EMES Lifetime Achievement Award

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, EMES established the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor individuals who have significantly contributed to both the network and the SE field of social enterprise research. As a community built on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, EMES recognizes those who have played a key role in shaping its development—whether through groundbreaking research, leadership, or dedication to strengthening the network. Recipients of this award are past or current members whose contributions have left a lasting impact on EMES and the broader research community.

Call for nominations for

the EMES Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2023, EMES established a Lifetime Achievement Award, through which the network wishes to honour its “heroines” and “heroes”. As we preparing the new round of awards, all EMES members are encouraged to send in nominations. Recipients can be current or past EMES members who have made significant scientific contributions and/or contributions to the EMES scholarly community and organisation.

To nominate a candidate, please send their name and a short explanation to

members@emes.net

The deadline for nominations is 1 June 2025. The EMES Board will review the nominations and notify winners before the event.

The awards will be presented during the upcoming 10th EMES conference in The Netherlands, 3-7 November 2025. Winners will be awarded lifetime honorary membership of the association and free access to the bi-annual conferences.

Lifetime Achievement Award – 9th EMES International Research Conference

During the 9th EMES International Research Conference, a special Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony was held to honor six distinguished scholars for their outstanding contributions to the field of social enterprise research and to the EMES community.

At the conference dinner on the third day, Professor Carlo Borzaga, Professor Jacques Defourny, Professor Isabel Vidal, Professor Marguerite (Margie) Mendell, Professor Victor Pestoff, and Professor Roger Spear were recognized and awarded with commemorative trophies.

This moving ceremony celebrated their invaluable scientific contributions and longstanding dedication to EMES and the wider research network. More than just an academic organization, EMES is a thriving human community, and this award reflects the collective effort and commitment that has driven it forward for over 20 years.