‘legacy award’ returns with new judging panel for Diana Award 20th anniversary
The Diana Award is delighted to announce their bi-annual Legacy Award Ceremony returns to London in Autumn 2019. The international ceremony will put centre stage twenty exceptional young people, aged 9-25yrs. The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex presented the first ‘Legacy Award’ in May 2017.
The young winners will be chosen from successful Diana Award nominations in the academic years 2017 – 2019. The new judging panel meets on Friday 17 May to choose the 20 Legacy Award Winners.
“We are delighted to announce the return of our coveted ‘Legacy Award’ for 2019. These young people, from across the world, will be recognised as leaders, visionaries and role models able to mobilise a new generation of young people committed to social change. The Legacy Award would not have been possible without the generous commitment of Gilead Sciences and British Airways and we are immensely grateful for their support.”
Tessy Ojo, CEO at The Diana Award
"At Gilead, we recognise the importance of supporting young individuals who have the creativity and drive to create a better future for all. We have witnessed how social action has made such a difference in areas such as HIV care over the past 30 years, and we are proud to be supporting the next generation of leaders who will make progress in every aspect of social and humanitarian work. I am looking forward to learning more about the inspirational work of these Young Changemakers who are already making an outstanding contribution.”
Alex Kalomparis, Vice President, Public Affairs, EMEA for Gilead Sciences
“We are proud to support projects and individuals who make a positive lasting impact in their communities and I’m very much looking forward to joining the judging panel for The Legacy Award Winners.”
Alex Cruz, British Airways Chairman and Chief Executive
Dame Esther is the President of ChildLine and a trustee of the NSPCC. In 2012 she invented The Silver Line, a helpline for older people and having chaired it in its first year, she is now its President and a Trustee. She received an OBE for services to broadcasting, a CBE for services to children, and in the New Year Honours of 2015, a DBE for services to children and older people. For her work in broadcasting and for children she has been awarded 7 honorary doctorates and is a Patron of 19 charities.
Alex is Chairman and CEO of British Airways. He sits on the management committee of parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) and has a long history working in the airline industry, having worked in American Airlines, Accenture, Clickair and Vueling Airlines. Alex is an Associate Professor at the IESE Business School. He is married with four children.
Dr Carrie Grant (hc) is a BAFTA award-winning broadcaster, vocal coach and advocate. She was awarded a MOBO award in ’98 and a BASCA in 2008 for her lifetime services to the music industry. She has both the biggest selling vocal coaching book and online course in the world. Carrie is President of the Unite Union for Community Practitioners and Health Visitors as well as being the Patient Lead for the College of Medicine and an Ambassador for Crohn’s & Colitis UK, The National Autistic Society and The Diana Award.
Holly is an active member of the Virgin Group Leadership team in 2008. She is Chair of Virgin Unite, a Founder and trustee of Big Change and Co-Chair of WE Day UK. In 2018, Holly published her first book, co-authored with Marc and Craig Kielburger, the international best-seller: WEconomy, You can find meaning, make a living, and change the world.
Elizabeth Nyamayaro is Senior Advisor to United Nations Under-Secretary-General. A strong advocate for women rights, Ms. Nyamayaro has worked at the forefront of Africa’s development agenda for more than two decades and previously held positions with UNAIDS, World Health Organization and the World Bank. She holds a MSc in Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and she has completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
John Amaechi OBE is a respected organisational psychologist, best selling New York Times author and CEO of APS (Amaechi Performance Systems). John spent several years as a professional athlete, becoming the first Brit to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). John is also a Chartered Scientist, an elected Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health and a Research Fellow at the University of East London and currently holds various board and trustee positions.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was awarded the OBE for services to community relations in 2003 and has been made a life peer in the House of Lords in 2013. She was recently named the most powerful woman in the country by the BBC for her tireless work to ensure that future generations of young people would enjoy the opportunities that were denied to her son, Stephen Lawrence, by his senseless murder.
Alex Kalomparis, is Vice President, Public Affairs, EMEA at Gilead Sciences. He is responsible for all communications and patient advocacy activities across Europe, Middle East and Australia. Alex has held senior communication roles with a number of consumer and pharmaceutical companies including Unilever, Rolls Royce, Novartis, Roche, Astrazeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. He is passionate about diversity and inclusion and especially LGBTQ rights.
Diana Roday Hosford is the Vice President of Sports & Entertainment for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, TAPS. After a trip to Afghanistan in 2013, Diana created teams4taps, working with professional sports teams and athletes to create meaningful opportunities for the families of the fallen to honor their heroes. She also oversees International Strategic Partnerships for TAPS working with the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Prior to working with TAPS, she worked for Special Olympics and in television news. Diana is a long-time mentor of young adults.
Sandara Kelso-Robb MBE, is the Northern Ireland Ambassador for The Diana Award and was given an MBE for over 30 years service within the voluntary and community sector across Ireland and the UK, working at senior levels in governance, fundraising and grant-making. Before establishing The Human Kind Foundation to encourage giving amongst young people, she previously worked with Giving NI and the Halifax Foundation NI. She also established Ireland’s first Giving Circle and the dissertation for her MSc in Executive Leadership focused on the infrastructure required to grow philanthropy.
Lord Jack McConnell is Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development; Vice President of UNICEF UK; and Chair of the McConnell International Foundation. He was First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007, an MSP from 1999-2011 and UK Special Representative for Peacebuilding from 2008 to 2010, when he was appointed to the House of Lords. Lord McConnell is Deputy Chair of the UK/Japan 21st Century Group and Chancellor of Stirling University.
Roya Nikkhah is the Royal Correspondent for The Sunday Times. Her coverage includes writing across the newspaper and The Sunday Times Magazine, breaking exclusive royal stories, covering royal weddings, births and overseas tours. Roya also works with several national and international broadcasters. In 2018, she broadcast alongside Huw Edwards for the BBC’s official coverage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding.
Callum Fairhurst is a 21 year old Diana Award holder. He received the Diana Award back in 2010 after fundraising in memory of his late brother, Liam, who passed away from cancer aged just 14. Since receiving the award, Callum has been an active fundraiser. He is in his final year at University studying Politics and International Development.
Maya is a 20 year old Syrian Refugee and 2017 Legacy Award Holder. She is now a student of Aviation Engineering With Pilot Studies at Brunel University. Maya is a prominent speaker for UNHCR’s Families Together campaign, ambassador for The Children’s Society, a TED speaker and an advocate for refugee’s rights. She is the recipient of The Diana Award, Legacy Award and Asian Women of Achievements Award.
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