The Inspiratie Award rewards the impact an individual can have on the sustainability agenda within their working environment by inspiring others and making choices in which sustainability and the 1.5-degree society are the most important factors and driving forces. This award is for a person who has gone 'above and beyond' in bringing about sustainable change within their organisation or within our field.
We need heroes who break through systems, who activate people and organisations to create impact together. Positive impact on the built environment. The time for talking is truly over. We need to take action together. On the final day of PROVADA 2026, the jury presented the Inspiratie Award for the fifth time.
Inspiration Hero Award 2026
Winner Hero Award 2026
The PROVADA Inspiratie Award 2026 has been awarded to Michel Baars. With New Horizon Urban Mining, Moos and the Material Impact Fund, Michel repeatedly shows that circular entrepreneurship is not a compromise, but a choice with economic power. The jury described him as "not a man of one company, but a man of movements" – someone who doesn't build a company, but ecosystems. A well-deserved recognition for a true systems breaker.
Jury members
The jury consists of:
- Suze Gehem (Founder/CEO De Groene Grachten & Founder Rooftop Revolution)
- Dirk Dekker (Director Being)
- Norbert Schotte (Transitiemaker at Gideons)
- Abdessamed Azarfane (Regional Manager at Synchroon)
- Mirjam Schmüll (Co-Founder Brokkenmákers & Merwede LAB)
- Frederike Lengers (Programme Manager PROVADA)