This award celebrates entrepreneurship in all its forms, both locally and internationally. It honours an individual for whom design lies at the core of their development and success.

Natsai Audrey Chieza is a visionary designer and thought leader. She is the founder and CEO of Faber Futures: launched in 2018 to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and real-world applications, fostering a resilient bioeconomy through collaborations with biotechnology and creative industries, and working with partners including the World Economic Forum, Ginkgo Bioworks. and the Design Museum.

In 2023, she cofounded Normal Phenomena of Life, making tangible how biotechnology can generate new materials that can be beautifully designed to support climate goals.

As a member of the WEF!s Global Futures Council on Synthetic Biology, Chieza advocates for the integration of design and culture in policy development for bioeconomies powered by biotechnology.