Meet the 2026 Jury Panel

Independent and rigorous

Every VYA winner is chosen through a transparent, independent judging process. This year's panel brings together respected voices from business, academia, the arts, sport and civil society — all committed to recognising genuine impact over popularity.

How judging works

Each nomination is scored against published category criteria. Finalists may be invited for a short interview or asked to provide supporting evidence. Scores are aggregated, and the jury deliberates to agree on each category winner and the overall Young Achiever of the Year.

We thank our jurors for volunteering their time and expertise to honour the region's finest.