Emerging Leaders Award

The Emerging Leaders Award is given out by RSTMH each year to recognise those early in their careers who have made a significant contribution to leadership, including mentorship and capacity building of others.

This Award is now closed for nominations. The deadline was 30 May 2025.

Thank you for all the nominations. These are being reviewed by our committees and the winner will be announced at the RSTMH Annual Meeting in September.

Eligibility and nominations

  • Nominations are annual
  • Nominees should be early career investigators from and based in low- and middle-income countries. For the purpose of this award, we define “early career” as a maximum of 10 years’ active employment post-training, discounting career breaks
  • Nominees will have made a significant contribution to leadership, including mentorship and capacity building of others, and this must be demonstrated in the nomination form
  • Nominations should come from RSTMH members and Fellows ONLY
  • Nominees should be RSTMH members and Fellows ONLY
  • Self-nomination, with a supporting statement from another RSTMH member or Fellow is permitted
  • Cash award of £2,500

  • For any enquiries regarding this award, please contact Sarah [dot] Stickland [at] RSTMH [dot] org

2025 Emerging Leaders Award recipient: Dr Cassandra Akinde

The winner of this year’s Emerging Leaders Award is Dr Cassandra Akinde. She was nominated by Justin Nwofe. 

Dr Cassandra Akinde is a multi-award-winning public health physician and social entrepreneur with over 8 years of experience of driving health equity and strengthening systems for underserved populations across Africa and beyond. With a career spanning global development and public health, she has led and managed high-impact projects that have reached over 40,000 beneficiaries in Nigeria and focused on Maternal and Child Health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, digital health, climate action and vaccine-preventable diseases.  

"I am extremely grateful and humbled to receive this prestigious global health award. Being recognised for my work in underserved communities means the world to me. I give all glory to God, whose grace guides every step of my career. I am grateful to my family, friends, and to Justin Nwofe for his nomination. His confidence in my work, impact and leadership means more than words can express. To the RSTMH Board of Trustees, thank you for selecting me among such an exceptional group of candidates,” Dr Cassandra Akinde.  

History and prize

The award was established in 2016 to recognise significant contributions in leadership and service, including mentoring and other forms of capacity building, to the fields of tropical medicine and global health.

The award comprises:

  • A £2,500 personal cash prize
  • A certificate
  • Access to mentorship through the RSTMH Board of Trustees and wider network
  • A platform to give a keynote speech at an RSTMH scientific meeting