GARI Global Award for Excellence 2026
Leadership Committees and Award Recipients
Global Association for Research & Innovation
Presentation ceremony: November 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. CST
Bob Harrison Wellness & Advocacy Center, Huntsville, Alabama
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.
Award certificate
Award plaque
Honorary Patron
Violet Edwards
Honorary Patron of GARI and Honorary Distinguished Fellow (Hon. FeGARI)
Commissioner, Madison County, Alabama, USA
Awards Chair and Co Chair
Provide overall leadership, coordinate the committees and oversee delivery of the awards and presentation ceremony.
Name: Dr. Marta Galindo
Position/Institution: Awards Chair
Affiliation: Vice President and Director of Innovation & Knowledge Development, GARI; Georgia State University, USA
Name: Dr. Horeb M. Anthony
Position/Institution: Awards Co-Chair
Affiliation: Treasurer and Director of Publications, GARI; Lecturer, Baylor University, USA
Awards Advisory Committee
Name: Prof. Marlyse Baptista
Affiliation: University of Pennsylvania
Area of expertise: Arts, humanities and education
Name: Narendra Babu Atmakuri
Affiliation: Panasonic Avionics
Area of expertise: Technology and business
Name: Dr. Marta Galindo
Affiliation: Georgia State University
Area of expertise: Arts, humanities and education
Name: Prof. Kingsley Chiwuike Ukaoha
Affiliation: Wigwe University
Area of expertise: Technology and education
Name: Prof. Donald L. Dyer
Affiliation: University of Mississippi
Area of expertise: Arts, humanities and education
Name: Dr. Ashish Dibouliya
Affiliation: Webster Banky
Area of expertise: Business and governance
Name: Benjamin Asamoah
Affiliation: Data Control Limited
Area of expertise: Business and institutions
Name: Packiaraj Kasi Rajan
Affiliation: A&E Global Media
Area of expertise: Technology and business
Name: Adeoye Makinde
Affiliation: Arcade Integrated Services
Area of expertise: Technology, business and sustainability
Name: Blessing Unwana Umoh
Affiliation: Amazon
Area of expertise: Business and AI ethics
Name: Baradwaj Bandi Sudakara
Affiliation: Ascension Health
Area of expertise: Health and public service
Name: Jothimani Kanthan
Affiliation: Intuit
Area of expertise: Technology and education
Name: Balasubramanian Rengasamy
Affiliation: Humana
Area of expertise: Technology and health
Name: Dazok Donald Jambol
Affiliation: Aramco
Area of expertise: Science and technology
Name: Jay Bharat Mehta
Affiliation: Snowflake
Area of expertise: Technology and innovation
Name: Adepeju Deborah Bello
Affiliation: Barclays UK
Area of expertise: Cybersecurity and innovation
Name: Suhasan C. Dillibatcha
Affiliation: Samsung Electronics America
Area of expertise: Technology and business
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.
4
Final Decision & Announcement
Honorees are confirmed through consensus and announced publicly via the GARI website, global press releases, and official recognition channels.
Judging Panel
Name: Dr. Anas Bedraoui
Affiliation: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
Judging category or expertise: Science and technology; institutional innovation; sustainability
Name: Swapneswar Sundar Ray
Affiliation: U.S. Bank, USA
Judging category or expertise: Science and technology; health; humanitarian organizations; cybersecurity
Name: Dr. M. M. Bagali
Affiliation: Dayananda Sagar University, India
Judging category or expertise: Social impact; education; research collaboration; creative works
Name: Prof. Gloria Bassey Igri Okon
Affiliation: University of Calabar, Nigeria
Judging category or expertise: Education leadership; pedagogical innovation; emerging technologies
Name: Himanshu Jain
Affiliation: Employer affiliation not recorded in supplied workbook
Judging category or expertise: Science and technology; education; social impact; sustainability
Name: Dr. Enowoghomwenma Dan-Eheremwen
Affiliation: Edo State College of Education, Nigeria
Judging category or expertise: Technology; policy and social impact; institutional education and research
Name: Raghavendra Reddy Kapu
Affiliation: Akshaya Inc., USA
Judging category or expertise: Science and technology; humanitarian organizations
Name: Gaurav Walawalkar
Affiliation: Finance Manager, Amazon, USA
Judging category or expertise: Business transformation; corporate social responsibility
Name: Udit Joshi
Affiliation: Senior Product Manager, Google
Judging category or expertise: Science and technology
Name: Prof. Brian Hibbs
Affiliation: Dalton State College, USA
Judging category or expertise: Education; technology; corporate responsibility; mental health
Name: Adeoye Makinde
Affiliation: Arcade Integrated Services, USA
Judging category or expertise: Technology; business; institutional social impact
Name: Mohit Nayak
Affiliation: Employer affiliation not recorded in supplied workbook
Judging category or expertise: Engineering; technology; philanthropy; public health; environment
Name: Maryna Bautina
Affiliation: SoftServe
Judging category or expertise: Medical and life sciences; digital transformation
Programs and Event Management Team
Name: Robert M. Cochran
Position: Program Manager
Main responsibilities: Coordinate the overall program calendar, team assignments, committee meetings and event reporting.
Name: Victoria Winters
Position: Program Manager Operations
Main responsibilities: Coordinate ceremony planning, invitations, recipient follow-up, RSVP records and venue arrangements.
Name: Koushika Narayana
Position: Technical Program Manager
Main responsibilities: Support online forms, registration systems, review records, technical workflows and event technology.
Name: Nicole
Position: Communications and Outreach Manager
Main responsibilities: Coordinate award announcements, invitation campaigns, publicity and community outreach.
Name: Mrs. Oluwatomilola Alawode
Position: Office and Administrative Assistant
Main responsibilities: Maintain recipient records; collect biographies, photographs and attendance confirmations; support check-in and award documentation.
Name: Shalini
Position: Email Campaign Support
Main responsibilities: Support invitation emails, attendance reminders and campaign follow-up.
Name: Siyona
Position: Social Media Support
Main responsibilities: Support recipient announcements, event promotion and social media updates.
Name: Syed Abdul Raheem
Position: Lead Accountant
Main responsibilities: Maintain event budgets, payment records, supplier documentation and expenditure reports.
Name: Isabella Naa Ashirifia Mensah
Position: Accountant and Grant Researcher
Main responsibilities: Support financial documentation and research relevant funding opportunities.
Name: Giuliano Lacasa
Position: Accountant and Bookkeeper
Main responsibilities: Support bookkeeping, receipt records and account reconciliation.
Award Recipients
Arts, Humanities & Education
Recipient: Sal Khan
Award Category and Level: Global Excellence in Education Leadership Award Gold
Affiliation: Khan Academy
Achievement Recognized: Expanding access to education through free digital learning resources and technology-supported instruction.
Recipient: Neil Lamb
Award Category and Level: Global Excellence in Education Leadership Award Gold
Affiliation: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
Achievement Recognized: Advancing genetics education, STEM learning and accessible educational resources.
Recipient: Dr. Geetha Murali
Award Category and Level:Global Excellence in Education Leadership Award Gold
Affiliation: Room to Read
Achievement Recognized: Leadership in literacy, educational access and opportunities for girls.
Recipient: Waymond Jackson
Award Category and Level: Pedagogical Innovation Award Gold
Affiliation: President, Ed Farm
Achievement Recognized: Connecting classroom learning, digital skills and pathways to economic mobility.
Recipient: Edward Francis G. Gabor
Award Category and Level: Excellence in Research Collaboration Silver
Affiliation: Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, Philippines
Achievement Recognized: Research engagement, student mentorship and international academic collaboration.
Science & Technology
Recipient: Dr. Kimberly Robinson
Award Category and Level: Engineering & Applied Sciences Award Gold
Affiliation: U.S. Space & Rocket Center; NASA career
Achievement Recognized: Engineering leadership, space-program contributions and STEM education.
Recipient: Gary P. Zank
Award Category and Level: Space & Earth Sciences Award Gold
Affiliation: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Achievement Recognized: Contributions to heliophysics, solar-wind turbulence and space-science research leadership.
Recipient: Raji Gopalakrishnan Nair
Award Category and Level: Innovation & Emerging Technologies Award Gold
Affiliation: Oracle, USA
Achievement Recognized: Enterprise software innovation, reusable architectures and applied AI research.
Recipient: Sydney Anuyah
Award Category and Level: Innovation & Emerging Technologies Award Silver
Affiliation: Indiana University Indianapolis
Achievement Recognized: AI research, reusable datasets and tools, technical leadership and mentorship.
Recipient: Jeasy Sehgal
Award Category and Level: Innovation & Emerging Technologies Award Silver
Affiliation: Georgia State University, USA
Achievement Recognized: Contributions to emerging technology, leadership, mentorship and capacity building.
Recipient: Atul Bamrara
Award Category and Level: ICT & Digital Transformation Award Silver
Affiliation: Business analysis and identity governance; employer not supplied
Achievement Recognized: Contributions to identity lifecycle controls, data validation and digital process improvement.
Recipient: Yakubu Dawud
Award Category and Level: ICT & Digital Transformation Award Silver
Affiliation: ICT & Digital Transformation Award
Achievement Recognized: Technology-enabled operational transformation, automation, analytics and enterprise innovation.
Recipient: Marnie Webb
Award Category and Level: ICT & Digital Transformation Award Silver
Affiliation: TechSoup
Achievement Recognized: Nonprofit digital transformation, participatory technology design and organizational leadership.
Recipient: Packiaraj Kasi Rajan
Award Category and Level: ICT & Digital Transformation Award Silver
Affiliation: A&E Global Media
Achievement Recognized: Mobile engineering and unified streaming-platform architecture.
Recipient: Oluchi Aneke
Award Category and Level: Medical & Life Sciences Award Silver
Affiliation: Georgia State University, USA Product
Achievement Recognized: Product safety, regulatory compliance, quality governance and research on medicine quality.
Recipient: Amanda Storey
Award Category and Level: Agriculture & Food Security Award Silver
Affiliation: Jones Valley Teaching Farm
Achievement Recognized: Farm-based education, youth development and practical learning through food and agriculture.
Recipient: Prof. Dr. Atul Balwant Ayare
Award Category and Level: Energy & Environmental Sciences Silver
Affiliation: Vice President, MITCON, Pune, India
Achievement Recognized: Environmental engineering, carbon accounting, net-zero planning and sustainability leadership.
Business & Leadership
Recipient: Steve Senyo Ayivi-Donkor
Award Category and Level: Innovation in Business Transformation Award Gold
Affiliation: Deloitte and Yinson Production experience
Achievement Recognized: Technology-supported tax research, financial analytics and business process transformation.
Recipient: Yakubu Dawud
Award Category and Level: Innovation in Business Transformation Award Silver
Affiliation: The Volta Institute for Innovation Ecosystems; Amazon experience
Achievement Recognized: Technology-enabled operational transformation, automation, analytics and enterprise innovation.
Recipient: Asif Saleh
Award Category and Level: Philanthropy & Social Entrepreneurship Award Gold
Affiliation: BRAC
Achievement Recognized: Leadership in poverty reduction, social development and community opportunity.
Policy, Governance & Social Impact
Recipient: Alison Kling
Award Category and Level: Global Knowledge Equity Award Gold
Affiliation: CEO, Free 2 Teach
Achievement Recognized: Community leadership that supports educators and expands access to classroom resources.
Recipient: Angela L. Wilson-Walker
Award Category and Level: Youth Empowerment & Civic Engagement Award Gold
Affiliation: Huntsville Community Drumline
Achievement Recognized: Youth development through percussion, digital literacy and creative technology programs.
Recipient: Patrick Wynn
Award Category and Level: Youth Empowerment & Civic Engagement Award Silver
Affiliation: Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama
Achievement Recognized: Youth mentorship, workforce readiness and community partnerships.
Recipient: Bryan Stevenson
Award Category and Level: Human Rights & Justice Award Gold
Affiliation: Equal Justice Initiative
Achievement Recognized: Human rights advocacy, legal representation and efforts to address wrongful convictions and unjust sentences.
Health & Public Service
Recipient: Jeremy Blair
Award Category and Level: Mental Health & Well-Being Award Gold
Affiliation: CEO, WellStone
Achievement Recognized: Leadership in community mental healthcare and collaboration to strengthen access and well-being.
Recipient: Dr. Sania Nishtar
Award Category and Level: Public Health & Policy Leadership Award Gold
Affiliation: CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Achievement Recognized: Public health leadership, social protection and international vaccine partnerships.
Recipient: Mona Fouad
Award Category and Level: Health Equity & Access Award Silver
Affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Achievement Recognized: Health-equity research and community partnerships that address disparities in care.
Innovation & Technology Leadership — Institutional
Recipient: Vivience AI
Award Category and Level: Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technology & Responsible Innovation Gold
Affiliation: Institutional recipient
Achievement Recognized: AI innovation through the Affective-Emotive Resonance framework and emotionally responsive digital humans.
Recipient: TechSoup
Award Category and Level: Excellence in Digital Inclusion, Nonprofit Technology & Global Social Impact Gold
Affiliation: International nonprofit technology network
Achievement Recognized: Digital inclusion and technology access for nonprofit organizations worldwide.
Recipient: Cybarik
Award Category and Level: Excellence in Cybersecurity Innovation & Digital Resilience Bronze
Affiliation: Cybersecurity organization
Achievement Recognized: Cybersecurity innovation and contributions to digital resilience.
Corporate Leadership Excellence — Institutional
Recipient: Huntsville Hospital Community Health Initiative
Award Category and Level: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leadership Award Bronze
Affiliation: Huntsville Hospital, Alabama
Achievement Recognized: Community investment and support for local health and nonprofit initiatives.
Social Impact & Philanthropy — Institutional
Recipient: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Award Category and Level: Humanitarian Organization Excellence Award Silver
Affiliation: International vaccine alliance
Achievement Recognized: Humanitarian contributions through vaccine access and global immunization partnerships.
Recipient: HEALS Inc.
Award Category and Level: Humanitarian Organization Excellence Award Silver
Affiliation: Huntsville, Alabama
Achievement Recognized: School-linked healthcare and support that help underserved children and families access care.
Education & Research Leadership — Institutional
Recipient: Room to Read
Award Category and Level: Global Knowledge Equity Award Gold
Affiliation: International education nonprofit
Achievement Recognized: Literacy, local-language publishing and educational opportunities for children and girls.
Sustainability & Environment — Institutional
Recipient: The People’s Patch Community Farm, Huntsville
Award Category and Level: Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Gold
Affiliation: Madison County, Alabama
Achievement Recognized: Community agriculture and food-access initiatives that support sustainable local food systems.
Recipient: WaterAid
Award Category and Level: Global Water Security & Conservation Award Silver
Affiliation: International water, sanitation and hygiene organization
Achievement Recognized: Expanding access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene through community and policy partnerships.
Recipient: Barefoot College International
Award Category and Level: Renewable Energy Excellence Award Bronze
Affiliation: International community development organization
Achievement Recognized: Training rural women in solar engineering and supporting locally maintained renewable-energy systems.
Ceremony and enquiries
November 18, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time Bob Harrison Wellness & Advocacy Center, Huntsville, Alabama Enquiries: contact@gariwenjibra.org
Award Announcements
Award recipients will be announced on December 15, 2026.
Event Updates
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at Springdale Station, 979 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX, United States.
Sponsorship
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact contact@gariwenjibra.org