Edurne's Journey

Edurne Gil de San Vicente is a civil society and advocacy leader working at the intersection of sustainability, shared value creation, and innovation, with 20 years of experience designing and scaling high-impact programs across the UAE and beyond. Her purpose-driven practice supports institutions, youth networks, nonprofits and changemakers in translating sustainability strategies into measurable, community-rooted action.

​

Edurne has led flagship initiatives such as the UAE-wide RE-NEW Our World Water Innovation Challenge, mobilizing youth to co-create solutions for water security and circularity. As the National Organizer for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in the UAE, she has championed youth-led innovation on a global stage, fostering academic excellence and environmental leadership. Her pioneering work on the Carbon Footprint of Food Waste in Ireland catalyzed a national movement for food loss prevention that continues to shape policy and public awareness. A civil society contributor to the UAE’s National Adaptation Plan, Edurne brings systems thinking and community insight to climate resilience planning. Her contributions have been recognized with award-wins including the Dubai Humanitarian Innovation Award and other honors for sustainability leadership. 

​

Her work bridges grassroots innovation and global frameworks, with a focus on shared-value creation, SDG literacy, and systems change. She has mentored and judged global hackathons including Hack for Earth and the EU–India Ideathon, and regularly collaborates with universities and international partners to spotlight youth-led sustainability solutions.

​

Previously trained as a biochemical engineer focusing in bioremediation, Edurne brings technical rigor to her strategic communications and program design. She is widely recognized for her ability to craft inclusive narratives, facilitate cross-sector collaboration, and build platforms that elevate women’s leadership and youth empowerment. Edurne’s work centers on climate resilience, social and environmental innovation, and systems change. Her expertise spans advocacy, circular economy and sustainable consumption and production, with a strong emphasis on storytelling as a catalyst for behavioral shifts and institutional transformation. She designs programs that bridge sectors, elevate community voices, and translate sustainability into measurable impact.