All members
of the expert jury of 2026

The jury decide with expertise and contextual knowledge on the pioneers: companies that show effective, successful and exemplary contributions to transformation in their industry, that have become or should become role models.

 

These experts support the search
for the pioneers of transformation 2026.

Each jury consists of several experts from industry practice, civil society, consulting and
research. The jurors decide independently and according to clear compliance rules.

 

Helmy Abouleish CEO | SEKEM Holding

Christoph Ahlhaus | Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Matthias Belitz Division Head Sustainability, Energy and Climate Protection | Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V. (VCI)

Claudia Brück Chair Communication and Politics | Fairtrade Deutschland e.V.

Dr. Matthias Damert Shareholder, Advisor and Speaker forSustainability | plant values GbR
Saori Dubourg CEO | Greiner AG, Member of the Technology Council for Advanced Materials der Europäischen Kommission, Vorstandmitglied des Capitals Coalitio

Julia Eckey Managing Director | Klimaschutz-Unternehmen. Die Klimaschutz- und Energieffizienzgruppe der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.

Dr. Marc Evers Director of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Unit, Business Start-ups, Business Succession | Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer (DIHK)

Prof. Manfred Fischedick | Wuppertal Institut

Dr. Frauke Fischer | PERÚ PURO

Dr. Meike Gebhard Environmental Economist and Managing Director | UTOPIA GmbH

Nora Sophie Griefahn Managing Director | Cradle to Cradle NGO

Prof. Dr. Rainer Grießhammer Chairman of the Executive Board | Stiftung Zukunftserbe

Dr. Olivia Henke Member of the Executive Board | Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima

Dr. Alexandra Hildebrandt Journalist and Sustainability Expert

Alexander Holst Managing Director | Accenture – Sustainability Strategy & Services

Tim Janßen Member of the Executive Board | Cradle to Cradle NGO

Torsten Jäger Director, Head of Sustainable Finance | Bundesverband deutscher Banken e.V.

Benedikt Kauertz Head of the Department of Industry and Products | ifeu - Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg gGmbH

Claudia Kister Sustainable Finance Director | Bundesverbnd Deutscher Banken e.V.

Mario Klütsch Managing Director | Viva con Agua Wasser GmbH

Prof. Dr. Andreas Knie Head of the Research Group on Digital Mobility and Social Differentiation | Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH

Toni Koç Sustainability Advisor and Coach | plant values GbR

Dr. rer. nat. Nadja Kratz Managing Director | Forschungsinstitut für Glas - Keramik GmbH

Jan-Marten Krebs Founder and Director | sustainable AG Unternehmensberatung

Rainer Kroker | PwC Germany Sustainability Leader

Dr. Jonas Lamberg Transportation Scientist at the Institute for Environmental Planning | Leibniz Universität Hannover

Jürgen May CEO and Owner | 2bdifferent GmbH & Co. KG

Simone Menne Directorate | International Airline Group

Mechthild Naschke Project Management | Stiftung World Future Council

Prof. Dr. Nadine Pratt Professor for International Management and Sustainability | FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management

Dr. Dennis Rendschmidt Managing Director | Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V. (VDMA)

Götz Römer Research Associate | CSM, Leuphana University Lueneburg

Benjamin Sachs Research Associate | CSM, Leuphana University Lueneburg

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schaltegger Professor of Sustainability Management and Head | CSM, Leuphana University Lueneburg

Dr. Andrea Schirmacher Member of the Executive Board | WeiberWirtschaft eG

Jürgen Schmidt Member of the Executive Board | memo Stiftung
Prof. Uew Schneidewind | former Mayor of Wuppertal

Dr. Ute Symanski Founder | futurWIR - Beratung für Politik und Wissenschaft

Gundula Ullah Chief Procurement & Sustainability Officer | Funke Mediengruppe

Cornelia Upmeier Head of the CSR | DIHK

Antje von Dewitz Managing Director | VAUDE

Prof. Dr. Torsten Weber Professor for sustainability management | CBS Cologne Business School GmbH

Prof. Friederike Welter | IfM Bonn, University Siegen

Prof. Dr. Tobias Wollermann President | Außenhandelsvereinigung des Deutschen Einzelhandels e.V. (HDE), Group Vice President Corporate Responsibility | Otto Group