Process and Methodology

  1. All reports submitted are subject to a pre-screening performed by members of the IBR/IRE based on using the Evaluation criteria (see on the right side - performance criteria). To maintain objectivity, evaluators abstain from reviewing reports where a conflict of interest exists. They short-list the sustainability reports (per category) that achieve the highest ratings (by the end of Augustus). These reports will be subject to scoring by the Jury members, as from begin September. 
  2. Jury members are requested to rate the applications on a scale from 0 (neutral/negative) to 10 (positive) by applying the Evaluation criteria (see on the right side).
  3. The Jury acts on an ad honorem basis and follows the principle of “independent” votes ensuring that Jury members do not evaluate reports in which they have a conflict of interest. The President of the Jury has no voting right. The President's term is three years. 
  4. The IBR/IRE staff compiles scores from all individual Jury members and shares the results with the Jury in the meeting (mid-October) to enable the Jury to discuss reports and rating and to select the winners & nominees.

    Composition in 2025

    The Jury, is composed of representatives from public entities, the media, as well as the academic and economic sectors. The members of the Jury, including the President, are all independent from the IBR/IRE/profession. In recent years, winners of previous editions have been invited to participate in the Jury for the subsequent edition, as they are ineligible to submit a report in the year following their win.

    President (with an advisory vote): Sandra GOBERT, CEO at Guberna

    Jury Members:

    • Pascale-Marie BARRIQUAND, Head of Sustainability at Luminus (Winner 2024)
    • Katja BUELENS, Project manager ESG at UNIZO
    • Bruno COLMANT, Ph.D., University Professor of Economic, Writer and lecturer at Vlerick Business School 
    • Carlos DESMET, Guest lecturer at Louvain School of Management
    • Sophie HOOZEE, Professor at Universiteit Gent
    • Daphné HOYAUX, Directorate General for Economic Analysis and International Economics at SPF-FOD Economy
    • Rodolphe MOURIAU, Attached to the Sustainability & Circular Economy Competence Centre at FEB-VBO
    • Madalina PUIU, Group Sustainability reporting manager at Elia Group (Winner 2024)
    • Vanessa VAN BERGEN, Executive Director, Chapter Zero Brussels
    • Tom VAN DEN BERGHE, Director Sustainable Finance at Febelfin
    • Luc VAN LIEDEKERKE, Professor Business Ethics and Sustainability at the University of Antwerp and the KULeuven
    • Gilles VAN LYSEBETH, Reach & Communication Director at Guberna
    • Valérie VAN ROY, Marketing & Sustainability Manager at LCL (Winner 2024)
    • Katherina WALLYN, Expert Social Responsibility, FIDO/IFDD