The Air League is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the finalists who presented their pioneering sustainability proposals at the Sustainable Skies World Summit, held on 17–18 March 2026 at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. This year’s Global Innovators’ Challenge once again demonstrated the imagination, capability, and commitment of young people determined to shape a cleaner, greener future for aviation.
Bringing together emerging talent from the UK, South Africa, Malaysia, and Kenya, the Challenge reaffirmed its mission, to empower young innovators with a platform to contribute directly to aviation’s Net Zero goals. The diversity of perspectives showcased this year signals a growing global movement, one that The Air League is proud to champion.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to Kenya Airways for enabling the Kenyan team to visit the UK as their prize for winning the Kenyan competition. In partnership with the Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance – Kenya Quarter (AWAM), they have played a vital role in expanding access and ensuring that opportunities reach aspiring innovators across Kenya.
“This year, we received a record number of entries for both the poster and proposal competitions, with submissions from young people across six countries. Our ambition to establish a truly global competition became a reality, and I was incredibly impressed by the level of innovation and creativity demonstrated by all participants. We were also delighted to partner with AWAM to deliver the competition in Kenya. As sustainability is still an emerging field there and not yet widely embedded in the curriculum, this partnership provided a valuable opportunity to support learning and engagement. Our Kenyan finalists, Stacey Ogombe and Ivy Cheruiyot, performed exceptionally well, representing both themselves and their country with professionalism and poise alongside their UK peers.”
celebrating the finalists and their work
The following teams delivered compelling, technically grounded proposals to the judging panel, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in aviation sustainability:
Project AetherFin: Biomimetic Smart Wing Skin for Sustainable Aviation – Kerrisha Reddy and Tristan Troy Devanand (South Africa)
Project Atmos – Ismael Tawfeek (UK)
Aerofeather QMGs – Wing Biomimetic Wing Adaptation – Mya Carruthers, Vanessa Onyeukwu, Kenzie Doleman and Riya Joseph (UK)
Project APEX – Using Electric Power for Short High‑Power Phases of Flight – Utkarsh Bhamidimarri, Daanish Ansari and Sayran Selvakkumaran (UK)
Refuel – Waste to Fuel – Oscar Noone (UK)
Project Aether – AI Generated Waste for SAF – John Ong Ming Hom, Derrick Yang Lik Chian, Koay Yi Shan and Chen Tze Man (Malaysia)
ALGAL SAF – QMGs – Aashish Dubay, Roshan Dive, Thomas Lyndon and Rahul Padhiar (UK)
Ethanova: Reinvention of Airport Waste Oils – Ivy Cheruiyot and Stacey Ogombe (Kenya)
And the winner is...
Congratulations to Oscar Noone (Refuel – Waste to Fuel).
Oscar delivered a clear and feasible presentation, and it’s a solution that is implementable as it’s not based on creating new technology that’s expensive, it can reuse current technology that’s already available. His proposal exemplifies the values of the Global Innovators’ Challenge, showcasing creativity, curiosity, and a commitment to building a sustainable future for flight.
“Feeling over the moon about coming first for the challenge, not only because of the result, but also the incredible people that attended the event, who were willing to satisfy my curiosity about anything and everything to do with aviation. I’ve learnt so much about the industry from world-renowned experts and am incredibly excited to take that knowledge and advice into any future endeavours.”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RUNNERS UP...
Second Place – ALGAL SAF – QMGs
Aashish Dubay, Roshan Dive, Thomas Lyndon and Rahul Padhiar (UK)
Congratulations to the ALGAL SAF – QMGs team for their strong second‑place finish with a proposal centred on algae‑derived sustainable aviation fuel, showcasing a promising bio‑based pathway for future low‑carbon flight.
Third Place – Project APEX
Utkarsh Bhamidimarri, Sayran Selvakkumaran and Daanish Ansari (UK)
Well done to the Project APEX team, awarded third place for their hybrid‑electric propulsion concept, offering a practical step toward lower‑emission aircraft by enhancing high‑power phases of flight with electric assistance.
perspectives from this year's judges
This year’s judging panel represented an exceptional breadth of insight and professional experience across aviation, sustainability, engineering, innovation, operations, and environmental leadership. Together, they brought decades of combined expertise, from senior operational roles and cutting-edge aircraft technology development to global conservation initiatives and pioneering sustainability strategy. Their collective perspectives ensured robust and meaningful feedback for each finalist team.
Among the judges, Neil Turnbull, Director of Klyne Training Ltd (part of the Saxon Air Group), reflected on the energy and talent showcased throughout the Challenge:
“Spending the day immersed in innovative ideas presented by passionate young people, all with a real energy for change, was both inspiring and refreshing. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet the future of our industry face-to-face and hear their perspectives.”
Environmental leader, Chris Desai, Founder and Global CEO of UOCEAN Heights of Possibility, also captured the spirit of the day:
“Aviation has an incredible opportunity to lead solutions for our planet. I was impressed with the creativity and bold thinking that emerged through the challenge to rethink the future of aviation - the most exciting breakthroughs often come from fresh perspectives.”
Their reflections, alongside the contributions of fellow judges including Deborah Scott (Chief Financial Officer, Artemis Aerospace Ltd), Wakina Munene (Senior Manager, Innovation and Sustainability, Kenya Airways), David Debney (Head of Technology for Whole Aircraft, Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)), and Jonathon Counsell (Group Director of Sustainability, International Airlines Group (IAG)), underscore the importance of this Challenge as a platform for nurturing the next generation of innovators.
I am immensely proud of all our finalists and look forward to seeing the competition continue to grow in the years ahead.”
A Showcase of Innovation at the
sustainable skies world summit
The finalists’ presentations formed a key part of the Sustainable Skies World Summit, the UK’s leading platform for advancing sustainable aviation. The 2026 Summit featured over 120 expert speakers, high‑level networking across industry and policy spheres, and a programme centred on five key themes – Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Zero Emissions, Carbon Removal, Operational Efficiency and Future Flight.
Held annually at Farnborough, the Summit brings together global stakeholders to accelerate meaningful progress toward Net Zero aviation and remains a vital forum for ambitious thinking and collaborative action.
A global effort; a shared mission
As the Global Innovators’ Challenge continues to grow, the breadth of engagement from young people worldwide demonstrates both the urgency and optimism inherent in aviation’s sustainable future. Through the support of partners such as Kenya Airways and AWAM, this year’s Challenge has broadened its international reach, amplifying opportunities for emerging talent and helping ensure the sector benefits from a vibrant, inclusive pipeline of future innovators.
The Air League looks forward to building on this momentum and continuing to empower young people to shape the future of flight.
