Current Alumni of the Year recipients
We would like to extend a round of applause to our CEMS Alumni of the Year Award Winners 2026. Read more about our 2026 award recipients below:
Sven Kallen
Sven is a pioneering environmental entrepreneur and ecosystem restoration leader whose work is driving large-scale climate resilience across Europe. As the founder of Volterra Ecosystems, he has dedicated his career to scaling nature-based solutions that reverse degradation, halt desertification, and revitalise fragile Mediterranean ecosystems. Through innovative agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and soil restoration technologies, Sven has successfully demonstrated that ecological recovery and economic viability can coexist. His leadership in EU-funded LIFE environmental projects has established proven frameworks for carbon sequestration, water retention, and biodiversity recovery across degraded landscapes.
To multiply this environmental impact globally, Sven launched the Life Terra Foundation—one of Europe’s largest citizen-driven climate action initiatives. With an ambitious mission to plant 500 million trees across the continent using scientific criteria, geotagging, and satellite tracking, the initiative combines cutting-edge technology with grassroots community mobilization. By bridging scientific research, public policy, and active public participation, Sven continues to build scalable, data-backed ecological infrastructure that empowers communities and secures a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
Stephanie Lee
Stephanie’s career spans corporate finance, strategy consulting and humanitarian innovation, united by a commitment to turning ambitious ideas into practical solutions for people facing hunger and crisis. She began her career at Procter & Gamble before spending four years with Boston Consulting Group, where she advised organizations across the private, public and social sectors. A year-long secondment to Save the Children deepened her commitment to applying rigorous strategy and commercial expertise to humanitarian and development challenges.
Today, as Innovation Strategy Lead at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Innovation Accelerator, Stephanie leads the implementation of WFP’s Global Innovation Strategy and helps shape portfolios that address food insecurity, strengthen resilience and improve humanitarian operations. Working across WFP’s global, regional and country-level ecosystem, she brings together innovators, technical experts, partners and funders to move promising solutions from validation to adoption and scale. Over six years at WFP, Stephanie has contributed to the growth and strategic direction of a global innovation portfolio delivering impact at scale. In 2025, the WFP Innovation Accelerator provided funding and implementation support to 85 innovations, which reached 132.5 million people across 75 countries. Her work demonstrates how strategic innovation, technology and cross-sector partnerships can strengthen emergency response, improve operational efficiency and help reduce long-term humanitarian needs.
Sangram Rane
Sangram’s career operates at the intersection of high-stakes multilateral diplomacy, global crisis response, and technological innovation. Serving at the highest echelons of international governance, including in the Executive Offices of two consecutive United Nations Secretaries-General, he has directly shaped solutions for the world’s most pressing geopolitical challenges. As a core member of the UN Task Team on the war in Ukraine and on the Strait of Hormuz crisis, he has navigated delicate diplomatic landscapes while coordinating large-scale, cross-border humanitarian initiatives. His career began with international cooperation roles at PwC and Siemens and at diplomatic missions, giving him a rare blend of private-sector strategy and diplomatic practice.
Sangram’s global footprint is further defined by his pioneering work in modernising international development and diplomacy. As the driving force behind the UN Secretary-General’s Innovation Lab, he spearheaded cutting-edge AI initiatives and strategic tech partnerships to accelerate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Named a 2026 Yale Peace Fellow by the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, Sangram is recognized for bridging technology, diplomacy, and conflict resolution. His leadership continues to help transform multilateral institutions and drive innovative approaches towards addressing modern conflict, sustainable development, and international cooperation.