GOLD
Matthew Owen: Cool Earth’s Captain
An ardent believer that supporting indigenous people protect their rainforest is the best way to halt global warming, Cool Earth’s Director, Matthew Owen, has over 14 years instilled environmental respect throughout its team and programmes. He has overseen its programme partnerships expand from a single community-led one in Brazil to thirteen worldwide, including Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Mozambique and Peru. Protecting 300,000 hectares of tropical rainforest, encompassing 100 million trees and storing 50 million tonnes of carbon, Cool Earth is at the forefront of safeguarding indigenous people’s rights and helping mitigate climate breakdown.
SILVER
Rewati Gurung: Founder, Kokroma
Kokroma is a baby and maternity clothing brand established in 2019 in Nepal. Rewati saw an opportunity to modernise traditional Nepali clothing and create fair pay jobs for women seamstresses and prisoners who weave the cotton. Inspired by the Finnish maternity package and the impact it had on reducing infant mortality and aware of the impact of cheap imported clothing from overseas, she created a unique and successful Nepali eco-friendly and sustainable brand focused on product quality. Rewati’s primary goal has been to provide employment and an improved quality of life for marginalised women and prisoners in Nepal.
BRONZE
Rachel Hodgdon: President & CEO, International WELL Building Institute
As President and CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), Rachel Hodgdon is leading a movement centered on human health, well-being and equity for all. Rachel uses her position to powerfully advocate for underserved and underrepresented communities. She sits on numerous boards and advisory councils and has overseen many purpose-driven projects to help improve health and advance equity. Under Rachel’s leadership, IWBI has achieved some remarkable milestones – including the rapid launch of the WELL Health-Safety Rating: a third-party verified rating that helps organizations get back to business after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.