Abu Dhabi: A distinguished group of international leaders in government, business, academia and renowned green activists has been selected to join the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is recognised as the world's pre-eminent award for innovation, leadership, long-term vision and impact on renewable energy and sustainability.
"We welcome to the Prize highly accomplished individuals who bring together a multi-faceted set of experiences in the industry along with a shared passion and commitment to advancing renewable energy and sustainability around the world. We will greatly benefit by each of their specific areas of expertise and participation," said Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Director-General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize.
The newly-selected members of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury are: Mohammad Nasheed, President of the Republic of the Maldives, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy for South Africa; Timothy Wirth, President of the UN Foundation and Better World Fund; Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar-award winning actor and environmental activist, Andre Agassi, Founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education and Grand Slam Tennis Champion, and Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation.
The new jury members will join continuing members: Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland; Ahmad Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar; and Dr Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
‘Creating momentum'
"Our appreciation is also extended to the exiting jury members whose efforts have laid the foundation and created the momentum for the prize in its inception phase. We recognise their efforts and are confident they will continue to support the prize as its ambassadors. The participation of these leading figures is not only a tribute to the environmental stewardship of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan but also to his vision of building bridges and fostering friendships that extend across the world."
The Zayed Future Energy Prize aims to encourage and become a catalyst for the ongoing development of renewable energy and clean technology.
The jury will convene later this year and the prize winners will be honoured in a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on January 17, 2012.
The prize is open to individuals, large companies, SMEs and NGOs. The first prize is $1.5 million (Dh5.5 million).
