A Year of Achievements, Agency and Action - 2023/24 Annual Report
The 2023/24 Hillary Institute and Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) Annual Report 2023/24 celebrates the outstanding work and achievements of Laureates and Fellows and highlights how they are speaking up, inspiring others, and taking action to radically shift the dial on critical global issues. This includes:
Johan Rockström (2017 Hillary Laureate) introducing the ‘planetary commons’ framework, advocating for the holistic governance of Earth's vital systems as shared global resources, and the need to protect the atmosphere, oceans, and biodiversity. Johan was recognised as one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2023 and received the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 2024.
Atossa Soltani (2013 Hillary Laureate) called for economic models that prioritise environmental health and community wellbeing at the 2024 World Economic Forum, where she stressed the importance of indigenous leadership in safeguarding biodiversity. Atossa received the Schwab Foundation Collective Social Innovation Award, recognising her work in protecting 86 million acres of rainforest in Ecuador and Peru.
Anote Tong (2012 Hillary Laureate) warned of the severe climate impacts already affecting Pacific Island nations at the Australia's 2024 Climate Integrity Summit, where he called for Australia to halt new oil and gas mining projects. And at the UN Climate Change Conference in Germany, he championed ‘migration with dignity’ for those displaced by climate change - bringing widespread attention to the plight of Pacific Island nations.
Reflecting on the profound impact by Hillary Laureates during 2023/24, Board Chair Anna Kominik says,
“Laureates have demonstrated how visionary leadership, combined with collective effort, can create tangible impact. Their work continues to set the standard for how we can address global issues with courage, innovative thinking, and bold action.”
Anna says leading for action was a strong theme during the Impact Springboard session with 2011 Laureate Aimée Christensen when she discussed how Aotearoa New Zealand could accelerate its decarbonisation journey. Convened by the Hillary Institute and EHF, Aimée’s session shared cutting-edge thinking on reducing emissions with the New Zealand ecosystem.
Hillary Institute & EHF Chief Executive Rosalie Nelson says the Laureate book written by Hillary Institute Founder and Kaitiaki/Guardian Mark Prain, due out later this year, has been an important way to amplify and recognise Laureates’ mahi (work).
“Mark has beautifully woven together Laureate stories, providing insights into their personal journeys as they wrestle with complex and seemingly insurmountable challenges. ‘The Hillary Laureates: Climate Agency and Action’ is a celebration for all that has been achieved to date, and a chance to reflect on how we might reimagine the Laureate programme for the future in a way that honours the founding kaupapa (purpose).”
The Hillary Institute was founded in 2007 to honour Sir Edmund Hillary’s extraordinary legacy of leadership and Mark Prain points out that Hillary Laureates are driven by a deep sense of social and environmental purpose, who also embody Sir Edmund’s humanitarian values.
“As Sir Edmund Hillary said, ‘People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.’ Laureates are doing just that. The 2023/24 Annual Report celebrates those successes and holds up their outstanding contributions for us all to be inspired to act ourselves – to ‘decide to accomplish extraordinary things’.”