To honour the outstanding achievements of Institute's alumni, the Association Committee created the Alumni Awards in eight categories.
New Awards 2021
Not all awards will be given every year. Laureates will be selected by members of the Committee by vote and will be invited to attend the awards ceremony and gala dinner of the Alumni Reunion in Geneva.
To nominate a fellow alumna / alumnus, please send your proposals before May 1st using the form below. Send any questions to alumni@graduateinstitute.ch.
Recognises the outstanding achievement of an alumna / alumnus in their field within the last year. Consideration is given to alumni who have won honours in their field or who have been recognised nationally or internationally.
Winner 2022
Omar A. Touray ('92, '95), Gambian diplomat, President of the ECOWAS Commission (2022-2026).
Winner 2021
Signe Krogstrup ('98), Governor at Danmarks Nationalbank.
Winner 2020
Rafaël M. Grossi (PhD, '97), General Director for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Winner 2019
Julie Mélichar ('17), Citizen Mobilisation and Communication Officer at SOS MEDITERRANEE.
Winner 2016
Lora Pappa ('88), Founder and President of the Greek NGO METAdrasi-Action for Migration and Development.
Recognises the outstanding achievement of a young alumna / alumnus in their field, whether through professional achievement or community service. The recipient must be 40 years or under at the time of nomination.
Winner 2021
Felix Staehli ('08), co-founder of Impact Hub Genève and Lausanne.
Winner 2019
Sandrine Cina ('11), Founder and CEO of Be You Network.
Winner 2017
Samar Hasan ('07), Founder and CEO of Epiphany.
Winner 2016
Brindusa Burrows ('05), Founder & CEO of The Ground_Up Project.
Recognises the extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the Institute and Alumni Association by an alumna / alumnus through their volunteerism, dedication, philanthropy and commitment to its values.
Winner 2019
Jenö Staehelin ('71), Swiss career diplomat and lawyer, First Swiss Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2002-2004)
Winner 2018
Paul Mathieu ('87), Advisor at the International Monetary Fund and President of the Institute Alumni Association.
Winner 2017
Jacques Moreillon ('71), former Director General and member of the Assembly Council of the ICRC, former President of the Institute Alumni Association.
Winner 2016
Michel Barde ('75), former member of the Board of Directors of the HEI Foundation and former President of the Association of HEI Alumni.
Recognises an alumna / alumnus who has demonstrated excellence and achievement in their distinguished career; has demonstrated leadership in their profession; has made a positive contribution to the prestige, influence and reputation of the Institute; and exercises a strong positive influence within the community.
Winner 2023
Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry ('84), President of the World Maritime University
Winner 2023
Maria Teresa Infante Caffi ('80), Judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Winner 2023
Maurice Kamga ('03), Judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Winner 2023
Michel Kafando ('72), President of the Transition and Head of State, Burkina Faso
Represented by his daughter
Winner 2023
Nilly Sikorsky ('65), President of Capital International
Winner 2023
Laurence Boisson de Chazournes ('91), Visiting Professor at Collège de France (2022-2023)
Winner 2023
Jacques Grinevald ('70), Member of the Anthropocene Working Group
Winner 2023
Laure Waridel ('16), Founder of Équiterre
Winner 2023
Nobuyuki Idei ('62), Founder of Quantum Leaps Corporation
Represented by his widow
Winner 2022
Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Mexican diplomat, Executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2016-2022).
Winner 2022
Yan Lan ('94), Vice Chairman of Investment Banking at Lazard, Chairman and CEO of Lazard Greater China.
Winner 2022
Micheline Calmy-Rey ('68), Member of the Swiss Federal Council (2003-2011), President of the Swiss Confederation (2007, 2011).
Winner 2021
Mervat Tallawy ('74), Egyptian diplomat and first woman to receive the prize.
Winner 2019
Marcel Boisard ('77), Swiss intellectual and diplomat, Executive Director of UNITAR (1992-2007)
Winner 2018
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ('80), President of the International Court of Justice.
Winner 2017
Georges Abi-Saab ('67), Honorary Professor, International Law.
Recognises the achievements of an alumna / alumnus in the area of human culture and arts, with particular emphasis on contributions to respecting cultural diversity and enhancing inter-cultural dialogue.
Recognises an alumna/ alumnus having made an outstanding contribution and demonstrated strong leadership in addressing inequalities and advancing the gender, diversity and inclusion agendas in the workplace and the community, serving as an inspiration to others.
Recognises the achievement of an alumna / alumnus who has achieved an outstanding impact through their professional or personal journey in the area of justice, peace-making and peace-building, humanitarian response or human rights.
Recognises the outstanding achievement of an alumna / alumnus in the field of sustainability, with particular emphasis on achieving a significant impact, raising awareness and influencing change, who have won honours in their field or who have been recognised nationally or internationally.
Winner 2023
Laurence Boisson de Chazournes ('91), Visiting Professor at Collège de France (2022-2023)
Winner 2023
Jacques Grinevald ('70), Member of the Anthropocene Working Group
Winner 2023
Laure Waridel ('16), Founder of Équiterre
Winner 2021
Felix Staehli ('08), Co-Founder of Impact Hub Genève and Lausanne.
Winner 2022
Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Mexican diplomat, Executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2016-2022).