International Jury

The five members of the independent UNESCO International Jury for the Prize on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) were selected and appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO, based on their independence and reputation in the field of ESD, equitable geographical distribution and gender equality.

The jury meets once a year to assess the nominations and sends its recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO.

The jurors for 2015-2019 are:

Oscar Motomura (Brazil) - Chairperson

Mr Motomura is the Founder and CEO of the Amana-Key Group, a Brazilian consulting and executive education company focused on the innovation of management, strategy and leadership practices in complex organizations. Mr Motomura provides unique expertise in the area of conflict mediation and complex negotiations and cultural integration and change management projects. He also serves as the co-chair of the Earth Charter International Council. More

Stephen Sterling (United Kingdom) - Co-Chair

Mr Sterling is Emeritus Professor of Sustainability Education at Plymouth University, former Head of the Centre for Sustainable Futures and former Senior Advisor to the UK Higher Education Academy on ESD. Having worked in academic and NGO fields nationally and internationally as a consultant in environmental and sustainability education, he is widely recognized as a leading voice in sustainability education. He has also served as a member of UNESCO’s Reference Group for the DESD. More

May Makhzoumi (Lebanon)

Ms Makhzoumi is the President of the Makhzoumi Foundation established in 1997 as a private non-profit organization in Lebanon. As part of its mission to improve environmental awareness and encourage quality education, the foundation runs a variety of programmes focusing on capacity-building to achieve sustainable development. More

Yoshiyuki Nagata (Japan)

Mr Nagata is Professor at the Department of Education, University of the Sacred Heart in Japan. He is an expert in the field of alternative education, education for international understanding and ESD. He has been involved in ESD activities in Japan from the beginning of the United Nations Decade of ESD (DESD, 2005-2014), and served as a member of UNESCO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Group for the DESD. More

Akpezi Ogbuigwe (Nigeria)

Ms Ogbuigwe is the Founder of the ANPEZ Centre for Environment and Development, where she works with schools, communities, government and the private sector on issues of environmental rights, human rights and development. Previously, as the Head of Environmental Education and Training, she initiated UNEP’s multi-stakeholders programme on Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African Universities and the Global Universities Partnership on Environmental Sustainability. She has great expertise in the field of environmental education, ESD and environmental law. More