Business and Innovation global award 2026

Alumni who are active in initiating and contributing to innovative or creative new ideas, solutions or business opportunities that have the potential for growth. These finalists represent seven regions worldwide, showcasing the breadth of innovation and entrepreneurial talent among UK alumni around the world.

Alfred Hermida, Canada, Americas

City St George's, University of London

Alfred is a global leader in digital journalism whose work shapes how news is produced, shared and understood. A former BBC journalist who helped launch BBC News Online, he is a Full Professor and former journalism school director at the University of British Columbia. He co‑founded The Conversation Canada, securing CA$1.5 million to strengthen evidence‑based journalism, and coined the concept ambient journalism, now studied internationally. Cited over 13,000 times, he ranks in the top 2% of social science scholars worldwide.

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Arjun R. Krishna, India, South Asia

The University of Sheffield

Arjun is the co-founder of WeMakeScholars (WMS), India’s largest education finance platform, created to expand global education access regardless of social background. Originating from a student‑led community, WMS now supports over one million students, manages over 26,000 scholarships and works with more than 20 financial institutions. Valued at US$350 million, the platform has enabled over 100,000 students to study abroad, processed US$4 billion in education loans, and supports one in five Indian students pursuing overseas education.

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Cletus Baalongbuoro, Ghana, Sub-Saharan Africa

University of Stirling

Cletus is a clean energy social entrepreneur transforming livelihoods in Northern Ghana. Inspired by his UK studies in Energy Management, he founded Ponaa Briquettes, an award-winning enterprise converting agricultural waste into affordable, cleaner cooking fuel. The enterprise serves households and businesses, reducing deforestation and emissions while creating jobs for women and young people through a circular economy approach. His work turns clean energy into dignity, opportunity, and sustainable community-led change.

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Dr Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades, Cyprus, Europe

King's College London; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; University of Kent

Dr Prokopi‑Demetriades is a biotech entrepreneur and oncology innovator driving global impact from Cyprus. Returning during the financial crisis, she co‑founded three biotech companies advancing cancer therapeutics, biomaterials and patient recovery. Her ventures have raised over €8 million, secured major international commercial agreements, and built a thriving biotech cluster employing and training scientists. Alongside this, she has mentored more than 200 young people, demonstrating that world‑class biotech can thrive with vision, perseverance and purpose.

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Muh. Agung Saputra, Indonesia, East Asia

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

Muh. Agung is the founder of Surplus Indonesia, a climate‑tech social enterprise tackling food waste and affordability through the circular economy. His businesses, Surplus Indonesia, redistributes surplus food, clothing and household goods, giving products a second life while widening access to affordable essentials. Now reaching over one million people and rescuing more than one million products, Surplus Indonesia has won multiple national and international awards and is demonstrating how sustainability can deliver real benefits for communities and the planet.

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Rati Kiria, Georgia, Wider Europe

University of Stirling

Rati is a finance educator and entrepreneur transforming access to financial literacy across Georgia and the wider region. In 2021, they founded Traders’ Hub, the first financial education platform in the Caucasus, now training over 5,000 learners and engaging a community of more than 70,000 followers. They also launched Georgia’s first Student‑Managed Investment Fund, bridging theory and practice through hands‑on learning, regional partnerships and AI‑driven innovation that empower young people to access global finance and opportunity.

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Yasser Badahdah, Saudi Arabia, Middle East and North Africa

University of Leeds

Yasser is an entrepreneur and education leader. He founded WAKI, a fintech startup enabling biometric face ID school payments, automating everything from canteens to tuition. He previously founded Princeton English Academy, a ministry-certified institution delivering UK-standard training. Additionally, he founded Travel Zone, a platform supporting study-travel agencies, recognised with the StudyTravel Star Award for raising service standards across the Middle East and Africa.

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