UI GreenMetric 2026 Results & Awards Ceremony

Dr. Rufat Azizov began his career in the oil and gas sector with BP (2005–2012) as an Integrity and Corrosion Management Engineer, responsible for risk-based inspection, corrosion control and chemical injection programs. He later held leadership roles in the steel manufacturing industry, Unimetal (2013-2020), overseeing large-scale operations and projects. Transitioning to education, he was appointed Director of the Institute of Education (2021), subsequently Rector of Sumgayit State University (2023) and Rector of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (2025). Dr. Azizov holds BS, MS, PhD degrees in Chemical Technologies (Lomonosov MSU), Executive MBA from University of Oxford and MBA Maastricht/ADA.

Appointed Chairperson of UI GreenMetric World University Rankings in June 2025, Dr. Vishnu Juwono leads efforts to advance a more integrated, cross-sectoral sustainability approach. Under his leadership, UI GreenMetric has grown to over 1,700 participating institutions across 105+ countries. He expanded the initiative by launching the Sustainable Corporate Rankings, extending sustainability assessment beyond universities to include the private sector and strengthening links between academia, government, and business. An Associate Professor at Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Vishnu specializes in governance, public policy, and institutional transformation, with prior leadership roles in strategic reform and public relations. His work focuses on bridging academic research with real-world sustainability and governance solutions.

Xue Yang is a Senior Consultant at Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, with a focus on global university rankings and research performance evaluation. She has worked closely with universities across multiple regions, providing strategic insights on benchmarking, academic impact, and institutional development. Her expertise lies in data-driven analysis and international higher education trends, contributing to the advancement of global ranking methodologies and their application in university governance and decision-making.

Professor Wahid Aouad is the Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, appointed in January 2023, after serving over eight years as President of Applied Science University. He earned his MSc (1987) and PhD (1991) from Loughborough University and held senior roles at University of Salford, including Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. He later expanded his leadership internationally as President of University of Wollongong in Dubai and Vice President at Gulf University for Science and Technology. A prolific academic, he has supervised many PhD students, published extensively, and secured significant research funding. He is also a Fellow of Advance HE and the Chartered Institute of Building, and received an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University in 2016.

Professor Waleed M. Sweileh is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University. He has also served in key academic leadership roles such as Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Dean of Scientific Research, and Dean of Graduate Studies, as well as Director of the University Ranking Department. His research focuses on bibliometric and scientometric analysis, global health research mapping, antimicrobial resistance, non-communicable diseases, mental health, and access to medicines. He is widely published in international peer-reviewed journals and is recognized for his contributions to research evaluation and higher education quality systems.

Dr. Nelly, S.Kom., M.M. is the Rector of BINUS University, appointed in 2023. She has extensive experience in academic leadership, having held roles such as Vice Rector, Director of Campus, and Assistant Director of Operations. She earned her Doctorate in Management (2021), Master’s in Information Systems Management (1998), and Bachelor’s in Accounting Computerization (1993) from Bina Nusantara institutions. In addition to her leadership roles, she has taught subjects including accounting, cost management, and information systems.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU is Rector of Universitas Indonesia (2024–2029) and a Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Eng. from Tohoku University, Japan, and has built a distinguished career spanning academia, research leadership, and public service With more than 120 research, community service, and consulting projects, three books, and one patent, he is recognized among Indonesia’s leading researchers. Prior to becoming Rector, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and held senior leadership roles at the Ministry of Research and Technology/National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN). Under his leadership, Universitas Indonesia achieved its highest-ever global ranking, placing 189th in the QS World University Rankings. His international collaborations extend across Asia, Europe, and the United States, reflecting his strong commitment to global partnerships, innovation, and impactful higher education leadership

Mohammad Falahat is a Professor and Director of the Strategic Research Institute (SRI) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation. He specializes in international entrepreneurship, SME internationalization, sustainability, and data analytics. He is a highly published researcher in Scopus and Web of Science journals, focusing on digitalisation and global business strategy. He is also a recipient of major awards, including the Asian Research Excellence Award (2025) and the National Outstanding Researcher Award (2025), and is active in international research collaborations and consultancy.

Elmir Mammadli is a specialist in ecology, occupational safety and health, ESG, and sustainability, with degrees from Baku State University and Marmara University, along with a GPM-b™ certification. He is the Founder and Director of ESDGoals LLC, where he leads ESG training, green transformation, and sustainability consultancy services. He has held managerial roles in private companies, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and “Azersu” OJSC, and has also worked with UNEP as a greenhouse gas inventory expert. Additionally, he contributes to ESG standards in Azerbaijan and is the author of the national standard AZS 962:2024 on Green Business Management Systems.

Dr. Abellia champions a uniquely human-centered approach to global sustainability. Serving as Vice Chairperson since August 2025, she plays a vital role in integrating humanities and social equity into UI GreenMetric’s global frameworks. A distinguished researcher at Universitas Indonesia’s Faculty of Humanities with a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from Tilburg University, Dr. Abellia is an expert in bottom-up climate adaptation. Her extensive field research explores the socio-economic resilience of marginalized and post-conflict communities—from advocating for food sovereignty in Eastern Indonesia to studying environmentally vulnerable populations along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. She is the research chair for the Spatial Ethnography transdisciplinary research group, where she translates grassroots realities into measurable, actionable, and high-level policies. At UI GreenMetric, Dr. Abellia is driven by a singular mission: ensuring that global sustainable development is inclusive, equitable, and firmly rooted in climate justice.

Tural Maharramov is an environmental engineer and academic from Baku, Azerbaijan. He holds degrees in Environmental Engineering from the National Aviation Academy and a Master’s degree from the University of Nottingham, and has pursued doctoral research in aerospace-based environmental assessment. He began his career at AZAL and joined SOCAR in 2014, where he now serves as Head of the Ecology Department at the Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery and Environmental Manager at SOCAR Downstream Management. He also has teaching experience and holds several international certifications in environmental and safety management.

Anar Naghiyev (CMIOSH, PIEMA) is a senior Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) and ESG leader with over 23 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, spanning offshore operations, terminals, pipelines, and waste management facilities. He currently serves as Environment & Social Responsibility Discipline Lead at bp Azerbaijan, where he leads sustainability, environmental compliance, regulatory engagement, and assurance across the AGT region. Anar holds an MSc in Environmental Management from SOAS, University of London, and a Diploma in Health, Safety and Environment (Environmental Protection in Oil, Gas and Chemical Industry) from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. He also holds the NEBOSH National Diploma and National Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health, and a BA degree from Baku State University. He is a Chartered Member of IOSH, a Practitioner Member of IEMA, and an ISO 14001 Lead Auditor, with over two decades of experience in environmental management and sustainability.

Professor Raphael J. Heffron is Professor and Dean at the College of Law at Abu Dhabi University (a world Top-250 THE university). He is an international expert on law and commerce in the areas of energy, climate change, sustainability, just transition and public policy issues. He also is a qualified Barrister-at-Law, a Senior Counsel and a graduate of both Oxford and Cambridge Universities (UK). Professor Heffron's world leading work is featured in the Top1% in the Clarvariate ranking and in the Top-2% Stanford-Elsevier Scientist List since 2020. He has published over 220 publications of different types with translated work in multiple languages including Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic and Persian. Professor Heffron has given just over 240 keynotes/guest lectures in 71 countries.

Dr. Elena Nikitina is the Head of the Section on Global Economic Issues at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO). She has also worked with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). Her research focuses on global environmental governance, climate policy, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and North–South climate cooperation. Dr. Nikitina has contributed to numerous international sustainability and climate research projects, including Horizon 2020 initiatives and Arctic climate assessments. She served as a Lead Author for the 3rd and 4th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports and was part of the IPCC expert group awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2007 in 2007. She has also contributed to major Arctic Council climate assessments and has worked as an external expert for the European Research Council and Horizon 2020 research evaluations.

Ahmed Jendeya is a PhD researcher in Electrical Power Systems at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Electrical Engineering and has academic and professional experience in power systems, electrical infrastructure, renewable energy integration, sustainable energy solutions, and technical training. His work combines engineering practice, research, and education, with a particular interest in modern energy systems, sustainable development, and the role of technology in improving institutional and societal performance. He has contributed to academic, technical, and educational projects across different contexts, bringing together analytical thinking, practical engineering experience, and a strong interest in innovation and knowledge-sharing.

Marco Arcieri is the President of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage and Secretary General of the Italian National Committee (ITAL-ICID). He also serves at the Southern Italy Hydrographic District Authority under the Italian Ministry of Environment, focusing on water resources management, flood prevention, and drought preparedness. With more than 30 years of experience, he has contributed to global research in irrigation, agricultural water management, climate change, and sustainable agriculture, visiting over 60 countries for international projects and conferences. He holds an International PhD in Crop Systems, Forestry and Environmental Sciences and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization WASAG Program, while serving as a Permanent Observer to FAO, IFAD, and WMO.