GINA LOPEZ

WHY HER? During a stint as secretary of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Gina fought against openpit mining and its devastating environmental impact. Despite being voted out of office for her efforts, in October 2017 she became the first Filipino to win the Seacology Prize, which honours individuals working to preserve the environment. Her achievements include the rehabilitation of Manila’s polluted Pasig River and the transformation of the once-threatened La Mesa Watershed into an eco-park. THE NEXT FRONTIER Gina’s Investments in Loving Organisations for Village Economies (ilove) Foundation recently launched the Quest for Love initiative to support and mentor other NGOS in achieving their goals.