As global industries accelerate toward implementation-driven solutions, WGES Global™ has officially opened nominations for its prestigious 2026 NOVA Awards recognizing the experts, practitioners, and influential organizations whose work delivers measurable impact across sustainability, energy systems, infrastructure, and public health.
Taking place May 19–21, 2026 in Athens, Greece, the WGES Global™ 2026 – Athens symposium, will convene a network of top experts, innovators, policymakers, and decision-makers—those actively shaping systems, executing solutions, and influencing outcomes across sectors and geographies.
At the center of this international program is the WGES Global™ NOVA Awards, presented during a formal evening program, an elevated “event within the event,” bringing together the top experts, decision makers, and influencers participating in the WGES Global symposium in a refined setting of formal business attire, high-level engagement, and entertainment.
This is considered a defining moment of the Symposium—where recognition is earned through execution. Since its founding in 2009, WGES Global™ has distinguished itself as a premiere platform where those present are not passive participants, they are individuals and organizations actively advancing solutions, building partnerships, and delivering measurable results.
“The NOVA Award honors experts and organizations whose impact is measurable, those who move beyond discussion and deliver results that matter.” said Ms. Daisy Gallagher, AMA, CPM, CCH, the WGES Global™ Executive Lead Organizer for the U.S. and Greece teams, a recipient of numerous awards including the Global Golden Artemis Award in Athens and 2025 Muses Award in Greece for outstanding contributions in global diplomacy and communications. “We are looking for the practitioners and organizations that have moved past the ‘planning’ phase and are delivering real-world, scalable outcomes,” Gallagher continued. “In a city like Athens, a historic gateway of innovation, we are proud to honor those whose leadership throughout the globe is defined by measurable action and cross-sector collaboration. The NOVA Award doesn’t just honor achievement; it fosters the company of those who move the world forward.”
Since its inception in 2009, recipients have represented the highest levels of expertise, influence, and execution across sectors, reinforcing WGES Global™ as a trusted international platform where credibility is established through action.
A sampling of past WGES Global™ NOVA Award recipients include:
- Dow — One of the world’s leading materials science companies, recognized for delivering advanced and sustainable solutions across construction, manufacturing, energy systems, and global industrial innovation.
- Tishman — A premier U.S. real estate development and construction firm responsible for some of the most complex and high-profile commercial and institutional projects in major metropolitan centers.
- City of Philadelphia — Recognized for its Greenworks initiative, integrating sustainability across energy efficiency, transportation, urban planning, and environmental policy at a municipal scale.
- District of Columbia, Washington, DC — Honored for citywide leadership in climate action, energy efficiency, and urban environmental performance through its SUSTAINABLE DC initiative.
- Federative Republic of Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) — Recognized for national sustainability strategy and large-scale urban implementation in one of the world’s most complex metropolitan environments, known for its Climate Change & Sustainable Development Policy of the City of Rio de Janeiro
- Drexel University Smart House — A nationally recognized living laboratory advancing applied research in sustainable housing, urban energy systems, and real-world innovation.
- University of the District of Columbia (CAUSES) / Dr. Sabine O’Hara — Recognized for leadership in urban agriculture, sustainability education, food systems, and community-based environmental solutions with national influence.
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) / Kevin Kampschroer — Recognized for shaping sustainability standards, energy efficiency, and high-performance building practices across one of the largest federal real estate portfolios in the world.
“These recipients are not symbolic, they represent implemented systems, measurable outcomes, and leadership that influences policy, infrastructure, and industry standards at scale,” stated Daisy Gallagher, “They define the caliber of engagement that WGES Global™ attracts, and the level of credibility associated with the WGES Global™ NOVA Award.”
The NOVA Awards are presented within the broader context of WGES Global™, where participants and partners engage in working sessions, master classes, and cross-sector dialogue designed to drive collaboration and implementation.
Unlike traditional conferences, WGES Global™ is structured to ensure that those in the room are actively engaged remaining for dialogue, partnership development, and solution-building.
The NOVA Awards evening reflects this philosophy bringing together recognized top experts and decision-makers in an environment designed not only to honor achievement, but to foster continued collaboration.
2026 Nominations Now Open
WGES Global™ is now accepting nominations for the 2026 NOVA Awards. Experts, practitioners, organizations, institutions, and agencies whose work reflects implemented, results-driven solutions are encouraged to submit nominations or be nominated.
Nominations of recipients evaluation are reviewed by past recipients and experts based on:
- Demonstrated, measurable impact
- Leadership through execution and innovation
- Scalability and replicability across systems
- Effective public–private collaboration
- Long-term commitment and resilience
In keeping with the integrity of the award and the tradition of the Symposium recipients, or in the case of an establishment those representing the recipients, must be present to receive the NOVA Award, reinforcing the importance of participation, engagement, and collaboration at the highest level.
Nominations can be submitted at: https://thewges.us/nova-award-categories
More information and to register visit: www.WGESglobal.com
About WGES Global™ Inc.
Founded in 2009 in the United States, WGES Global™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-political NGO and serves as an international platform that convenes experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and organizations to explore solutions and opportunities across energy systems, infrastructure development, public health, and sustainable innovation. Through its premier symposiums and collaborative initiatives, WGES Global™ connects participants across academia, industry, government, and the investment community to advance dialogue, partnerships, and forward-thinking solutions addressing global challenges and opportunities. Info at www.WGESglobal.com or email, professor@wgesglobal.com
About the WGES Global™ NOVA Awards recognize experts and organizations whose work delivers measurable, scalable impact in sustainability, energy, and public–private collaboration. Established in 2009 in conjunction with the WGES Global Symposium, the award honors implementation—not intention—and is presented to those advancing real-world solutions across sectors. Recipients must be present to receive this distinction at WGES Global™ 2026 in Athens.
https://thewges.us/nova-award-categories thewges.us