8 May 2025

We are delighted to share that the U21 Award and U21 Leaders of the Future Award winners were announced as part of our Annual Network Meeting at the University of California, Davis on Wednesday 7 May 2025.  

The U21 Awards are an annual staff recognition scheme to celebrate impactful contributions to internationalisation. This year, we proudly introduced two new categories – Climate Action and Inclusive Global Engagement to recognise bold leadership and innovation in these key areas.  

The U21 Leaders of the Future Awards are an annual award to recognise the achievements of either current students or recent alumni at U21 member universities who show great potential for  impact in internationalisation. 

This year, we received a record-breaking number of high-quality nominations, making the competition extremely fierce. Following a shortlisting and judging process led by a panel of senior U21 stakeholders, we are thrilled to confirm the winners for both the U21 Awards and Leaders of the Future Awards. 

U21 Awards

U21 Award Winner- Climate Action 

Gabriela Baron, University of Auckland 

Gabriela Nuri Baron is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, specialising in participatory methodologies for sustainability and conservation. With global experience across design and environmental fields, she champions co-creation, more-than-human design and decolonial approaches. Gabriela holds degrees from Argentina, Design from Politécnico di Milano, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering. 

I’m honoured to see Design for Conservation empowering communities globally. Design methods can bridge people and ecosystems, and this award inspires me to keep pushing for inclusive, resilient environmental futures.

-Gabriela Baron

U21 Award Winner- Inclusive Global Engagement 

Professor Wening Udasmoro, Universitas Gadjah Mada 

Wening Udasmoro is Professor of Literature and Gender at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia. She received her PhD in Gender Studies from the University of Geneva, Switzerland in 2006 and is the Vice Rector of Education and Learning of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. 

Let this award serve as a call to action to continue building an academic community that empowers, connects and uplifts. Together we can create a future where education is truly for all.

Professor Wening Udasmoro

U21 Leaders of the Future Awards

U21 Leaders of the Future Award Winner – Recent Alumni Category 

Syed Saad Ali Pasha, University of Glasgow 

Syed Saad Ali Pasha is an International Development Specialist with experience in the United Nations and Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC) ecosystems, focusing on trade development, private-sector growth, supply-chain sustainability, and decent work. As a British Council Global Sustainable Development Goal 8 Ambassador and Erasmus Mundus alumnus, he is currently exploring how AI can enhance transparency in global value chains while aligning technological advancements with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities. 

The Universitas 21 Leaders of the Future Award affirms that true success lies in uplifting disenfranchised communities; impact and personal achievement are inseparable when purpose drives every step.

– Syed Saad Ali Pasha 

U21 Leaders of the Future Award Winner – Current Student Category 

Hemanshi Galaiya, The University of Queensland

Hemanshi Galaiya is a social-entrepreneur, PhD researcher and educator who is leveraging bioengineering research for environmental remediation in Australia and creating equitable access for STEM education in Kenya through her enterprise Young Stripes. Recognised through several national and international awards, her global footprint has impacted over 50,000 individuals from all walks of life.  

It is my honour to receive this award, and I am incredibly humbled to be recognised for the small role I play in shaping our collective futures.

– Hemanshi Galaiya 

We warmly congratulate this year’s award winners and nominees and express our appreciation to all colleagues who participated in the nomination process.