Public Vote Now Open for RISE Awards

Daisy Moll
Sep 29
2 min read

Updated: Oct 7

We are delighted to share that the shortlist for the open categories at the Responsible Investment, Sustainability, and ESG (RISE) Awards have been announced.

Public voting for ‘Founder of the Year’ and ‘Rising Star Award’ is now open.

The winners will be revealed at a black-tie awards dinner on 6 November at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, where leaders and changemakers from across the sustainability sector will come together to honour outstanding achievements in sustainable innovation.

Tickets and tables are still available for the awards ceremony. Please contact jessica.bremner@sustainabletimes.co.uk, to hear more about remaining availability.

Sustainable Times RISE Awards

6 November 2025 at 18:30 – 7 November 2025 at 01:00De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms

Voting is now open

In the ‘Founder of the Year’ category the finalists are:

Pinar Akiskalioglu Founder of TAKK - a company providing sustainable personal care products marketed ethically.

Claire-Julia Hill Founder of Gallery Les Bois - a gallery with a mission to embed environmental responsibility into both the artwork and the gallery’s operations.

Chinwe Udo-Davis Founder of Instollar - a solar energy workforce provider working to both scale clean energy and provide employment opportunities across Africa.

Oli Cook Founder of ekko - helps financial service companies integrate sustainability into their products, giving customers a way to understand and reduce their environmental impact.

Paul Finch and Rayan Jawad Co-Founders of Growth Studio - supports startup solutions to become profitable businesses through their leading accelerator programmes.

In the ‘Rising Star Award’ category, Sponsored by Sustainable Wealth Group the finalists are:

Dr Joe Penhaul Smith and Sam Penhaul Founders of Extricko - containerised recycling solutions to optimise processing capabilities whilst reducing environmental impact.

Brittany Hook Business Development Director of HutanBio - creates sustainable biofuels that align the world’s increasing energy demand with the imperative to protect the planet.

Jai Desai Founder of Reap London - crafts eco-conscious outdoor spaces that thrive. From design to maintenance, our sustainable landscaping solutions bring lasting beauty and harmony to your environment.

Krutarth Shah Founder of Sustainology - creating meaningful climate projects with a range of stakeholders to shape the future of carbon markets.

Sanmukh Bawa Founder of Genvue - advanced glass technology turning glass into a dynamic asset.

Gurpreet Singh President of IQVIA - utilises data, Ai, and analytics to provide smarter healthcare.

Dr Esrael Degefa President of Kerchanshe Group and Kerchanshe Coffee, a dynamic conglomerate with sister companies spanning various sectors, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality, ensuring traceability and fair trade practices. Including a coffee company that works with local farmers to source premium Arabica beans from the birthplace of coffee, ensuring traceability and fair trade practices.