In a year marked by both symbolism and substance, Rolex has announced five extraordinary women as the 2026 Laureates of its pioneering Awards programme, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the initiative. Hailing from Indonesia, Nigeria, Peru, China, and the United States, these women represent a global coalition dedicated to science, conservation, and courageous action.
The year holds double significance, as it also marks the centenary of the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch – the timepiece that originally inspired the Awards in 1976. This confluence of anniversaries underscores a commitment to enduring innovation and a harmonious relationship between precision engineering and the preservation of our planet.
Fifty Years of Tangible Change
Since its inception, the Rolex Awards have supported 165 Laureates across more than 67 countries. The impact of this support extends beyond abstract ideals, manifesting in measurable transformations. Over 50 million trees have been planted, 137 endangered species and 32 major ecosystems – including 57,600 square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest – have been protected, hundreds of new species have been discovered, 25 arduous expeditions have been completed, and 50 innovative technologies have been developed, ultimately improving the lives of millions.
Binbin Li: Protecting China’s Pandas
In the bamboo forests of central China, where fewer than 2,000 giant pandas remain in the wild, environmental scientist Binbin Li is addressing a complex challenge. Pandas share their habitat with free-ranging livestock, creating a conflict between economic needs and ecological preservation. Li is developing sustainable grazing systems that protect both livelihoods and the pandas’ fragile environment. The Rolex Award will enable her to scale these solutions across multiple mountain ranges, ensuring that conservation efforts benefit local communities rather than hindering their well-being.
Farwiza Farhan: Defending Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem
The Leuser Ecosystem in Sumatra is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot, the last place on Earth where elephants, tigers, orangutans, and rhinoceros coexist. However, deforestation and development pose a serious threat to its survival. Forest conservationist Farwiza Farhan has mobilized grassroots communities and spearheaded campaigns to defend this irreplaceable landscape. Her Award will strengthen women-led monitoring networks and empower local voices in environmental decision-making, demonstrating that effective stewardship begins at the community level.
Pardis Sabeti: Preventing Epidemics Before They Spread
Medical geneticist Pardis Sabeti has been at the forefront of combating virus outbreaks in West Africa. Utilizing pioneering technologies and sophisticated algorithms, she enhances early detection and containment strategies for infectious diseases. With the support of the Rolex Award, she will develop and test a portable diagnostic tool in remote communities in Sierra Leone, offering the potential to detect viral outbreaks before they proliferate and potentially saving millions of lives.
Rachel Ikemeh: Community Conservation in Nigeria
In Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, where biodiversity often clashes with industrial realities, Rachel Ikemeh has successfully brought the Niger Delta red colobus monkey back from the brink of extinction through community-led conservation efforts. Her work has safeguarded over 5,839 hectares of forest, protected at least 13 threatened species, and improved the livelihoods of more than 2,500 people. Her next initiative involves establishing a training hub and mobile education program, extending her successful model to neighboring communities, demonstrating the contagious power of conservation.
Rosa Vásquez Espinoza: Saving Bees to Protect the Amazon
Chemical biologist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza was the first to scientifically link Amazonian deforestation to the decline of stingless bees, crucial pollinators of endemic plants and vital for food security. Her research informed a landmark legal case in Peru, securing protection for these essential insects. The Award will allow her to expand an indigenous-led corridor of protected habitats throughout the northern Amazon, integrating science, law, and local wisdom into a resilient ecological framework.
A Perpetual Commitment
Through the Perpetual Planet Initiative, Rolex now collaborates with over 30 organizations and 165 Laureates, focusing on Oceans, Landscapes, and Science, Health, and Technology. By partnering with figures like Sylvia Earle, Cristina Mittermeier, and Paul Nicklen, Rolex has evolved from celebrating exploration to actively safeguarding the planet’s future. In recognizing these five Laureates, Rolex reaffirms its philosophy that time, when managed responsibly, becomes a lasting legacy. And in the hands of these remarkable women, the future appears not only possible but genuinely promising.
