and policy. Recognized among TIME’s climate leaders, Gilbert advocates for rigorous approaches that translate commitments into measurable progress. Her work highlights the importance of capital allocation, collaboration, and innovation in scaling solutions to complex global climate challenges.
- Marilyn Waite, Climate Finance Leader, Engineer & Author, United States
Marilyn Waite is an engineer, author, and climate finance leader working at the intersection of sustainability, business, and policy. She has led the Climate Finance Fund, directed the energy practice at Village Capital, and researched climate solutions at Project Drawdown. Her experience also includes innovation roles in the energy industry and teaching sustainable business and environmental, social, and governance strategies. Waite is the author of Sustainability at Work: Careers That Make a Difference and serves on boards including Climate First Bank. Her work connects financial choices, technological innovation, and professional development with the practical transition toward a more sustainable economy.
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- Barbara Buchner, Chief Executive Officer, Climate Policy Initiative, United States
Barbara Buchner is Chief Executive Officer of Climate Policy Initiative, where she advances research and financial innovation supporting climate action. She directs the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, which develops instruments to overcome investment barriers affecting clean energy, adaptation, and sustainable land use. Buchner also leads work on the Global Landscape of Climate Finance, a benchmark for tracking climate-related investment. An economist, she advises public and private leaders on directing capital toward development that reduces emissions and builds resilience. Her work combines evidence, collaboration, and practical financial solutions to help close funding gaps and accelerate the transition to sustainability.
- Liz Minné, Head of Global Sustainability Strategy, Interface, United States
Liz Minné is Head of Global Sustainability Strategy at Interface, a flooring company pursuing a carbon-negative future. Her expertise spans life cycle assessment, carbon accounting, environmental reporting, and sustainable materials. She oversees the company’s global greenhouse gas inventory across direct operations, purchased energy, and its wider value chain, helping translate environmental goals into measurable business decisions. Minné also serves on Penn State Smeal College of Business’s Sustainability Advisory Board. Her work connects scientific analysis with product innovation, operational improvements, and corporate accountability, demonstrating how manufacturers can reduce environmental impacts while embedding sustainability into strategy, materials, and the systems supporting business.