Aussies Sophia Hamblin Wang and Caroline Blanch Israel named in Young Global Leaders list

Two Australian women have been named as some of the globe’s most promising Young Global Leaders, in a long-running program that counts prime ministers, global tech founders and changemakers among its alumni.

The first Australian woman on the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders is carbon utilisation expert Sophia Hamblin Wang (pictured above), the chief operating officer of Mineral Carbonation International (MCi).

The second is Caroline Blanch Israel, the managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group.

The World Economic Forum unveiled its list of 108 young people chosen for the 2022 cohort on Wednesday night, highlighting individuals from 42 countries and a class that covers a variety of sectors including green energy, health equity, refugee rights and education reform.

Hamblin Wang and Blanch join a growing alliance of 1400 members and alumni representing 120 nationalities in total.

“It is a true honour to be joining this stellar group of Young Global Leaders in 2022, working at the forefront of creating equitable and fair outcomes for the world,” Hamblin Wang said.

“I look forward to this valuable opportunity to amplify our leadership potential, with assistance from the World Economic Forum.”

Hamblin Wang said the Young Global Leaders program will allow her to unlock her leadership potential and strive for excellence.

“Participating in this initiative greatly aligns with the values of MCi to advance a more sustainable and inclusive world,” she said.

During the selection process, Hamblin Wang was endorsed by mentor Brian Schmidt, a Nobel Prize laureate and vice-chancellor of the Australian National University.

‘ANU graduates really do make a difference globally. Sophia is a shining example of this,” Schmidt said.

“I [am] very proud of Sophia’s leadership in creating a global company that is on a mission to build a more sustainable future …[I] look forward to Sophia and her company Mineral Carbonation International turning the vision of a more sustainable planet into reality.”

Hamblin Wang is a leading voice in the carbon utilisation sector and is interested in facilitating young people’s voices in the push to tackle climate change. She has appeared on ABC’s Q&A program, in the Australian Financial Review, The New York Times, TEDx, and TIME Magazine.

She has been named in Australia’s 100 Green Power Players, and been a representative for Australia at the UN Youth Climate Summit. She has also been a panelist at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

This article was first published by Women’s Agenda.