We are delighted to introduce the independent judging panel for the GSL Global Goals Competition 2024-25. Each member of this year’s panel has been specially selected on the basis of their global experiences and/or a knowledge of sustainable development. They represent a wide range of specialisms and bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to the panel.
Michelle is a law partner at EY and leads the global sustainability team for Law. She specialises in energy transition, sustainability and decarbonised solutions and ESG, advising globally. Her clients are those seeking decarbonised and sustainable solutions as well as those providing and financing them and include financial institutions, clean energy and energy transition developers and suppliers, corporates and Governments.
Michelle is focused on helping the sector deliver and sits on many industry bodies including the Policy Committee of the Renewable Energy Association, Chair of the Climate Change Committee Advisory Group, Chair of the REA Finance Steering Group, Climate Bond Initiative Advisory Board, Advisory Boards of Dii.
She is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and as an attorney in New York. Michelle is a Fulbright Scholar and a John Rankin Scholar and has a first class LLB from UCL and an LLM from UC Berkeley.
Jim is Clinical Associate Professor of Strategy at the University of Texas at Austin in the Management Department of the McCombs School of Business, research affiliate at Harvard, president of the Institute for Strategic Clarity, and author/co-author of Agreements (2023), Ecosynomics (2014), Managing from Clarity (2001), and many chapters and articles. He blogs regularly at jlrd.me. He has a BS in Petroleum Engineering (UTulsa), an MIM (Thunderbird), an MBA (ESADE), and a PhD in Decision Sciences (UTAustin).
As a social strategist for non-fiction authors and change-makers, I harness storytelling to turn ideas into movements. My work connects thought leaders with communities hungry for change, creating spaces where transformative ideas can take root and grow.
At Citizen Collective, I bring together purposeful groups who share and learn from each other. This platform helps community groups improve their places and spaces by tapping into their power as citizens, all based on the belief that we’re smarter together than alone.
Through social media and authentic storytelling, I build inspiration and community around change-making projects. I blend online engagement with real-world action, creating ripples that spread far and wide.
My photos often feature my “pointy finger of curiosity” as I love amplifying voices that challenge the norm, creating environments where citizen-led celebrations and collaborative problem-solving thrive, building more connected communities along the way
Cheng Keat Oo is the Programme Director for the Bachelor of Political Science and Bachelor of Liberal Studies at Open University Malaysia (OUM), where he also serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. With over a decade of service at OUM, he brings deep academic and leadership experience. He holds a BA and MA in Political Science from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on Global Citizenship Education (GCE). Passionate about education for social impact, he actively trains both pre-service and in-service teachers in GCE and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empowering educators to integrate global values into classroom practices. He is frequently invited to speak on SDGs, global issues, and pedagogical strategies, bridging academic insight with real-world application to inspire transformative change in education and society.
Rupal Shah is an English teacher and the Head of the Charity Committee at Dubai College. She has participated in philanthropic trips to Nepal and India and leads the school’s mission to build a school in Nepal each year. Her focus is student and community engagement and to encourage philanthropic endeavour in every aspect of education.
Having graduated from Bristol University, Mark practised as a barrister, specialising in crime, financial crime, professional discipline and sports law. He took Silk in 2006, and was appointed as a Judge specialising in criminal work in 2023. He is a member of the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission, and is a past Chair of the MCC Disciplinary Panel.
Mark is a Governor of Wellington College, and a Trustee of the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation and the Hazelhurst Trust, these roles providing him with the privilege of following his passions of education and cricket.
Cheryll is a qualified psychotherapist and executive coach. Specialising in working with and developing frameworks for women and girls from abusive backgrounds.
Her philanthropic work is well known both personally and having assisted organisations including The Invictus Games, Help for Heroes, We are Humans, Hurting to Healing and the British Armed Forces. She has assisted refugee women and their children, as well as young people who have been displaced by war and relocated to the UK. She funds a charity helping women through economic abuse and she funds a women’s football team in England. In Antigua (West Indies), she has established a second home where she funds and organises educational programmes, she is on the board of The Four Knights Academy and she also helps fund and organise a dog sanctuary. In Barbados she has collaborated with Roland Butcher to create the Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club.
She is CEO of Fairbreak Global, an innovative global cricket organisation striving for equality. She is a member of The Sorority and Global Sports Syndicate. She is a trustee of The Donne Foundation, Chairs a development board at Arundel Castle Cricket and advises Goddess Gaia Ventures on their Sports Investment Vertical. She holds a fellowship with the Caribbean Global Institute and sits on their educational awards and grant-making panel.
Daniel Shakhani, a renowned British-born inventor, social entrepreneur, financier, and philanthropist, will provide leadership and guidance to our business engagement, helping us to scale our impact and partnerships.
He has been ranked among the Business Insider 100 most influential people shaping British technology in 2019. He is the Co-founder of Salary Finance.
In March 2023, Daniel became Chair of the Business Advisory Board of GSL.
He is passionate about the #GlobalGoals, and the role business can play in creating a brighter future for all.
Motivated by my love of nature and the outdoors and with a background in marketing and communication, I co-founded the Re-Action Collective with Gavin Fernie-Jones.
Re-Action is a global collective (with 70 members to date) that promotes community-based circular economy ideas for keeping outdoor gear out of landfill. More than that, it has evolved to expand on the idea of moving from passive consumers to active citizens. We explore these ideas through the #CitizenFriday campaign and the film we produced, called ACTionism.
Mohamed Helmy is a passionate global educator and the Youth Empowerment Director at the International School of Elite Education in Cairo. He is a Global Schools Advocate and Senior Mentor for the Global Schools Program in the MENA region. His work focuses on empowering youth through sustainable development, global citizenship, and impactful community action.
Mohamed has led student projects addressing poverty, refugee education, and environmental sustainability. His initiatives include planting 1,000 trees in public spaces, running awareness campaigns for individuals with special needs and chronic illnesses, and providing COVID-19 relief through oxygen generators, water access, and shelter in vulnerable areas.
His students were recognized as semi-finalists in the Collaboration Award category of the GSL Global Goals competition. Mohamed is dedicated to nurturing young changemakers and is honored to serve as a GSL judge, supporting students around the world as they lead meaningful action for a better future.
Antonia is BBC R&D’s Chief Technical Advisor. Her team provides independent, objective advice on how emerging technologies will enable the BBC to inform, educate and entertain for the next 100 years. This analysis helps the BBC to make informed choices about future products & services, influences the industry through the development of new technology standards and delivers insights on the social, editorial and ethical challenges technology raises for public media, people and society.
Prior to joining the BBC, Antonia worked at The Economist Intelligence Unit where she provided evidence-based analysis and policy recommendations in areas relating to technology, media and education.
Gavin is the co-founder of the Re-Action Collective. A global network of citizen-led circular economy organisations. Focused on re-imagining the Outdoor industry, using repair, resale, rental, repurposing, redistribution and regeneration, to make the out more accessible whilst giving citizens agency.
I’m a high energy, passionate and driven advocate for social impact and community development determined to make the world a better more sustainable place for us all! As the Executive Director of Enactus UK & Ireland, I am proud to lead a national team of students and professionals who use business and innovation to drive sustainable positive impact in their communities daily. I am a firm believer that young people and their creativity and curiosity hold the key to the world’s toughest challenges and I cannot wait to see the solutions they create!
Darren Coxon is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kompass Education, a consultancy specialising in providing schools and colleges the training, support and tools they need to innovate safely and ethically with AI. An educator for 26 years, Darren has worked in every sector in almost every role, including teacher, Head of Department (mainstream and SEND), Head of Teaching and Learning, Principal (UK and international), Director of Education, and Chief Operating Officer. He now runs Kompass Education, a company specialising in AI literacy and AI governance training, ensuring schools are fully compliant with recent UK government announcements on AI in education, and (for EU Schools) with the EU AI Act.
Ruth is a PR and communications professional with over 25 years of experience across multiple industries, including entertainment, sports, corporate, and public sectors. My expertise lies in crafting strategic, creative campaigns and building meaningful relationships that deliver results.
As the Partnership & Development Manager for Room For Opportunity (RFO) and PR & Social Media Manager for the German YMCA in London, she collaborates with senior leadership to shape multi-year strategies, forge partnerships with like-minded organisations, and enhance brand recognition through impactful media and social campaigns.
“I know the importance of developing and expanding community programs that create opportunities for disadvantaged groups. Whether managing volunteer teams or growing cultural and social initiatives, I strive to foster inclusive, vibrant spaces that enrich communities”.
Serial Entrepreneur, Consultant & Board Advisor. Build, nurture, scale and drive impact in digital engagement; Education tech, HealthTech, Conversational AI & blockchain (services) and digital. Previously Director Apple Education EMEA, then China/AsiaPAC. Built Education Podcasting, iTunes U, APP Store, SEED CSR. Currently; Director/Trust Architect ASI.Tech. Trust Architect Spot it Early, cancer screening and diagnostics. UNI Kosovo – Professor of Practise & Director Innovation Lab UNI+. Fellow FRSA. Fellow, Deeptech Labs, Cambridge. Advisor/Mentor Village Capital, FF/Tech Nation. Keynote speaker & technology evangelist.
Rebecca Warren is Senior Manager for Learning and Enrollment at Tilting Futures. She is a passionate educator and loves designing experiences for students to explore their passions and positively engage in making the world a better place. At Tilting Futures, students learn about Systems Thinking and the Global Goals Competition is an excellent experience to start that deep understanding.
Dr. Oh Zi Jian is a dedicated educator with nine years of experience teaching Business Management and serves as Lead Trainer for the Vocational College Business Management Program under Malaysia’s Ministry of Education. He is a national and international speaker, notably on “Didik TV Ministry of Education,” and is actively involved in research, publishing 21 studies and serving as a jury member for 29 innovation competitions. Dr. Oh’s commitment to innovation is reflected in his impressive achievements, including 8 Gold, 7 Silver, and 3 Bronze awards, alongside special accolades from Macedonia, Canada, and international bodies.
A certified AI for Good Instructor and holder of an Advanced Certificate in Applied ESG Practices, he promotes digital skills and SDGs through collaborations with state agencies, industry, and local communities. As Vice President for Community at JCI Bayan, Dr. Oh has received awards such as the APCEIU Honor Award and the Giving Economy Award 2024, marking him as a changemaker in education and beyond.
I am privileged to represent the LEGO Group, where I work within our Social Responsibility department. We are on a mission to bring Learning through Play to children worldwide by creating both physical and digital experiences that engages children in real-world people and planet challenges.
I am a creative and passionate individual myself, and I look very much forward to see the ideas coming from this fantastic competition.
Experienced Youth Engagement Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the civic & social organization industry. Skilled in Non-profit Organizations, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Enterprise, and Humanitarian work.
Despite being a ‘scientist’ by training, Jo has been involved with Future Foundations since 2013 leading some of the amazing programmes such as NCS. With a passion for supporting young people and creating an environment for them to thrive, Jo is consistently inspired by the projects being initiated by GSL participants in their local communities.
Day-to-day; Jo works in the pharmaceutical industry as a Regulatory Affairs professional responsible for obtaining licenses of medicinal products within Europe and beyond.
d’Arcy Lunn’s dreams and daily life are dedicated to see a world with access and opportunity for everyone, everywhere! For the past 21 years d’Arcy has experienced more than 90 countries, given over 1600 presentations to 140,000+ people and worked with leading development, environmental, social justice and global education organisations and people.
His self-initiated concept and organisation, Teaspoons of Change, focuses on the personal choices, decisions and actions that have a positive impact on people and the planet. d’Arcy is currently the Group Head of Sustainability and Global Citizenship with the Dulwich Group of Schools based in Shanghai, China.
Sara has always been curious about sustainability and wants to be able to take actions that influence the wellbeing of people and the protection of the planet. Originally, from Portugal, Sara loves to travel and to have the opportunity to engage with other cultures and different backgrounds. Prior to moving to the UK 8 years ago, she also lived in Colombia.
Currently, at MYNDUP, Sara works to provide our Customers & Practitioners with the best experience possible. More than this, Sara always goes above and beyond to help the internal team with new processes and training. Outside of work, she loves to run for a good cause, cycle and hike around the UK and is always very excited to be in the kitchen making whole food plant based dishes, for her family and friends.
Rajashree is the Co-Founder of Edumenteach, an ed-tech start-up providing learning solutions, course development, training and mentoring services. She has formerly taught and managed adults and school students across the UK, India and Malaysia. Her international teaching experience spans across the primary, secondary, further, higher and adult education sectors. Most recently, she inspired teacher trainees through delivery of high-quality HE Initial teacher education programmes, CPD and 1:1 coaching. She is currently involved in scaling up cMyQual, a career management platform that encourages individuals to track their learning, professional development and manage their careers, while making the planet greener along the way!
I am Global Partnerships Manager for World’s Largest Lesson (WLL), working with different partners globally to reach every child and young person with the SDGs. I’m based in Paris, France. I also teach in a school including running SDGs lessons there. My background is in education and media.
Darryl Evey is the CEO of Family Assistance Program. Under his leadership, Family Assistance Program has expanded to include opening the only youth shelters in San Bernardino County, opening multiple transitional housing programs, two youth drop in centers, a prison re-entry program, and an anti-human trafficking program. Each of these programs are run by survivor/leaders who represent the clients they serve. All programs are heavily focused on providing a trauma-informed empowerment approach to helping their clients achieve their own goals.
Darryl enjoys taking clients on rock climbing trips to Joshua Tree National Park where he teaches them to overcome fears, to trust others, and to enjoy nature. Darryl serves on the board of directors for the California Coalition for Youth and is the current Commandant of the Victor Valley Detachment of the Marine Corps League.
From Professional sport and the mental health sector in Sri Lanka, to health work in sub-Saharan Africa – my career to date has spanned across a whole host of different settings. The one common theme which holds these all of them together is the desire to improve other people’s lives for the better.
Building upon these experiences, and my educational background in psychology, my current role at mindflick involves driving forward our research into the concept of adaptability. Working with high-performing clients, including those from professional and Olympic sport and City-leading banks, I take key lessons from the field and distil them down into simple, accessible, and useable messages to help people from all walks of life to get the best out of themselves and others across the many situations they may encounter.
I am a Business Development Manager, working on large scale complex projects for Philips Healthcare.
What brings me joy is helping others succeed and finding solutions to complex problems.
In my current role I help healthcare organisations plan for the future and find a strategic partner to support their development goals. Since graduating from Reading University, I have gained experience in a breadth of B2B marketing roles in the healthcare industry, with a short stint in aviation just before COVID. Bad timing, but great experience with some amazing and inspiring colleagues!
I have a personal passion for mentoring and helping others feel good and do good, in my spare time I do formal and informal coaching.
Edd Moore is a teacher and Eco Coordinator at Damers First School, Dorchester, Dorset. Edd has built up the eco work at Damers over the last 9 years from a blank canvas to one of the top Eco Schools in the UK embedding the environment into the school’s curriculum. Under his leadership, Damers achieved the Eco Schools Green Flag three times in 2016, 2018, 2020, won Eco Schools Primary Eco School of the Year, Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Schools Champion, Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Best Group in 2019 and Education Business, Environmental Practice Award 2020.
Mara co-founded EduMenTeach, September 2020 and will be launching cMyQual this June, 2021: a place to grow your career for all life long learners. Core to our business is sustainability with a partnership with Sustainable Harvest International and supporting others to continually grow and learn. For every achievement cMyQual will donate to plant a tree: hopefully we will sponsor forests with everyone’s collective achievements. Prior to this launch and for the last 25+ years Mara has been dedicated to teaching and learning. Her career has been centred in schools in underprivileged communities and she has served as a teacher/ founder/ leader and director of several secondary schools in Los Angeles. She has a keen interest in school structure and design and studied the levers to improve student achievement within a school setting. She reformed a teacher training programme in Oxford, UK and engaged with designing future teacher training courses that connect to teaching apprenticeships. She engages on Twitter @mara_Simmons and promotes thinking differently about schooling.
Katherine has a huge love for creativity, nature and our planet as a whole. She is currently leading Bertha Earth’s community of young people on their own journeys to harness their passions to make environmental change. Her past roles have involved designing and delivering action projects for young people, and was a semi-final judge for GSL in 2020!
Emi is a Ph.D. researcher in coral reef geomorphology at Newcastle and Northumbria Universities. Her research focuses on identifying when, how, and why coral reef islands in the Caribbean formed as well as examining the importance of coral reefs to these islands. In particular, Emi is interested in using knowledge of past-environmental change to help predict what the future holds for these fragile environments.
Emi has volunteered for Future Foundations since 2014 and wholeheartedly believes that young people are the key to making a better future for all! Prior to her Ph.D., Emi managed the London Chamber Orchestra’s flagship education program, Music Junction which aims to bring students together from different backgrounds and encourage them to develop artistic and social skills through shared music-making experiences. This work reflects Emi’s passion for helping others to become the best version of themselves and for utilizing empathy to help solve Global Problems.
I currently lead the Education Engagement Team at the National Citizen Service Trust setting out national strategy for working with the education sector. I have been a Deputy Headteacher and Deputy Principal in London for over 10 years leading at the number 1 ranked school in the country specialising in sixth form leadership and management. I have been a Chair of Governors, set up schools and have run my own educational consultancy since 2018 supporting parents and young people.
Jack’s entrepreneurial journey began at 13 years old, offering various marketing services to organisations in order to support himself through the financial hardships in which his family were imbued. As a testament to his nature, Jack has received 16 awards and scholarships over the past 2 years alone.
Moreover, Jack now supports other entrepreneurs through freelance coaching, being an Enterprise Coach for the University of East London and Young Ambassador for Big Ideas Wales, an organisation belonging to the Welsh Government. To further support this, he will be launching a new ecosystem for entrepreneurs in the coming year.
Julia is currently the Policy, Advocacy and Communications Officer at Gender Action for Peace and Security. Julia has developed a range of social action projects since being a teenager and since the start of her career, she has empowered and supported young people globally to implement sustainable projects within their communities. Julia is passionate about sustainable development, and believes that young people are the powerful voices for radical change that our society needs.
Neil is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Office of Hussle, the UK’s largest consumer fitness marketplace with a mission to increase opportunities for people to engage in a healthy lifestyle through exercise.
Prior to founding Hussle, Neil worked for German engineering giant Siemens where he was the first UK employee to lead their international programme for future leaders under-30. From Siemens, Neil progressed to global consultancy firm Ernst & Young where he worked on a number of high profile mergers and acquisitions across Europe and the Middle East.
At the age of 30, Neil dropped out of the corporate world to create Hussle which was the first fitness marketplace anywhere in the world, partnering with thousands of UK gyms and health clubs, and supporting millions of gym visits.
2022 will be the third year that Neil has supported the Global Goals competition as a semi-final judge.
I live with my wife and three kids in Tacoma, Washington in a neighborhood with a close community of friends. My primary interest is in seeing individuals and communities flourish, and I am an advocate and entrepreneur for better forms of capitalism that promote flourishing. After getting my MBA from Stanford I spent a decade running healthcare operations for DaVita. Currently, I train our executives in culture-building and management processes, and work on various projects help us better serve and develop our employees.
Brooke Bacigal is an Associate at PUBLIC, a London based gov-tech consultancy with the mission to harness innovation and emerging technology to improve the public sector. Prior to her work with PUBLIC, Brooke wrote her MSt in Diplomacy at the University of Oxford where her thesis evaluated UN peacebuilding efforts in the DRC, 2010-present day. This interest in peace and transitional justice is reflected in her BA in Public Policy which focused on conflict stabilization and peacebuilding at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. While there, in 2017, Brooke co-founded an organization which creates bespoke curriculum and delivers workshops to reduce barriers to higher education and vocational opportunities for refugee students.
The Managing Director of ABA – a purpose-led creative & strategy agency – Dave has spent his career either helping overseas charities and micro-enterprises increase their impact through effective communications or working with socially conscientious business owners & leaders in the UK, helping them tap into the power of purpose for their brand and culture.
I bring ideas to fruition through digital transformation for organisations, which unlocks new possibilities. As a Procurement Innovation Manager, I develop opportunities and leverage technology to transform businesses, by leading changes on behalf of business departments. With a foundation of a Masters in Sustainable Energy and experience in Technology, Energy and Telecommunications industries; business digital transformation and sustainability have been core career themes. A passion for sustainable entrepreneurship launched at university through volunteering leadership roles with Enactus, and there is a continuing commitment through mentoring, committees, and charity trustee positions.
Dr. Oh Zi Jian is a dedicated educator with nine years of experience teaching Business Management and serves as Lead Trainer for the Vocational College Business Management Program under Malaysia’s Ministry of Education. He is a national and international speaker, notably on “Didik TV Ministry of Education,” and is actively involved in research, publishing 21 studies and serving as a jury member for 29 innovation competitions. Dr. Oh’s commitment to innovation is reflected in his impressive achievements, including 8 Gold, 7 Silver, and 3 Bronze awards, alongside special accolades from Macedonia, Canada, and international bodies.
A certified AI for Good Instructor and holder of an Advanced Certificate in Applied ESG Practices, he promotes digital skills and SDGs through collaborations with state agencies, industry, and local communities. As Vice President for Community at JCI Bayan, Dr. Oh has received awards such as the APCEIU Honor Award and the Giving Economy Award 2024, marking him as a changemaker in education and beyond.