Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP)

Each year, JCI honors ten exceptional young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities and beyond. Through the TOYP program, we spotlight changemakers under 40 whose bold ideas and actions inspire others and create lasting change across cultures and borders.

JCI TOYP 2025 Online Voting

Help us honor this year's JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons by casting your vote.

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Thank you for participating in the 2025 JCI TOYP Online Voting and for showing your support for our honorees.
2025
Nigeria

Ifedayo Hadijat Durosinmi-Etti

Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment
Founder of Herconomy, Africa’s first women-focused fintech, Ifedayo empowers 85,000+ women with financial tools, jobs, and education. Recognized globally, she is transforming women’s economic empowerment and proving that inclusive finance changes lives.
>> Read More
Syria

Dr. Abdulkarim Ekzayez

Medical Innovation
From neurosurgeon to humanitarian leader, Abdulkarim builds health systems in conflict zones. As Director at Action for Humanity and researcher at King’s College London, he is a global voice for equitable healthcare and resilience in fragile settings.
>> Read More
Tunisia

Dr. Sana Amairi-Pyka

Scientific and/or Technological Development
Quantum physicist and Lead Scientist at TII Abu Dhabi, Sana is shaping the future of secure space communications. With groundbreaking research and global leadership, she empowers innovation at the frontier of quantum science and technology.
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Tunisia

Asma Mansour

Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment
Co-founder of Tunisia’s Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Asma helped ignite a movement after the 2011 revolution. Today, through Rooted in Commons, she builds ecosystems of care, collaboration, and inclusive growth—redefining civic leadership across the MENA region and beyond.
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Hong Kong

Dr. Wilson Wai-Yin Cheung

Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment
Polar explorer and glaciologist who skied across the South Pole, Wilson maps Arctic glaciers and empowers future scientists through the Asia Youth Alpine Mentorship Program. From Hong Kong to the Poles, he inspires resilience, discovery, and global environmental leadership.
>> Read More
Malaysia

Kent Ng Kun Kwan

Cultural Achievement
Founder of Kunkwan International Mandarin School, Kent has taught 426,000+ students worldwide. Championing education, culture, and the SDGs, he empowers marginalized communities and unites people through cross-cultural exchange, creating global citizens for peace and inclusion.
>> Read More
Japan

Dr. Eisuke Shimizu

Medical Innovation
Inventor of the Smart Eye Camera, Eisuke has brought eye care to 200,000+ patients in 60+ countries. His mission: reduce global blindness by 50%. A visionary merging tech, compassion, and innovation for human dignity.
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Philippines

Jose Gabriel Mejia

Cultural Achievement, Moral and/or Environmental Leadership
National Geographic Explorer and conservation photographer, Gab tells powerful stories of culture, climate, and biodiversity. From Paris to the Philippines, he unites indigenous youth and global audiences through art and activism for our planet’s future.
>> Read More
Türkiye

Atakan Karatas

Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs
Lawyer, social entrepreneur, and innovator transforming law, tech, and human rights into global impact. Founder of groundbreaking legal-tech platforms and mentor to thousands, Atakan is shaping a fairer world while inspiring young leaders to rise and lead responsibly.
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Türkiye

Zerrin Temiz

Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment
From orphanage to Oxford, Zerrin is pioneering GMO-free proteins to fight climate change and food insecurity. Her song Hislerim went viral with nearly 3 billion views. A scientist, artist, and humanist, she inspires hope against all odds.
>> Read More

2024 TOYP Honorees

  • Dr. Aydın Sinan Apaydın

    Turkey

    Medical Innovation

  • Dr. Barkaoui Salma

    Tunisia

    Scientific and/or Technological Development

  • Dr. Lai Chin Wei

    Malaysia

    Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment

  • Dr. Şükrü Furkan Öztürk

    Turkey

    Scientific and/or Technological Development

  • Giovanna Estefania Ramirez Ruiz

    Colombia

    Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment, Scientific and/or Technological Development

  • Marcel van Hattem

    Brazil

    Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs

  • Mouhamad Kawas

    Syria

    Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment

  • Risa Santoso

    Indonesia

    Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment

  • Valentina Milanova

    Bulgaria

    Medical Innovation

  • Zülal Tannur

    Turkey

    Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment

Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment

Ifedayo Hadijat Durosinmi-Etti

Nigeria

Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti is a Nigerian entrepreneur, author, and global leader committed to financial inclusion and women’s empowerment. She is the Founder and CEO of Herconomy, a fintech platform that helps women grow their wealth through high-yield savings, financial education, and access to jobs, grants, and a supportive community.

With over a decade of leadership experience in finance, marketing, and manufacturing, Ifedayo holds a degree in Biochemistry and an MBA in Global Business. Her impact has earned her recognition globally, including as a Mandela Washington Fellow, World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and One Young World Ambassador.

Through Herconomy, she has empowered over 85,000 women and led the company to milestones such as becoming the first Amazon recruitment partner in Nigeria and being selected for the NASDAQ Milestone Makers Program, the Google Black Founders Fund, and Startupbootcamp Accelerator. Herconomy recently won the Best FemTech Startup award at the African Tech Ecosystem Summit in Dakar.

Ifedayo was named Tech Entrepreneur of the Year by Globant and one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans. She was invited to Goalkeepers 2023 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for her gender equity work and currently serves on the World Bank’s S4YE Youth Advisory Group.

She has spoken at Harvard University, been named a Peace Scholar by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and continues to champion financial empowerment for women across Africa.

Medical Innovation

Dr. Abdulkarim Ekzayez

Syria

Dr Abdulkarim Ekzayez is a medical doctor and global health expert with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of clinical medicine, humanitarian response, public health, and health systems governance. Originally trained as a neurosurgeon in Syria, he shifted his focus during the conflict to help build frontline health services and governance systems in war-affected regions. Today, he is recognized as one of the leading international voices on health in Syria and fragile settings more broadly.

He currently serves as the Whole of Syria Director for Action for Humanity, where he leads a multi-regional strategy to support early recovery, economic revitalization, and health access for crisis-affected communities. He also holds an academic appointment as a Research Fellow at King’s College London, co-leading the NIHR-funded Research for Health System Strengthening in Syria (R4HSSS), a pioneering initiative to rebuild health governance in conflict areas.

Dr Ekzayez has consulted for global institutions such as WHO, Chatham House, and Chemonics, and played key roles in pandemic response, humanitarian coordination, and digital health systems. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and spoken at major global forums, including the Geneva Health Forum and the World Health Summit.

Through his leadership roles—including as former General Secretary of the Syrian British Medical Society—Dr Ekzayez champions localisation, inclusive governance, and the role of social enterprise in rebuilding societies after conflict. His work bridges field realities, academic rigor, and international diplomacy to shape a more equitable and resilient global health system.

Scientific and/or Technological Development

Dr. Sana Amairi-Pyka

Tunisia

Dr. Sana Amairi-Pyka is the Lead Scientist for Quantum Communications at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Since 2021, she has led the development of the Abu Dhabi Quantum Optical Ground Station (ADQOGS) project, aiming to position the UAE as a pioneer in space-based quantum communication technologies and ensure the global availability of secure free-space optical communication networks.

Sana earned her Ph.D. in Quantum Optical Metrology in 2014 from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany. During her five-year postdoctoral fellowship at Humboldt University of Berlin, she designed and tested novel laser sources for space applications, including the European Space Agency’s LISA mission. Her work was recognized in 2017 with prestigious funding from the Berlin Senate (BCP), and she was named an ambassadress for the “Brain City Berlin” initiative. In 2020, she transitioned into the industrial sector as Project Leader at the European Photonics Industry Consortium, where she supported innovation across Europe’s photonics, quantum, and space industries. Since 2017, she has also served as an external expert for the European Commission on research and innovation programs.

Dr. Amairi-Pyka is an accomplished experimental physicist, lecturer, and author of numerous publications in top-tier journals. She has built and enhanced research laboratories across Europe, the MENA region, and Australia. Most recently, she earned an Executive Leadership Development certificate from Stanford Graduate School of Business, equipping her to scale deep-tech innovation and lead strategic transformation at the intersection of quantum science and space technology.

Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment

Asma Mansour

Tunisia

Asma is a Tunisian-Swedish changemaker, strategist, and advocate for social justice and inclusive development with over 15 years of experience across the MENA and EMEA regions. With a background in business administration, financial engineering, and a master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainability from Malmö University, she has built a career at the intersection of social innovation, civic engagement, and systemic transformation.

As co-founder and former director of the Tunisian Center for Social Entrepreneurship (TCSE), Asma played a pivotal role in introducing and institutionalizing social entrepreneurship in Tunisia after the 2011 revolution. Through TCSE, she helped shift a deeply rooted reliance on the state by fostering a new changemaking culture. The organization supported changemakers in over 10 vulnerable regions, accelerated more than 450 social enterprises, and contributed to the creation of over 1,200 jobs. She also led national and regional policy advocacy, bridging grassroots innovation with long-term strategies for the social and solidarity economy.

Asma has co-produced two documentaries and Tunisia’s first collective book on social entrepreneurship, helping reframe civic agency and local leadership in public discourse. She has also led and published original research on the evolution of the sector in Tunisia, informing national strategy and ecosystem-building.
In 2025, she founded Rooted in Commons, a citizen-led initiative grounded in activist-driven systems change and civic imagination. It builds inclusive, participatory ecosystems where public policies grow from care, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

Asma is also a TED speaker and contributor to global dialogues on feminist organizing, public innovation, and social economy.

Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment

Dr. Wilson Wai-Yin Cheung

Hong Kong

Dr. Wilson Wai-Yin Cheung is a polar explorer, glaciologist, and youth mentor whose remarkable journey from a working-class family in Hong Kong to skiing across the South Pole exemplifies the power of scientific determination and global leadership.

Wilson earned his PhD in glaciology at Queen’s University, Canada, where his pioneering research integrated machine learning, remote sensing, and deep field work to map Arctic glacier changes spanning seven decades. His contributions directly advance global climate monitoring initiatives and inform critical policy decisions on cryosphere preservation.

As founder of the Asia Youth Alpine Mentorship Program, Wilson trains and empowers emerging climbers and scientists across Asia through transformative field expeditions in the Alps and Arctic. His mentorship develops the next generation of leaders in glaciology, mountain safety, and environmental stewardship, creating lasting impact beyond traditional academic boundaries.

Wilson brings over 15 years of field experience across the Arctic, Antarctic, and high-altitude regions spanning five continents. He has served as expedition leader, researcher, emergency responder, and consultant, demonstrating exceptional versatility in extreme environments. His compelling talks and outreach initiatives have inspired thousands throughout Asia and North America to embrace scientific curiosity, personal resilience, and environmental responsibility.

Recognized as one of the Explorers Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World, Wilson transforms complex science into actionable solutions and meaningful inspiration. His mission centers on empowering young leaders to approach global challenges with courage, compassion, and unwavering purpose, ensuring that scientific discovery serves humanity’s greatest needs.

Cultural Achievement

Kent Ng Kun Kwan

Malaysia

Driven by a vision of a more connected and compassionate world, Kent Ng leverages education and culture to foster mutual respect, inclusive growth, and lasting peace among diverse communities. As Founder and CEO of Kunkwan International Mandarin Learning School, he pioneered innovative teaching methods to incorporate cultural exchanges in his school to enhance students’ learning, improve cultural unity and develop global citizens. To date, he has more than 426,000 students from all over the world and is recognized in the Malaysia Book of Records.

He authored and published a book titled Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta, detailing his entrepreneurship journey to encourage young entrepreneurs to contribute to society. He actively organizes and participates in CSR and cultural activities, most recently serving as ambassador for the Malaysian Abylimpic delegation.

He integrated UN Sustainable Development Goals into his organization. His focus on No Poverty (SDG1) and Quality Education (SDG4) had led him to adopt remote work for majority of roles in order to provide job opportunities to individuals living in rural areas, people with disabilities and marginalized groups. He provides educational scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Kunkwan is the first language institution to be recognized by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth & Sports and Ministry of Tourism for organizing an annual international cross-cultural singing competition called Voice of All. This competiton promotes diverse cultural exchange within APAC region.

As a media-savvy individual, Kent has successfully promoted events for JCI Malaysia and government agencies, and is often featured in Asian news media.

Medical Innovation

Dr. Eisuke Shimizu

Japan

Blindness, which is treatable, is widespread, leaving many people without light. Especially now in developing countries around the world. With 44 million people losing vision annually—projected to exceed 120 million within thirty years—the economic toll reaches a staggering US$5 trillion globally.

Confronting this crisis, Prof.Dr. Shimizu pioneered the Smart Eye Camera, a revolutionary device that transforms smartphones into sophisticated ophthalmological examination tools.

The Smart Eye Camera is a medical device that enables ophthalmic examinations regardless of location or patient condition. It not only helps physicians streamline their workflow and contributes to cost reduction in facility management, but also standardizes comprehensive risk assessment in ophthalmic clinical trials.

Since 2017, this breakthrough innovation has conducted 200,000 eye examinations and treatments across 60+ countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America, creating direct outcomes in blindness prevention.

Prof.Dr. Shimizu has not only reduced preventable blindness by utilizing the Smart Eye Camera, but is also promoting its widespread adoption through various initiatives. These include co-hosting telemedicine workshops with local physicians to share clinical data and case studies, and conducting awareness campaigns such as the ‘Zero Blindness’ initiative in partnership with international NGOs including IAPB.

Through comprehensive education and training programs for healthcare professionals, he continues expanding global adoption. Mr. Shimizu empowers individuals of all ages—from those at risk to those with existing visual impairments—providing hope and self-determination. His unwavering mission to “”reduce global blindness by 50%”” demonstrates profound commitment to preserving human dignity and promoting eye health worldwide.

Cultural Achievement, Moral and/or Environmental Leadership

Jose Gabriel Mejia

Philippines

Gab Mejia is a Filipino conservation photographer, multimedia artist, environmental engineer, and National Geographic Explorer. Born and raised in the Philippines, he explores and weaves the fabrics of visual storytelling, environmental design, and ecology through photography, filmmaking, science journalism, and participatory research to confront the dominant narratives of our ecological crises for socio-environmental justice.

Mejia is a Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation Regeneration Fellow, Climate Pledge Global Storyteller, Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers, Forbes Under 30, and an awardee of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in the Philippines for the culture and arts. He has published stories, writings, and artworks on the climate crisis, ecological solutions, and cultural interconnections in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, Vogue, Manila Times, TEDx talks, among other platforms, film festivals, and educational programs.

His works have been exhibited in the Grand Palais in Paris, the National Museum of the Philippines, Fotografiska Shanghai, Photo London, among other spaces and cultural institutions. He was the recipient of the 7th Documentary Awards by the Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film in Singapore, the World Wide Fund for Nature International President’s Youth Award, and the CreateCOP28 Earth Partner Global Prize by the Art Partner and the United Nations.

He currently resides as a Board of Trustee for the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines working on conservation-driven storytelling projects. He continues to co-lead a nationwide cultural movement with 700 indigenous and frontline youth to forward creativity, community, and culture as a climate solution.

Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs

Atakan Karatas

Türkiye

Atakan Karataş is a Turkish lawyer and social entrepreneur who transforms the challenges at the crossroads of law, human rights, technology, and entrepreneurship into opportunities. He earned both his LL.B. and LL.M. in Turkey, then deepened his expertise in entrepreneurship, IT law, and sustainability through certificate programs at institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, NYU, the IMF, and Edinburgh.

While still a student, he put JCI’s Serve Humanity principle into practice by establishing commissions within the Turkish and Istanbul Youth Parliaments on entrepreneurship, children’s rights, and women’s rights, carrying out UN-partnered projects. Inspired by former JCI World President İsmail Haznedar, Karataş has embraced the principles Lead Responsibly and Pursue Prosperity, taking active roles in initiatives with the UN, Zero Waste Foundation, EU, D-8, Horasis, Chatham House, and AmCham TR, thereby guiding and supporting tens of thousands of young people through socially beneficial work.

Committed to JCI’s Educate Yourself, Teach Others principle, Karataş has spoken at more than 200 conferences on five continents, in over ten countries and at more than 50 universities. Under the Human Duties framework, he has mentored 100+ organizations and thousands of entrepreneurs, offered opinions on legislative reforms in Turkey and Europe, and published 200+ articles, dozens of e-books, and other content on CNN Türk, Ekotürk, Forbes TR, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other platforms—raising awareness among millions and earning numerous awards.
Karataş’s most significant contribution lies in pioneering projects that are regarded as world firsts.

Karataş created Legalitify, which scores and optimizes the legal compliance of ventures and websites; Lexpolicy, enabling citizens to contribute directly to law-making processes; Lexzero, ensuring legal compliance for net-zero and sustainability goals; Lexprotect, combating counterfeiting and copyright infringement; and Lexstart, legalizing every stage of an entrepreneur’s journey.

Karataş also introduced KYL (Know Your Legality), a protocol that rates, certifies, and encourages real-time legal compliance across the digital realm while preventing fraud.

Grounded in JCI and Human Duties principles, Karataş aims to spark a major transformation by making these projects and his accumulated knowledge freely available to millions of entrepreneurs—ensuring that the shortcomings and challenges he once faced never hinder others, and delivering an unparalleled contribution to the ecosystem.

Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment

Zerrin Temiz

Türkiye

Zerrin Temiz lost her father at the age of five, and her mother has been chronically ill. She entered her 18th year in a state-run orphanage. She was accepted to several universities and graduated top of her university with a perfect 4.00/4.00 GPA in Genetics and Genomics at Oxford Brookes University. She won the “Best Research Project of the Year” award at her university.

She is currently pursuing a research-based master’s in Bioengineering at Imperial College London, ranked the second-best university in the world by QS World Rankings. She has also been accepted to the PhD programme at Imperial, which she will begin in October. Her innovations contributed significantly to her research group being awarded “Research Group of the Year”. Her work focuses on discovering the healthiest, most affordable, GMO-free protein sources to help save the planet.

Her song Hislerim has reached nearly 3 billion views across YouTube channels. Short-form videos (Shorts, TikTok, and Reels) using the song have reached close to 1 trillion views in total.

She has received more than 20 awards from well-known institutions.

Zerrin is committed not only to solving the climate and food crises but also to fighting for women’s and children’s rights and standing up against inequality and discrimination as a dedicated humanist.

Through her own life, Zerrin proves that even in the worst circumstances, one can dream of the best—and turn those dreams into reality. She acts with the motivation to give hope and energy to young people around the world.

Medical Innovation

Dr. Aydın Sinan Apaydın

Turkey

Aydın Sinan Apaydın, who started his neurosurgery education in 2015, successfully completed it in July 2020 and became a neurosurgeon. In addition, he simultaneously started his doctoral education in medical pharmacology along with his neurosurgery education and simultaneously earned the title of PhD in medical pharmacology in 2020. Prioritizing research throughout his education life, Dr. Apaydın published dozens of research articles, oral presentations and posters during his education. During his education, they started working on medical technologies as 4 friends. During this process, they made dozens of patent applications and developed medical device prototypes. Dr. Apaydın won the Turkish Neurosurgery Association Prof. Dr. Nurcan Özdamar Scientific Research Award in 2023 with a research article. After his neurosurgery education, Dr. Apaydın’s project application to Duke University’s neurosurgery department on ‘minimally invasive spine surgery’ was accepted and he continues his research and studies at Duke University’s neurosurgery department in 2023.

In addition, Dr. Apaydın has two TUBITAK 1002 project applications in 2024, as well as articles, book chapters, awards, news in written and visual media, and oral presentations published in dozens of internationally refereed journals. Dr. Apaydın, who continues to work in Duke University’s neurosurgery department, continues his own projects, including anterior cervical retractor and artificial intelligence-based ophthalmoscope, which he designed and applied for, in addition to his neurosurgery studies. Dr. Apaydın continues to inspire young generations by working voluntarily with associations and foundations in terms of entrepreneurship.

Scientific and/or Technological Development

Dr. Barkaoui Salma

Tunisia

Dr. Salma Barkaoui is a Lead data scientist and a research affiliate at Qualees and NASA JPL whose career was rich and full of exceptional accomplishments in science and artificial intelligence.

Coming  from  Tataouine  where the greatest movie  « Star Wars » was filmed, Salma spent her childhood nights admiring the amazing sky and the stars. This was the fuel to start her journey as a space scientist to explore the mystery of our outstanding universe and our planet Earth.

Salma Completed her bachelor’s degree in Tunisia, then moved to France to finish her double diploma in applied mathematics engineering after being selected in the top 20 outstanding students.  Then, she continued  with a PhD with the French space center Cnes, IPGP and NASA JPL. Her thesis, focused on exploring using IA the seismic signal coming from the red planet and measured by the NASA  InSight lander.  After exploring Mars, Salma decided to focus on Earth and join JPL NASA as a postdoc data scientist.

In addition to her research, Salma was also interested in teaching and spreading knowledge to students to inspire them to become the best version of themselves. She worked as a teacher at Paris Descartes University and gave multiple volunteering lessons, podcasts, conferences and workshops all over the world.

Salma won different awards during her career like the 1st prize in the program “Make us dream”, the first prize during the NASA Space App’s Challenge in Paris and the 6th round KiboCUBE  with JAXA as a TUNSAT member and CubeSat space mission operations responsible.

Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment

Dr. Lai Chin Wei

Malaysia

Dr. Lai is currently an associate professor in Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. He is a well-known academic educator (top 2% scientists in a global list) in the field of nanomaterials design and sustainable development to diverse the inclusive science, technology, and innovation. Lai’s works published in >250 journals, >75 chapters, >100 proceedings, and filing 6 patents (granted 2 patents). Now, Lai is serving as journal editors, and book editors for several publishers.

The utilization of long-lasting “photocatalysis technology” using nanomaterials to solve global warming and reduce environmental impacts has been the passion for Lai. Lai’s research findings aid in building the fundamentals knowledge and groundbreaking industry collaboration experience with many multinational companies/institutions/NGOs, which help direct research efforts towards critical aspects in nanomaterial development for various innovative advancements including long-lasting self-sanitizing nanocoating for buildings/tranportations, indoor air pollutants removal, wastewater treatment, solar panel nanocoating for higher power generation, battery/supercapacitor related technologies.

Indeed, Lai is providing leadership development opportunities that privilege to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering collaboration and driving innovation to impact the world using nanotechnology. These inventions played a key role in combating COVID-19 pandemic, improving indoor air quality, protecting water ecosystems, developing cost-effective solar energy and energy storage system in >15 countries and have benefited >10 million of people to date. Lai awarded 6 national young scientists awards, 21 gold/silver technology expo awards, and 8 university service awards. Lai believes that nanotechnology will positively affect the living standards of mankind for a better living environment.

Scientific and/or Technological Development

Dr. Şükrü Furkan Öztürk

Turkey

S. Furkan Ozturk was born in Ankara, Turkiye, where he received his early education. His interest in science began early on, inspired by reading biographies of eminent scientists. He enjoyed observing the skies with his telescope and keeping observation notebooks, which laid the groundwork for his future academic pursuits in physics.

 Furkan received his undergraduate degree in Physics in 2018 from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, where he graduated as the valedictorian of his class with the highest cumulative GPA ever achieved in the department’s history. For his bachelor’s thesis, he worked on the theory of dipolar quantum droplets—quantum mechanical analogs of magnetic liquid droplets composed of magnetic atoms.

In 2018, Furkan began his Ph.D. studies at Harvard University’s Department of Physics, under the supervision of Prof. Markus Greiner. Initially, his research involved building an erbium quantum gas microscope, an analog quantum computer to study exotic quantum phases of matter. Within the Erbium Lab, he built an ultra-low noise optical lattice, an artificial crystal lattice made out of light, using a custom-built green laser to explore the physics of magnetic quantum gases under a high-resolution objective. This research led to a publication in Nature, marking the first observation of dipolar phases of matter in an optical lattice.

In 2021, Furkan shifted his research focus towards the origins of life and joined the Sasselov Group. Currently, his work centers on investigating the origins of biomolecular homochirality, specifically examining the role of magnetic surfaces as chiral agents due to the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect. In his recent work, by utilizing magnetic surfaces as templates for the asymmetric crystallization of an RNA precursor, he demonstrated a robust method for achieving homochirality in RNA under prebiotic conditions. This technique, noted for its efficiency, led to a US patent for chiral separation, highlighting its practical use in pharmacology. In the same year, he published a paper describing the propagation of chiral information from D-nucleic acids to L-peptides and then to homochiral metabolites, which was highlighted as the editor’s selection and featured on the issue’s cover.

Dr. Ozturk’s Ph.D. thesis research on homochirality has been recognized by origin of life chemist and Nobel laureate Jack Szostak as “”a real breakthrough”” and has been featured in prestigious science outlets such as Nature, Science, and Quanta Magazine. He received the Gertrude and Maurice Goldhaber Prize from the Harvard Physics Department, awarded annually to an outstanding graduate student in physics. Additionally, his work has been recognized with the Ataturk Science Award, the Innovation Prize, and first prize in the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World competition Turkey 2023 by JCI in the category of Scientific Development. Furthermore, his research on life’s homochirality inspired the popular science documentary “”Cracking Chirality”” by the Dreyfus Foundation. Dr. Ozturk has been invited to speak at numerous scientific conferences, including being one of the 25 speakers at the Solvay Conference in 2024, which is renowned for bringing together the most distinguished scientists to discuss groundbreaking advancements in physics and chemistry.

 After completing his Ph.D. in 2024, Dr. Ozturk was awarded the Junior Research Fellowship by King’s College, Cambridge, and the Kavli-Laukien Prize Fellowship by the Origins of Life Initiative at Harvard University. Dr. Ozturk is currently an independent research fellow at Harvard University and King’s College, Cambridge, where he is investigating the origins of life and the physics of living systems.

 Dr. Ozturk is also interested in science outreach and public engagement of science. He owns a YouTube channel with over 75,000 subscribers and 2.5 million total views, where he creates educational and scientific content primarily for the Turkish-speaking audience.

Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment, Scientific and/or Technological Development

Giovanna Estefania Ramirez Ruiz

Colombia

Driven by a profound passion for space, science, and technology, Giovanna has built an outstanding career in the aerospace field. An Electronics Engineer and Master’s in Integrated Project Development and Management, with additional training as a Pilot, Giovanna stands out for her strong commitment to technological advancement and education. She currently serves as a lecturer in the aerospace engineering master’s programs at Universidad San Buenaventura and Escuela Colombiana de Ingeniería Julio Garavito. Additionally, she chairs the Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society (AESS-IEEE) for Latin America.

 Her career includes being an Analog Astronaut at the Polish Aerospace Training Center and a Mentor for the United Nations’ “Space For Women” program. As a former Global Space Consortium Fellow from Japan, she has led the development of a space mission for Colombia through a satellite and has undergone aerospace engineering training in various countries. She has worked as a researcher at the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation and at the Graduate School of the Colombian Air Force.

Giovanna is also a prominent international speaker, having delivered over 1000 STEAM conferences and workshops across Latin America, impacting more than 500 educational institutions and inspiring future astronauts. She has led space robotics projects with indigenous communities in Colombia and organized the fixed-wing aircraft competition “ZAGI RACE.” Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the TOYP Colombia 2023 and the “50 Memorable Latin American Women Award – 2023,” and she has been honored as a Recipient of the Galileo International Chair by COLPARMEX-Mexico. Her dedication to science and technology continues to inspire and empower young people worldwide.

Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs

Marcel van Hattem

Brazil

Marcel van Hattem has been involved in youth leadership groups and organizations, including the JCI. Born in Dois Irmãos, Brazil, he was elected as a city councilman at the age of 18. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations (UFRGS), a Master’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in Comparative Politics and Democracy (Leiden University), a Master’s degree in Journalism, Media, and Globalization with a specialization in Media and Politics, and a Postgraduate (lato sensu) degree in Law, Economics, and Constitutional Democracy (Aarhus University and the University of Amsterdam). He is also a graduate of the Political, Social, and Business Leadership Program (Georgetown University).

As a State Deputy, he was the youngest member of the Legislative Assembly. He was elected as the most voted Federal Deputy in the state. A liberal, he advocates for free markets, reducing the size of government, and fiscal responsibility, while valuing transparency and citizen participation in politics. He has published articles and books, and conceived various projects and movements. In the legislature, he has proposed 309 legislative projects, demonstrating his commitment to contributing to society.

Marcel has received awards such as the Order of Rio Branco, a high distinction in Brazilian diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the Medal of the Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazilian Air Force).

Marcel embodies the ideals of JCI: liberalism, political innovation, effective communication, and transparency. He is a reference in youth engagement in Brazil, positively influencing public debate and inspiring involvement in politics and the community.

Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment

Mouhamad Kawas

Syria

Mouhamad Kawas is a dedicated entrepreneur and technology expert with over 15 years of experience in building and leading successful teams. As the founder and CEO of Kuality AI and CTO of Medicus AI GmbH, he has a strong focus on artificial intelligence technologies, driving advancements that make a real difference in various industries.

Throughout his career, Mouhamad has played a key role in founding two agencies and three startups, one of which has reached an impressive 8-digit valuation. He has worked with top-ranked organizations and government authorities across Europe, the Middle East, and South America, including countries like Germany, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the UAE.

In 2022, Mouhamad was recognized as one of the Top 100 Power Leaders in Technology across Asia, a testament to his significant contributions to the field. He holds five patents from the European Patent Office and has led the development of award-winning projects such as the RTA app and Visit Abu Dhabi.

Mouhamad’s impact extends beyond the corporate world. He actively supports NGOs and educational initiatives, helping to create a brighter future for young people and underserved communities. His advisory roles with various local and international businesses have enabled these organizations to expand their markets, particularly in the Middle East.

Mouhamad Kawas’s leadership, innovation, and commitment to community development highlight his significant contributions to the technology sector. His work embodies a blend of professional excellence and dedication to making a positive impact on society.

Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment

Risa Santoso

Indonesia

Recognized as Indonesia’s youngest Rector, Risa Santoso is celebrated for her impactful contributions to education and leadership development. She fosters leadership, mentors talents, and influences educational policy at the highest levels. Frequently invited as a keynote speaker in both private and public sectors, she continues to shape the future of education in Indonesia and beyond.

Risa holds a Bachelor’s in Economics with a Minor in Education from UC Berkeley and a Master’s from Harvard Graduate School of Education, supported by an Indonesian Endowment Fund (LPDP) scholarship. Her experience as Assistant Advisor in the Executive Office of the President of Indonesia provided strategic insights to drive impactful changes in the education sector.

Throughout her career, Risa played a key role in national projects, including the Asia Entrepreneur Training Program (2018-2019), backed by the Asian Development Bank, accelerating Indonesian start-ups to enter global markets. In 2019, she became Indonesia’s youngest Rector, leading Institut ASIA Malang to national recognition, receiving the Outstanding Campus Award and accolades from the Governor of East Java.

In 2022, Risa has collaborated with Bakti BCA, the CSR arm of Bank Central Asia, to develop a transformational leadership program for K-12 school leaders across Indonesia to create sustainable change. She continues to mentor young talents through talks and initiatives like Surabaya Next Leader and Batu Tourism Ambassador.

Recognized for her contributions, Risa was chosen as a panelist for the LPDP Roadmap to 2045, helping shape the future of the $8.94 billion fund. Joining JCI in 2019, her work aligns with key SDGs—particularly in quality education, economic growth, and reducing inequalities—and actively contributes to their realization.

Medical Innovation

Valentina Milanova

Bulgaria

Valentina Milanova is the founder of Daye, a company dedicated to bridging the gender health gap through innovative menstrual health products.

With a focus on sustainability and commercialization, Valentina has led Daye to become a key player in the women’s health market. She is passionate about improving gynecological healthcare and has been featured in numerous health and wellness publications.

Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment

Zülal Tannur

Turkey

Zülal Tannur is the founder and CEO of FROM YOUR EYES. In 2020, she was recognized by Microsoft as one of the Women Leaders Directing Technology due to her extraordinary achievements in the technology development process. She gained in-depth knowledge in image processing, powerful platforms, and data analytics both at Microsoft Turkey and globally as a technology ambassador for Microsoft. She served as the training sessions program manager responsible for 59 countries at WeWalk and collaborated with Microsoft’s central teams in Seattle on localization projects for innovative image processing solutions like Seeing AI. Her contributions to technology and eadership have been honored by Google with the title of Women TechMaker.

Starting her academic journey at Boğaziçi University, Zülal continues her education at Arizona State University, where she was invited to join the undergraduate program in neuroscience and cognitive sciences. Her company, FROM YOUR EYES, produces advanced artificial vision solutions for smart technologies and achieved great success by becoming the world champion in the Microsoft Imagine Cup. Additionally, it is a venture supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under the INNOMOTION program.

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