2026 Award Winner: Justine Sass
Justine Sass is an international development specialist with more than 30 years of experience advancing education, gender equality, inclusion and public health through policy, research and international cooperation. She served in Peace Corps in Hungary from 1995–1997. Throughout her career, she has worked with governments, United Nations agencies, academia and civil society across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen education systems, promote human rights and improve opportunities for marginalized populations. She has led the development of global strategies, flagship reports and international initiatives on gender equality, inclusive education, STEM education, school violence, comprehensive sexuality education and adolescent health. A recognized expert in translating evidence into policy and action, she has authored or led more than 70 global policy reports and peer-reviewed publications. She holds degrees from Princeton University, the London School of Economics and Université Pierre et Marie Curie (now the Sorbonne University), France. Justine deply believes that each of us has a role to play in advance equality and creating more inclusive, equitable and peaceful societies. Under her leadership, UNESCO programs have reached approximately 38.2 million learners with gender-transformative education initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of gender inequality and unequal power relations in the past two years.
