Verdantix Announces Winners Of The 2026 Transform Awards At EMEA Summit

London, UK. Verdantix, the independent research and advisory firm, today announced the eight winners of the 2026 Transform Awards, recognizing global leadership in sustainability, climate resilience, digital transformation and cross‑industry collaboration. The winners were revealed during the Verdantix Transform Summit, held from 17^th to 19^th March 2026 in Amsterdam, where senior leaders and innovators gathered to exchange insights and accelerate progress on sustainability transformation.

The summit was keynoted by Jesper Brodin, former CEO of Ingka Group | IKEA. In his address, Jesper shared perspectives from his experience leading a global organization through large-scale transformation, outlining how CEOs can translate long-term sustainability vision into operational action.

The Transform Awards celebrate organizations and individuals delivering measurable, scalable impact through innovative strategies and technologies. This year’s winners were recognized across eight categories:

• C-Suite: Digital Transformation – Jonathan Upward, Chief Sustainability Officer, BAT
• Climate Risk Adaption Award – COFCO International
• Energy Transition Innovator – Majed Al Fulaiti, Vice President, Panorama Digital & AI Command Center, ADNOC
• Nature & Biodiversity Net Gain – Safaricom
• Resilient Supply Chains – Ramesh Panavalli, Head of Responsible Sourcing & Human Rights, Holland & Barrett
• Sustainable Finance – Liza Jansen, Head of Responsible investment, Prudential
• Transformative Industry Collaboration – Frank Lehmann, Vice President Corporate Venturing & Open Innovation, Amcor
• Worker Safety Innovator – Massimiliano Arces, Executive Group Director QHSE & Sustainability Director, Autostrade per l’Italia
  

“The 2026 winners exemplify what ambitious and effective sustainability transformation looks like in practice,” commented David Metcalfe, CEO at Verdantix. “Their leadership demonstrates how innovation, combined with long-term strategic commitment, can deliver tangible benefits for organizations, communities and the planet.”

Winners were selected following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an independent panel of industry experts. Submissions were assessed based on measurable impact, scalability and innovation. The 2026 judging panel comprised: Isidora Díaz Heredia, Chief Sustainability and HSE Officer, Parques Reunidos Group; Kelsey Hopkinson, Vice President ESG and Compliance, Colt Technology Services; Grant Sprick, VP Climate & Environment, Ahold Delhaize; and Simon Turner, Head of Security Governance & Compliance, BT Group.

The Transform Awards form part of the Verdantix global series of international events and awards that showcase and recognize outstanding technological achievements in the fields of EHS, ESG, sustainability, industrial agility, operational excellence, and net zero and climate risk. The programme provides a platform for showcasing pioneering initiatives, inspiring adoption of innovation and fostering collaboration across industries.

• The 2027 Transform Summit and Awards will be returning in March 2027 in Houston, Texas.