London, United Kingdom: A global group of experts from the environmental, business, political, and philanthropic worlds have formed the 2023 Terra Carta Seal Expert Review Panel. 

The Sustainable Markets Initiative is announcing the seven distinguished panellists who will evaluate and select the 2023 Terra Carta Seal Award winners. 

Launched in 2021 at COP26 by His Majesty King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales, the Terra Carta Seal recognises global companies that are actively leading the charge to create a climate and Nature-positive future. In May, the Sustainable Markets Initiative announced its partnership with Verdantix, an independent research firm that acts as a thought-leader for world-enhancing innovation. The Expert Review Panel will work with Verdantix to evaluate nominations and assess their alignment with the ten Terra Carta articles.

The 2023 Terra Carta Seal Award Expert Review Panel are:

• Her Excellency Toyin Saraki, Founder-President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA)

• Ankit Todi, Lead for Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships, Mahindra Group

• Ellen Jackowski, Chef Sustainability Officer at Mastercard

• Dr. Hubert Danso, CEO and Chairman, Africa Investor (Ai) Group

• Chief Perry Bellegarde, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

• Pok Wei-Heng, Board Member, Multiethnic Leaders NZ and Strategic Council Member, Climate Catalyst

• Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal

Based on agreed sustainability criteria, select companies are invited on an annual basis to apply for the Terra Carta Seal. Once invited, companies will need to demonstrate the success of a high impact, large scale company-wide project, initiative or strategy which aligns with one or more of the ten Terra Carta Articles. Verdantix, leveraging its 15 years of experience in climate and sustainability research and analysis, will support the Terra Carta Seal evaluation process by assessing the eligibility and impact of each nominated project against existing recognised global sustainability criteria.

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, Sustainable Markets Initiative CEO, said: “It is an honour to have such a global and diverse group of sustainability experts to be part of the 2023 Terra Carta Seal Awards. Building on our partnership with Verdantix, the Expert Review Panel will further ensure an objective and rigorous evaluation process, rooted in sustainability excellence, for all nominees.”

David Metcalfe, Verdantix CEO, said: “Empowering seven judges representing diverse organizations and countries to make the final decision on Terra Carta Seal recipients, embeds independence, expertise and objectivity at the heart of our awards process.”

Applications for the 2023 Terra Carta Seal Award close Friday, 29 September.

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Learn more about the Terra Carta Seal