Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish
Sustainable Development is one of the most important challenges to man and it means the creation of living conditions today which will still allow future generations to live with dignity. “SEKEM” the sustainable development initiative was established 1977 in Egypt. Born in Egypt in 1937, Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish moved to Austria in 1956. He studied chemistry and medicine at the University of Graz, Austria, receiving his Ph.D. in 1969. Thereafter he engaged in medical research, and was Head of Division for medical research until 1977. In 1975, on a visit to Egypt, he became aware of its pressing problems in education, overpopulation and pollution. In 1977 he decided to establish a comprehensive development initiative, SEKEM. Taking its name from the hieroglyphic transcription meaning “vitality,” Sekem was the first entity to develop biodynamic farming methods in Egypt. Its strong commitment to innovative development led to the nationwide application of biodynamic methods to control pests and improve crop yields. However, Sekem is not just an agricultural enterprise. It believes that sustainable profit making should go hand-in-hand with an integrated socio-economic business model, providing employees and farming communities throughout the country the opportunity to improve their education, health and quality of life. Dr Abouleish’s vision has earned him world recognition. In 2003, he and SEKEM received the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize) for integrating the commercial success with promotion of the social and cultural development of society. He was selected as an "Outstanding Social Entrepreneur" by the Schwab Foundation in 2004. In 2006 he was appointed as a councillor at the World Future Council. COMPANIES FOUNDED
1977 LOTUS Company for medicinal herbs
1986 ATOS PHARMA for natural pharmaceuticals
1988 LIBRA for biodynamic cultivation of all crops in Egypt
1996 HATOR for packing fresh fruits and vegetables
1997 ISIS for production of processed organic foodstuff
1998 NATURETEX for manufacturing organic textiles
2000 SEKEM Holding
2005 MIZAN for organic seedlings
2007 ECOTEC Holding for facilitate sustainable industrial development
2007 SEKEM for Land reclamation
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL AND NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
1984 Chairman of the “Sekem Development Foundation”
1994 Chairman of the “Egyptian Biodynamic Association “
1999 Chairman of the “Sekem Academy for Applied Arts and Science”
2000 Chairman of the “Cooperative of Sekem Employees”
2003 Chairman of the “Cooperative of Habitat”
2005 Chairman of the “Abouleish Foundation"
2007 Founder of the “World Future Council”
2009 Founder of the “Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development”
PRIZES AND AWARDS:
2010 Honorary Doctorate awarded by Technical University of Graz
2009 Medal of Honour Sinai University
2008 The Medal of Merit of the German Government
2008 “Ethics in Business Award for Outstanding Individual” of the European Parliament
2007 Member of Honour in the Society for Healthy Food, Germany
2006 The Armour of the Union of producers and Exporters of Horticultural Crops.
2006 The Armour of El Azhar University Faculty of Agriculture.
2006 The Armour of the Arab Administrative Development Orgainzation.
2005 Honorary Doctorate awarded by University of Graz.
2005 Award for Outstanding Pharmaceutical Performance by the Egyptian Pharmaceutical Syndicate
2004 Award of Outstanding Social Entrepreneurship by the Ashoka Foundation, USA
2004 Award for Outstanding Medical Performance by the Egyptian Medical Syndicate
2004 Award for Outstanding Drug Research Performance by the Egyptian Health Ministry
2004 Award for Outstanding Business Performance by the Egyptian Businessmen Association
2004 Honorary Citizen of Graz, Austrian
2004 Honorary Citizen of Karlsruhe, Germany
2004 Medal of Honour of the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association (EJB)
2004 Medal of Honour American University
2004 Medal of Honour Ain Shams University
2004 Medal of Honour Al Azhar University
2004 Medal of Honour Zagazig University
2004 Medal of Honour Mansoura University
2004 Medal of Honour Suez Canal University
2004 Medal of Honour Cairo University
2003 Alternative Nobel Prize Laureate (The Right Livelihood Award), Sweden
2003 Outstanding Social Entrepreneur 2003 by the Schwab Foundation, Switzerland
2002 Medal of Scientific Excellence in comprehensive research cooperation from Cairo University, Egypt.
2000 Medal of Honour from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo.
1999 Prize of “Agricultural Production Pioneer” from the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt.
1999 Medal of Honour from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, for outstanding scientific Research, Egypt.
1997 Sustainable Rural Development Award from the SARD von Mallinckrodt, Germany, for sustainable rural development.
1988 The award for Outstanding Social Entrepreneurship from the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences, Amman, Jordan.
P.O.B. 2834 – El Horrya, Heliopolis Tel: (202) 26564140 Fax: (202) 26564123 E-Mail: Dr.Abouleish@Sekem.com
