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Wanjira Mathai

March 10, 2022

A member of the Jury since 2019, Wanjira Mathai has over 20 years of experience advocating for social and environmental change on both local and international platforms. She is currently the vice president and regional director for Africa at the World Resources Institute (WRI), and previously served as co-chair of WRI’s Global Restoration Council and senior advisor to the Global Restoration Initiative. Mathai is the current chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation and the former chair of the Green Belt Movement, which was founded by her late mother, Wangari Maathai (1991 Goldman Prize winner and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate) in 1977.

Over the years, Mathai has also served in important strategic and advocacy roles raising the prominence and visibility of global issues such as climate change, youth leadership, sustainable energy, and landscape restoration. She has held various roles with Women Entrepreneurs in Renewables and currently serves on the board of the World Agroforestry Center and as a Leadership Council member of the Clean Cooking Alliance. Mathai was named one of the 100 Most Influential African Women in 2018 and 2020.

Recent Posts

A Q&A with Olsi Nika, River Defender and 2025 Goldman Winner


May 19, 2025

We’re excited to share a Q&A with Olsi Nika, 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize winner for Europe. Based in Tirana, Albania, Olsi is the executive director of EcoAlbania, an NGO working to protect Albania’s natural ecosystems and wildlife through the friendly coexistence of humans and nature.  Olsi and his colleague Besjana Guri won the 2025 Goldman…

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A Whirlwind Week with the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize


April 30, 2025

The Goldman Environmental Prize just completed a wonderful week of celebration and community. Throughout the week, the 2025 Prize winners met with numerous NGOs and colleagues in the San Francisco Bay Area, sharing stories of environmental impact and building networks for their ongoing work. Plus, they explored Bay Area sites—like Muir Woods and Golden Gate Park—engaged…

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Introducing the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners


April 21, 2025

Meet the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize winners! These grassroots heroes prove that when ordinary people take action, they have the power to turn apathy into positive change for the environment. When it comes to protecting our planet, Goldman Prize winners know that the doing makes the difference. Tune into the San Francisco award ceremony tonight,…

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