Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award Previous Winners
On this page, you can find previous winners of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award. Established in 2022, the award recognises professionals, researchers, and innovators whose work has successfully translated microbiological research into real-world policy, practice, and measurable impact.
Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award 2025
Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green
Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Infection Prevention and Control at Great Ormond Street Hospital and a leading figure in translating microbiological research into practical policy and practice within healthcare settings.
Named the winner of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award 2025, Professor Cloutman-Green was recognised for her sustained impact in bridging microbiology, policy, and real-world implementation. Her work focuses on preventing healthcare-associated infections through evidence-based interventions, environmental monitoring, and the development of rapid diagnostic and infection control tools now used across hospitals.
Alongside her clinical role, she holds an Honorary Professorship at University College London and serves in a number of advisory and leadership positions, including as a NICE Expert Advisor and a member of AMI’s antimicrobial resistance policy group. She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2021 for services to healthcare.
Professor Cloutman-Green is also a committed advocate for accessible science communication and collaboration. Through her writing and public engagement, she works to demystify microbiology, promote safer healthcare practices, and inspire future generations of scientists.
Read more: Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green named as winner of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award
Previous Winners
Professor Sabiha Essack
Professor Sabiha Essack is the South African Research Chair in Antibiotic Resistance and One Health, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Honorary Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Jordan. Her work has played a major role in translating microbiological research into policy and practice to address the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Awarded the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award, Professor Essack was recognised for her sustained leadership in bridging science, policy, and implementation at national, regional, and global levels. Her research and advisory work have informed strategies for AMR prevention and containment across healthcare, agriculture, and environmental systems, underpinned by a One Health approach.
Professor Essack has held numerous influential roles, including co-chair of the Quadripartite Technical Group on AMR Integrated Surveillance, member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on AMR, and advisor to international initiatives such as ICARS, JPIAMR, CARB-X, and the Fleming Fund. She has also played a key role in shaping AMR policy and stewardship programmes in South Africa and beyond.
Alongside her policy impact, Professor Essack is a committed advocate for capacity strengthening in low- and middle-income countries. Through supervision and mentorship, she has supported the development of a new generation of African researchers working to address AMR in their local contexts.
Her work exemplifies the aims of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award, demonstrating how applied microbiology can drive evidence-based policy, strengthen health systems, and deliver lasting global impact.
Read more: Professor Sabiha Essack wins Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award
Dr Taniya RoyChowdhury
Dr Taniya RoyChowdhury was named as the inaugural winner of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award, part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards.
A soil microbiologist trained across diverse ecosystems, Dr RoyChowdhury’s research focuses on how soil microbial communities regulate carbon cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem resilience in the context of climate change. Her work combines ecological-scale analysis with detailed microbial investigation to generate evidence that supports climate mitigation and sustainable land management.
Through extensive published research and stakeholder engagement, she has translated microbiological insight into actionable knowledge that informs climate policy, environmental decision-making, and sustainability practice. Her work demonstrates how applied microbiology can play a critical role in climate action, particularly through soil carbon stabilisation and greenhouse gas mitigation.
Read more: Dr Taniya RoyChowdhury named as winner of the inaugural Christiana Figueres Prize 2023