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POST EDIT: Rolex honours people changing lives with projects that fight climate change and malnutrition in its 2021 Awards for Enterprise

  • From marine scientists to polar explorers, the winners of the 2021 Rolex Awards for Enterprise are from diverse backgrounds
  • Felix Brooks-church devised a way to ‘dose’ flour with nutrients for healthier diets, while Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim aims to save Africa’s Lake Chad via mapping

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Each year, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise honour people transforming lives. This year’s winners include Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, who is helping prevent climate-related conflict around Lake Chad in Africa. Photo: Ami Vitale
Carlos Escueta

This article is presented in partnership with Rolex.

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The Rolex Awards for Enterprise were launched in 1976 by the luxury watchmaker’s then CEO, André Heiniger, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, the Oyster.

Since then, the annual awards have honoured exceptional men and women embodying the spirit of enterprise – individuals who demonstrate unwavering courage in the face of adversity by confronting the world’s most pressing challenges head on through groundbreaking self-initiated projects.

Originally established as a one-time celebratory event, the awards have gone on to support 155 laureates from 35,000 applicants in the 45 years since their founding. They recognise projects dedicated to transforming the livelihoods of people and communities around the world, by honouring individuals with original ideas to resolve issues from preserving endangered ecosystems to spearheading advancements in science and health.

In 2019, Rolex reinforced its commitment to safeguarding the environment by launching the Perpetual Planet initiative, as part of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise’s enhanced partnership with the National Geographic Society, a Rolex partner since 1954, to understand the effects of climate change through science.
Felix Brooks-church tackles malnutrition in Tanzania through equipping rural flour mills with a machine which adds critical micronutrients to fortify staple foods. Photo: Leah Kidd
Felix Brooks-church tackles malnutrition in Tanzania through equipping rural flour mills with a machine which adds critical micronutrients to fortify staple foods. Photo: Leah Kidd

From marine scientists to polar explorers, this year’s winners, announced by Rolex in June, feature five individuals from diverse backgrounds.

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