BRIGHT honoured as global finalist at inaugural UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Awards

Launched in 2025, the UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Awards spotlight companies redefining industry though innovation, sustainability, and social impact. As part of the selection process, an independent jury of global experts reviewed more than 1,900 submissions from over 100 countries.

BRIGHT was shortlisted in the Women in Industry category which recognises companies promoting women’s leadership in technical and managerial roles and advancing women’s empowerment in their operations.

BRIGHT’s Head of Humanitarian Partnerships, Lorena Muñoz Carmona, attended the awards ceremony on 23 November in Riyadh during the opening of the Global Industry Summit 2025 in the presence of UNIDO’s Director General and an audience of 173 Member States. BRIGHT was also invited to join the Summit’s Investment and Partnership Day bringing together governments, investors, and development partners.

Speaking during the ceremony, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller said: "When we launched these awards, our goal was clear, find the most innovative and transformative solutions for sustainable businesses and scale-up their impact. That is exactly what UNIDO is doing, we are a global platform for technology, with these awards we are creating a smart pipeline for advancing ground-breaking solutions and forging new partnerships."

He added: "These awards honour outstanding achievements in sustainable supply chains, from the beginning to the end, at the side of the consumers, our award winners are driving change that goes far beyond models, and together we are building a community of innovators, entrepreneurs and companies committed to shaping the future of industries that serve our society and safeguard our environment."

Karianne Ellekrans, CEO of BRIGHT, said: “Being shortlisted in this category is an honour for us as a team. Women play a central role in shaping BRIGHT’s strategic direction and our partnerships, and their leadership is reflected in the impact our products create. At the same time, this recognition belongs to everyone at BRIGHT, a diverse team that ensures we deliver real value wherever our solutions go."

Lorena Muñoz Carmona, Head of Humanitarian Partnerships at BRIGHT, added: “The nomination highlights the importance of designing products that consider the realities of women’s lives in off-grid and crisis settings. Lighting affects safety, mobility, and dignity. Our work is about responding to those needs with practical, long-lasting solutions.”