Case study / 2022 edition
Island Innovation Awards
Recognising leaders, innovators, and projects driving positive change across island and coastal communities worldwide.
Applications & Nominations
Award Categories
Ceremony Views
A New Benchmark for Island Recognition
In May 2022, Island Innovation launched its inaugural awards programme at the Island Finance Forum, bringing global visibility to individuals, organisations, and projects delivering measurable impact across island communities. The programme was conceived as a long-term platform for surfacing island talent that often goes unrecognised in mainstream sustainability and development conversations.
The awards spanned twelve categories, from renewable energy and blue economy initiatives to women's leadership, COVID-19 response, and innovative research. Hundreds of applicants from across the globe competed for recognition, with winners drawn from eleven islands spanning five continents and multiple ocean regions.
The Island Innovation Awards were developed and delivered in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative. Island Innovation also serves as an official nominator for the £1 million Earthshot Prize, putting forward award winners for consideration. The Island Innovation Awards were launched publicly by President Bill Clinton.
From Summit to Awards Stage
The awards were designed to complement Island Innovation's summits and forums by creating a dedicated mechanism for honouring island change-makers across a structured set of thematic categories.
The 2022 edition covered the complete arc from open applications and nominations through to shortlisting, judging, and a public ceremony. A jury of 20 judges assessed applications across the twelve categories, though three were ultimately unable to participate in the scoring process. Judges included senior figures from international climate, finance, and sustainability organisations who committed significant time to reviewing submissions and providing detailed feedback.
A Strong Edition by the Numbers
- 352total submissions across all categories
- 20jury members
- 69entries for Women SDG Leadership, the most competitive category
- 69submissions attracted by Women SDG Leadership
- 63entries for Island Innovator category
- 63submissions attracted by Island Innovator category
- 908combined ceremony views across five platforms
- 8media outlets covering results across six territories
Winners: Twelve Categories, Eleven Islands
The shortlisted candidates per category ranged from 8 to 14 finalists. Full profiles of all winners and finalists are available on the Island Innovation Awards page.
Future Island Leader
Ronelle King, Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence. Barbados.
Island Innovator
Radhames Carela, Wine To Water Dominican Republic and Ceramic Water Filter Programme. Dominican Republic.
Sustainable Energy Initiative of the Year
EarthSpark International, Scaling Smart, Solar, Energy Access Microgrids in Haiti. Haiti.
Resilient Island
Marine Megafauna Conservation Organisation, educational programme in South East Mauritius. Mauritius.
Women SDG Leadership
Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Director, Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Government. Cayman Islands.
Sustainable Company of the Year
Island Green Living Association. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Most Transformational Government Sustainability Initiative
Vanuatu Department of Tourism, Food Tourism and Agritourism Initiative (FTAI), part of the Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Vanuatu.
COVID-19 Response
Reach Within, Getting to the root of childhood trauma, simply.. Grenada.
Innovative Island Research
Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePACT), Pacific Community (SPC), agricultural genebank research. Viti Levu, Fiji.
Blue Economy Initiative
Coast 4C, regenerative seaweed farming and net recycling linked to improved Marine Protected Areas. Philippines.
Green Finance and Investment
CARICOM Development Fund, Credit Risk Abatement Facility (CRAF). Barbados.
Most Impactful Island Innovation Ambassadors
Alfredo M. Coro II and Maria Chnaraki (Hnaraki), Municipal Mayor, Municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Islands; and Adjunct Professor, Drexel University. Philippines and Greece.
International Press Across Six Territories
The awards generated earned media coverage across eight publications and broadcast outlets, with each focusing on winners relevant to its local readership.
- Barbados Today
- The Source (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Cayman Compass
- Cayman News Service
- The Fiji Times
- The Caller (Greece)
- The Pacific Community Podcast
- The Vineyard Gazette
The Island Innovation Awards has been an amazing showcase of island talent from all across the world, and a huge success that we are very proud of. We received over 330 applications and nominations, which is fantastic. Thank you to our awards partners, the Clinton Global Initiative, and to our esteemed panel of judges.
Legacy and Impact
The Island Innovation Awards demonstrated clear demand for a dedicated recognition programme for island sustainability. The volume and quality of submissions across categories such as Blue Economy, Women SDG Leadership, and Island Innovator confirmed that a substantial global community of practitioners is actively seeking greater visibility and recognition.
Beyond recognising individual winners, the programme brought together an international jury of experts across climate finance, conservation, policy, and sustainable development, alongside finalists and winners representing governments, NGOs, academia, businesses, and community organisations from island communities worldwide. The awards generated international media coverage and strengthened Island Innovation's relationships with global partners including the Clinton Global Initiative. As an official Earthshot Prize nominator, Island Innovation was also able to put forward selected award recipients for consideration, extending the programme's impact beyond the awards themselves.