Dubai :Sadia Abbasi
On the onset of Year Of Sustainability 2023, the latest edition of the Gulf Sustainability Awards , organised by Awards International, has unveiled the winners of this year’s programme. Gulf Sustainability Awards 23 united leading businesses and organisations from the Gulf region to showcase their exceptional achievements in environmental responsibility. Distinguished companies participated in the awards ceremony, highlighting their contributions to sustainable practices and competing for prestigious recognition.
This prestigious occasion brings together a diverse array of Sustainable companies, both large and small as well as Government & semi Governmental entries to vie for recognition. With a commitment to honoring excellence in sustainability, these awards celebrate the tireless efforts of organizations dedicated to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
The GSA 23 Awards Finals took place live online on September 20, offering an environmentally conscious approach, with an exclusive in-person ceremony hosted at the Sofitel Dubai Downtown on September 27. During the online event, finalists presented their initiatives to category-specific judging panels, and their submissions were precisely evaluated, underscoring the event’s eco-friendly efforts.
The morning started with the Sustainability Awards Kickstart session featuring guest speaker Shruthi Boosey. Immediately following the session, finalists commenced their presentations, engaging with their respective category judges.
On the day of the ceremony, as part of the thrilling build-up to the Awards featuring Sustainability Talks. Guided by Tatiana Antonelli Abella, these presentations showed insights from renowned sustainability experts, including Kevin Holliday, Mohammad Mustafa, and Dr. Samir Thabet. Subsequently, Tatiana moderated a valuable panel discussion with the distinguished participation of Daxita Rajcoomar, Ashraf Abdelkhalek, Mohammad Mustafa, and Dr. Samir Thabet.
The highlight of the event was the grand Awards Ceremony, presided over by Aleksandar Ilic, who captivated the audience with his unique charisma. As all the winners were announced, the program’s most exciting moment arrived: unveiling the Overall Winner of GSA™ ’23, the company with the highest score across all categories. Qatar Museums – Fire Station is this year’s programme champion. The event was adorned with industry professionals across all fields from all over the GCC, uniting them under one roof with one mission.
Neil Skehel, Founder and CEO of Awards International, proudly proclaimed -“This was the best GSA ever. In seven years I haven’t seen so much positive energy to change the impact of business on the planet in a positive way” said Neil Skehel, “GSA finds and recognises the best sustainability initiatives of the GCC. Well done to our winners and to the overall winners Qatar Museums. It’s through the united efforts of the corporate houses, educational institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations and even the media, where ideas can become actions. It was truly wonderful seeing the pioneers of the future and how we are capable of creating a positive impact on the planet and the entirety of the sustainability world”. He added, “The bar is raised. I look forward to next year when the bar will be even higher.”
Speaker and panelist Mohammad Mustafa also gave his insights from the perspective of a youth Ambassador for sustainability. “This event genuinely is the keystone to enacting positive change into the world, and by having me as the youth speaker it opens the doors for the future generation”. He continued, “Sustainability seems grand and something that requires a large amount of planning and resources, but every small impact can make the biggest change. We the youth are burdened with the problems of the climate crisis, but we are blessed with ingenuity and creativity, we must use these tools to shape our future”.
Juhi Yasmeen Khan, one of the renowned judges and advisory board member of the ‘Gulf Sustainability Awards’, stated that, “the active role of all stakeholders in sustainability is crucial. The collaboration of multiple parties is how we can make the future more sustainable, working alongside communities and the youth, bringing the future of tomorrow, today. “
“Logistical and operational efficiency is the best way in which organizations can work to build a reputable ESG basis for their company. Unifying the targets and goals with direct actions is the way in which we can build a greener, cleaner future. Being the moderator as well as presenter at this event I was delighted to share how we at Goumbook are not only pioneering sustainability but diversifying our approach whilst involving several sectors”, says Tatiana Antonelli the founder of Goumbook.
Awards International extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, finalists, and partners of this year’s GSA™. Their dedication and efforts in contributing to the planet’s well-being elevated the event and contributed to yet another successful awards programme.
Audience appreciated the following list of award categories and their respective Gold Award winners:
Best community development, winners – RECAAP by Veolia
Best Workplace and HR Practices, winners – Schneider Electric FZE
Best Net-Zero Initiative, winners TAQA
Best CSR Initiative, winners – Aster DM Healthcare
Government Sustainability Initiative, winners- Saudi Mining Polytechnic
Reaction to Crisis, winners – Abu Dhabi Ports Group (ADPG)
Best Sustainable Education and Awareness Programme, winners SEDCO Holding
Most Innovative ESG Initiative, winners – TAQA
Environmental Sustainability Programme, winners – DP world
Learning and Educational Programme, winners – Potential.com and HSBC
Innovation in Sustainable Technologies, winners – CAFU
Sustainable Business Model, winners – DGRADE
Sustainable Business Model – Large Companies, winners – TAQA
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, winners – Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing
Best Sustainable Product, winners – Toppan Gravity (Gravity Group Ind. L.L.C.)
Best Sustainable Product – Small Companies, winners – DGRADE
Green Building, winners – Qatar Museums – Fire Station
E-Waste Management, winners – Schneider Electric
Water and Waste Management, winners – DGRADE
Water and Waste Management – Large Corporations, winners – Drydocks World
Sustainable Team of the Year, winners – TAQA
Sustainable Professional of the Year, winners – VERTECO – David King
Overall Winner, winners – Qatar Museums, Fire Station.
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