Global Excellence Award

(Conferred by the Global Association for Research and Innovation – GARI)

About the Awards

The Global Excellence Award recognizes individuals whose work demonstrates exceptional achievement, innovation, and lasting impact in their field. Conferred by the Global Association for Research and Innovation (GARI), the award celebrates professionals from around the world who exemplify leadership, creativity, and a commitment to advancing knowledge and society.
This distinction is open across disciplines — from science and technology to business, education, health, the arts, and public service. Each year, a select group of honorees are chosen through a rigorous review process and recognized on the global stage for contributions that inspire progress and set new standards of excellence.

Award Categories

The Global Excellence Award honors distinction across a wide range of disciplines. To reflect the diverse contributions shaping our world, recognition may be conferred in categories such as

Science & Technology

Breakthroughs advancing knowledge, innovation, and application.

Business & Leadership

Outstanding leadership in enterprise, entrepreneurship, and organizational growth.

Health & Public Service

Advancing human well-being, healthcare, and social development.

Arts, Humanities & Education

Creative, cultural, and educational contributions that enrich societies.

Policy, Governance & Social Impact

Initiatives that strengthen institutions, governance, and global communities.

Organizational / Institutional Categories

Recognizing organizations driving cutting-edge solutions and global digital transformation.

Categories may be updated each year based on the range of nominations received.

The Organizers

The award is organized by the Global Association for Research and Innovation (GARI), an international body committed to advancing research, knowledge, and innovation worldwide. GARI brings together scholars, professionals, and leaders across disciplines to foster collaboration and recognize outstanding achievement.

With a network that spans continents, GARI provides a platform for honoring individuals whose contributions extend beyond borders and create a lasting global impact.

Eligibility, Judging Criteria and process

Eligibility Criteria

Open worldwide to individuals, organizations, and initiatives.
Candidates must demonstrate a verifiable record of outstanding achievement in their areas of specialization.
Projects/initiatives must have been implemented or completed within the last 24 months.
Candidates must provide evidence of national or international recognition of their work, showing that their contributions have set them apart within their field.
Achievements must demonstrate measurable impact, originality, and innovation that advance knowledge, practice, or societal well-being.
Nominees must have played a leading or critical role in the success of the achievement.
Sustained excellence and adherence to professional ethics are required.
Incomplete or unverifiable nominations will not be considered.
The Award recognizes exceptional individuals and initiatives whose work distinguishes them at the national, field-specific, and international levels of excellence.

Judging Criteria

Nominees are evaluated on the excellence, originality, and impact of their contributions at the national, field-specific, and international levels. To be considered, candidates must demonstrate outstanding distinction in at least three of the following:

Groundbreaking achievements that have advanced their field or created lasting solutions.
Exemplary leadership and influence in organizations, professional communities, or global initiatives.
Recognition of excellence at national and international levels, through awards, honors, or widespread adoption of their work.
Commitment to mentorship and capacity building, fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Sustainable contributions with worldwide reach, ensuring enduring positive impact across societies and nations.

This award is reserved for those whose work reflects the highest standards of excellence and has set them apart nationally, in their field, and on the global stage.

Judging & Awards Process

Timeline

of entries will take place from September to October.

Judging Panel

International judges will be recruited across academia, industry, and civil society. Chairs of the Judging Committees will invite senior-level experts and past award honorees to serve. Additional judges may apply through the official website. Judges are approved based on their field expertise, professional distinction, and international standing.

Evaluation Method

Each eligible entry will be reviewed independently by no fewer than three (3) qualified judges, using a blind evaluation system. Ratings will be assigned on a standardized scale (1–10) against the published criteria: excellence, originality, impact, leadership, recognition, mentorship, and sustainability.

Scoring & Designations

- Entries with an average score of 8.5 or higher will be shortlisted as potential award recipients.
- The highest-scoring entry in each category will be designated as the Gold Award winner.
- Entries scoring 8.0–8.49 will receive a Silver Award, while those scoring 7.5–7.99 will be recognized with a Bronze Award.

Oversight & Integrity

The panel of judges oversees the process to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with national and international standards of excellence. The veracity of claims may be audited, and entries containing false or unverifiable information will be disqualified.

Announcement & Recognition

Final honorees will be confirmed by consensus and announced globally through official channels. Winners will receive digital and physical recognition materials and may be profiled in international publications. Award winners will also have their entries published on the official website (with the option to redact sensitive information).

🏆 Award Recognition

All award recipients will receive an official certificate and a digital recognition plaque at no cost.

Attendance at the award ceremony is optional and complimentary for all honorees.

Recipients who wish to receive a physical commemorative plaque may request one. The organization will handle production and delivery, while the recipient is responsible only for the production and shipping costs, which will be communicated at the time of request.

Certificate

Plaque

Advisory Board & Judging Panel

International Advisory Board

The Advisory Board comprises distinguished experts and leaders who may be consulted for strategic guidance and high-level counsel when needed. Their integrity, international credibility, and professional stature reinforce the Award’s reputation and contribute to its standing as a distinguished global honor.

Name: Professor Marlyse Baptista

Position/Institution: President’s Distinguished Professor at University of Pennsylvania

Professional Footprint: Africa, Europe & North America

Advisory Focus: Arts, Humanities & Education

Name: Narendra Babu Atmakuri

Position/Institution: Director at Panasonic Avionics

Professional Footprint: Asia / North America

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology, Business & Leadership & organization / institution

Name: Marta Galindo

Position/Institution: Academic Professional at Georgia State University

Professional Footprint: Europe / North America

Advisory Focus: Arts, Humanities & Education.

Name: Kingsley Chiwuike Ukaoha

Position/Institution: Professor and Dean at Wigwe University

Professional Footprint: Africa / Asia

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology, Innovation & Technology (Org) & Education & Research (Org).

Name: Professor Donald Dyer

Position/Institution: Distinguished Professor at University of Mississippi

Professional Footprint: North America, Europe & Asia

Advisory Focus: Arts, Humanities & Education

Name: Dr. Ashish Dibouliya

Position/Institution: Managing Director at Webster Bank USA

Professional Footprint: Asia / North America

Advisory Focus: Business & Leadership, Policy, Governance & Social Impact.

Name: Benjamin Asamoah

Position/Institution: Chief Executive Officer at Data Control Limited

Professional Footprint: Africa / North America

Advisory Focus: Business & leadership; Organization / Institution

Name: Packiaraj Kasi Rajan

Position/Institution: Director of Mobile Technology at A&E Global Media

Professional Footprint: Asia / North America

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology & Business & Leadership

Name: Adeoye Makinde

Position/Institution: Engineering Manager at Arcade Integrated Services

Professional Footprint: Africa / North America

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology, Business & Leadership; Sustainability & Environment (Org/Company)

Name: Natarajan Ravikumar

Position/Institution: Principal Program Manager at Honey well International, Inc.

Professional Footprint: Asia / North America

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology & Business & Leadership.

Name: Blessing Unwana Umoh

Position/Institution: Pathways Operations Manager at Amazon

Professional Footprint: Africa / North America

Advisory Focus: Business & Leadership, Data/AI Ethics & Digital Governance

Name: Baradwaj Bandi Sudakara

Position/Institution: Senior Software Engineer at Ascension Health

Professional Footprint: Asia / North America

Advisory Focus: Health & Public Service

Name: Jothimani Kanthan

Position/Institution: Principal Engineer at Intuit Inc.

Professional Footprint: Asia / North America

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology, Innovation & Technology (Org) & Education & Research (Org)

Name: Balasubramanian Rengasamy

Position/Institution: Lead Solutions Architect at Humana

Professional Footprint: Asia/N. America

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology; Health & Public Service

Name: Dazok Donald Jambol

Position/Institution: Drilling and Workover Advisor at Aramco

Professional Footprint: Asia / Africa

Advisory Focus: Science & Technology

Name: Jay Bharat Mehta

Position/Institution: Senior Software Engineer at Snowflake Inc. | Formerly Apple, Guidewire, and Wells Fargo

Professional Footprint: North America & Asia

Advisory Focus: Science & technology, and Innovation & Technology (Org)

Name: Adepeju Deborah Bello

Position/Institution: Cybersecurity and Financial Crime Prevention Specialist at Barclays UK

Professional Footprint: Africa, Europe & South America

Advisory Focus: Science & technology and Innovation & Technology (Org)

Name: Suhasan C. Dillibatcha

Position/Institution: Senior Product Manager, Samsung Electronics America

Professional Footprint: Asia & North America

Advisory Focus: Science & technology; Business & Leadership; Innovation & Technology (Org)

Judging Panel

The Judging Panel plays a central and decisive role in the evaluation of nominations. Members are appointed annually based on their professional standing, expertise, and international reputation. The panel reflects a balance of academia, industry, and policy leadership drawn from multiple continents.

Judges are entrusted with ensuring fairness, transparency, and excellence throughout the process. To maintain integrity, panelists must recuse themselves from reviewing any nomination where a conflict of interest exists. Their independent assessments uphold the Award’s global credibility and reinforce its status as a distinguished international honor.

Judging Process

1 Screening of Entries

Submissions are reviewed for eligibility and completeness. Only entries meeting the official requirements advance to the next stage.

2 Independent Evaluation

Each eligible nomination is assessed by multiple judges drawn from national and international experts across academia, industry, and policy. Reviews are conducted through a blind evaluation system to eliminate bias.

3 Panel Deliberation

Judges convene to deliberate on shortlisted nominees, applying the official selection criteria (original contributions, leadership, global recognition, mentorship, and sustainability). Scores and assessments are compared to ensure consistency.