The 2025 recipient of the Global Impact Award is Dr Judy Kuriansky.

Dr Judy Kuriansky has been a first responder to some of the world’s most difficult crises, bringing mental health and psychosocial support where it was needed most. From the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to the tsunami in Japan, she has worked on the frontlines to ensure timely and effective care.

A professor at Columbia University and a trusted advisor to the United Nations, Dr Kuriansky has helped shape global policy on MHPSS in humanitarian and public health emergencies. Beyond policy, she is a powerful communicator, using media to educate and destigmatise mental health while partnering with grassroots organisations in Sierra Leone and beyond to strengthen community resilience.

Her leadership has earned international recognition, including Sierra Leone’s highest civilian award. Her writing, most notably the book Resilient Health: Leveraging Technology and Social Innovations to Transform Healthcare, has guided systems change worldwide.

Dr Judy Kuriansky is known for her fearlessness, compassion, and unwavering commitment to turning evidence into action. Communities around the world know her as a steady and trusted presence in crisis and recovery.

Congratulations to Dr Judy Kuriansky.