The RISE PECOWorld Summit 2025 concluded with an electrifying finale, recognizing global visionaries and reinforcing a shared commitment to responsibility, inclusiveness, sustainability, and ecosystem-friendliness. The week-long summit featured over 100 sessions, 90+ partners, and over 10000 participants from across the world, driving conversations that will shape a more equitable and sustainable future.
The prestigious RISE Awards 2025 took center stage on the final day, honoring individuals who have made a transformative impact in their communities and beyond. The RISE Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Julio Ribeiro, Former Mumbai Police Commissioner and Indian Ambassador to Romania, for his lifelong dedication to justice, communal harmony, and governance reform. Accepting the award, Ribeiro said: “The greatest reward for a public servant is not awards, but the love and trust of the people.” His Mohalla Committee Movement Trust continues to inspire peace-building efforts worldwide. The RISE Global Citizen Awards celebrated individuals driving global impact. Wadiaa Khoury (Lebanon), a Fulbright scholar and educator, was recognized for transforming citizenship education through her initiative Teachers as Agents of Social Change (TASC), empowering educators and positively impacting over 700 students and 40+ NGOs annually. Reflecting on her journey, she remarked: “Education is the bridge between conflict and coexistence. We must empower teachers to be leaders in change.” Professor Gregory Booth (New Zealand), a cultural anthropologist and historian, was honored for dedicating over three decades to preserving India’s musical traditions. His work documenting Bollywood’s evolution and local wedding bands has significantly contributed to cross-cultural appreciation. He believes: “Music is more than sound; it is memory, identity, and a thread that binds generations.”
Delivering a rousing keynote following the awards, Jack Sim, Founder of the World Toilet Organization, captivated the audience with his remarkable journey of turning an unspoken issue into a global movement. With humor and raw determination, he recounted how he started with no permission, no money, and no experience, but with an unshakable conviction that action was necessary. “Most people wait for resources or approval to begin. But change doesn’t wait. It starts with one step, one voice, one action,” he said, inspiring attendees to embrace the power of small efforts that fuel big movements. Stressing the importance of storytelling as a driver of impact, he added: “The most powerful way to mobilize people is to tell a story they can believe in. If you want change, make people see why it matters.” His parting message was clear and urgent: “The end of the summit is the beginning of your journey.”
As the summit concluded, Karon Shaiva, Convenor of the Summit and an award-winning women entrepreneur herself, reinforced the movement’s mission: “RPS25 is a crucible of knowledge and action, uniting diverse voices to multiply collective impact. Through Purpose, Profit, and Peace, we aim to leave no one behind. Keep rising. The world is waiting.
