Branson on jury of Zayed Future Energy Prize

Founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, has joined the jury of the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The prize is a global award for innovation in renewable energy and sustainability, and Branson was invited to the jury for his commitment to identifying entrepreneurial solutions for provoking positive change in the world.

Branson, whose group includes Virgin Unite, a non-profit foundation which tackles social and environmental issues and strives to make business a force for good, joins Ratan N Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons.

Tata was chairman of Tata Sons for 21 years until his retirement in 2012, and is an keen environmentalist and philanthropist.

The $4m prize is awarded annually in five categories: large corporation; small and medium sized enterprise; non-governmental organisation; lifetime achievement; and high schools.

The jury meeting is the culmination of the prize’s four-tier process following the close of submissions. The prior stages are: Due diligence by the prize’s research and analysis partners; the meeting of the review committee for the first shortlist; the meeting of the selection committee for the second and final shortlist; and finally the jury deliberations where winners are chosen.

Submissions for this edition of the prize will close on 5 August, with the awards ceremony taking place on 20 January, 2014 as part of the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.