Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie was recognised as the 2022 Women Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Leadership Award recipient at the Island Innovation Awards ceremony on Friday, 29 April, 2022.
The Women SDG Leadership Award celebrates an outstanding woman leader who is driving positive social, economic, or environmental change in her country, island, or community.
Unaware she had been nominated for an award, Ebanks-Petrie said the honour came as a complete surprise.
“This award is a testament to the collective efforts of the dedicated, hardworking team I have the privilege of leading,” Ebanks-Petrie said. “We work every day to serve the people of the Cayman Islands by helping to conserve our environment and responsibly managing our natural resources. Sustainable Development Goals 13 – Climate Action, 14 – Life Below Water and 15 – Life On Land, are paramount to our mission. I hope this award will inspire, not just other women in the field of environmental sustainability, but everyone in our community who is working towards a more sustainable and climate resilient future for the Cayman Islands.”
Premier and Minister of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Hon. G. Wayne Panton, JP, MP congratulated Ebanks-Petrie on the well-deserved recognition.
“Gina’s accomplishments certainly make her a worthy recipient of this award: Her 26 years at the helm of the Department of Environment, and her many years of dedicated services prior to taking up that role, have culminated in expansive protections for our coastal waters, and the passage of landmark legislation to conserve our terrestrial environment,” he said. “It also speaks volumes about the caliber of Gina’s leadership that her staff would take the time to nominate her for this recognition on the global stage.”
Senior Environmental Assessment Officer at the Department of Environment Lauren Dombowsky said: “Gina has taught me that through perseverance, we can make tangible change for the better.”
About the Awards
Dedicated to individuals, organisations and projects driving positive change for remote and island communities globally, the Island Innovation Awards are hosted in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative.
The 2022 awardees were decided by a 20-person jury that included Former President Of The Republic Of Seychelles James Michel, Former United Nations High Representative Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Blue Planet Alliance President Henk Rogers and 8th Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies Sir Hilary Beckles, among other esteemed evaluators.
Island Innovation is a global network of private sector companies, governments, universities, NGOs and utilities connecting them with the island stakeholders to help them develop and accelerate sustainability initiatives.
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