For All Mankind

IN A WORLD where environmental degradation, social injustice and political turmoil seem to dominate headlines, the urgent call for men and women of good conscience and ability to steward our planet and its inhabitants has never been more pronounced.

- JONATHAN HO

As Earth faces unprecedented challenges — from climate change and biodiversity loss to social inequality — our collective future hinges upon the actions of individuals committed to fostering positive change.

The Rolex Awards for Enterprise were set up in 1976 by André J. Heiniger, then Chief Executive Officer of Rolex, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. Intended to be a once-only celebration, the Awards drew such international attention that Rolex transformed them into a biennial programme that has, in the years since, supported 160 Laureates whose projects have had a profound impact across 65 countries.

Heiniger said, “We initiated the Rolex Awards for Enterprise out of a conviction that we had a responsibility as a company to take an active interest in improving life on our planet and in the desire to foster values we cherish: quality, ingenuity, determination and, above all, a spirit of enterprise.”

The Rolex Awards are unique in several ways. Unlike most other award programmes, they are not designed to recognise past achievements — they are given for new or ongoing projects.