Sustainability Changemaker of the Year 2026

This award seeks to recognise individuals in the research, insight and data analytics sector who are motivated to make meaningful change and take steps to be part of the solution to the growing climate crisis.

The judges are looking for individuals who have made significant contributions in their organisations to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices in line with the MRS Climate Pledge (or equivalent sustainability mark).

This award reflects the MRS Sustainability Councils commitment to relentlessly drive forward and embed positive change across the sector supporting organisations and teams on the journey to reduce carbon emissions.

What the judges are looking for:

• Individual Changemakers who must work in research, insight or data analytics, including support and operations roles. Individuals who influence the sector more broadly will also be considered.
• You can enter yourself or enter a colleague on their behalf. Please submit a max. two-minute personal video explaining why you/they are passionate about implementing sustainable practices in the sector.
• Please submit 500 words outlining how you or your colleague have done TWO or more of the following:
• Contributed to making a tangible or measurable impact within their organisation in line with the MRS Climate Pledge (or equivalent sustainability mark).
• Worked within their organisations to ensure systems are in place to measure and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions emitted to help meet the requirements of the MRS Climate Pledge (or equivalent sustainability mark).
• Introduced effective offsetting strategies that remove carbon
• Champion sustainability within your organisation. Educating employees about sustainability and supporting conversations about environmental concern within the company
• Have a proven record of delivering change in the context of research projects or internal initiatives, working in partnership with clients and/or organisations to effect change
• Evidence of successful collaboration across the sector and beyond to share learnings and best practice
• Have a proven record of delivering change in the context of research projects or internal initiatives, working in partnership with clients and/or organisations to effect change

Changemakers will be profiled on the MRS website and invited to the Excellence Awards lunch on 5 June, where an overall winner will be announced.

How to enter

Each entry should comprise a video and a written submission. You can enter yourself or enter a colleague on their behalf. Please email entries to researchawards@mrs.org.uk by midnight on 27 March. If your video file is too large to send via email, it can be sent via a file transfer site (such as WeTransfer) to the same address.

Guidelines for the video

Videos should let the judges understand why you or your colleague are passionate about sustainability. Please ensure the video:

• Is a maximum of two minutes long
• Features only the entrant or colleague entering on their behalf. No other person should appear or be heard in the video.
• Tells us more about you/the individual you are nominating and your/their motivations. The content should be different from the written submission.
• Contains no introductory text or slides.
• Is supplied in one of the following formats: ‘.AVI’, ‘.MP4’, ‘.FLV’, or .MOV.

Guidelines for the written submission

The written submission should be a maximum of 500 words and specify which of the criteria you or your colleague meet and how you/they have met them. Please include evidence of what you/they have achieved and the impact it has had. Emphasise your/their individual contributions rather than changes your organisation has made.

Judging will take place throughout April, and the finalists will be announced at the beginning of May.