The London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD) brought its global Excellence Awards celebration to Cambridge, Massachusetts, honouring professionals, educators, healthcare experts, business leaders, media personalities and community changemakers from different parts of the world.
Held at the Science Center, Cambridge Massachusetts, the celebration, led by Prof. Parin Somani, Founder and CEO of LOSD, brought together more than 250 guests from over 40 countries to recognise individuals whose leadership, dedication and achievements have contributed to their professions, communities and wider society.
The LOSD Excellence Awards recognise achievements across five categories, Business, Health, Social, Media and Education, with emphasis on innovation, leadership, service and a sustained commitment to excellence. The Cambridge gathering provided an international platform for bringing together individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to celebrate achievement and exchange experiences.
The celebration opened with a red-carpet reception featuring artistic canapés and colourful mocktails, creating an elegant setting for awardees, guests and dignitaries. The reception also provided an opportunity for participants from different countries to network and celebrate their respective achievements.
The occasion featured Star Wars Stormtrooper mascots, carnival dancers and an appearance by Elmo, adding an entertainment dimension to the celebration. Guests also participated in a Silent Disco experience, further contributing to the social and celebratory atmosphere of the event.
In the Business Excellence category, Anum Mir was recognised as Women Fashion Entrepreneur of 2026, while Begum Walji received the Woman Tech Visionary of 2026 award. Chetan Bhuta received the Worthy Dog Brand Award, Jordi Caralt Coloma was recognised as Global Hospitality Icon, and Ivanka Zakharchuk received the Empowerment Champion Award. Boston Grazing Company LLC was honoured for Culinary Aesthetics, while The Maharaja Restaurant received the Outstanding Culinary Excellence award.
The Social Excellence category recognised individuals contributing to community development, sustainability, empowerment and social impact. Ellen Mannaert was named Global Change Maker, while Memori Yamato received the Impactful Personality of 2026 award. Agnes Lai Ying Ng was recognised as Women Empowerment Leader 2026, while Dr. Ignacio Bonasa Alzuria received the Visionary Impact award.
Other social award recipients included Dr. Carmelo Santillán Ramos, recognised as Sustainability Innovator of the Year; Simran Ahuja, Most Inspiring Person 2026; Rahim Bhimani, Visionary Design Leader of 2026; Somya Gupta, Community Builder of 2026; Dr. Nisha Thayananthan, Community Champion; and Yaseen Ali, recognised for Best Customer Services at Indigo Airlines.
The Health Excellence category highlighted professionals contributing to healthcare and wellbeing. Gregory Kunst received the Pioneer in Regenerative Medicine award, while Dr. Francisco Martinez Peñalver was recognised as Healthcare Visionary. Dr. Chris B. O. Okumu received the Global Healthcare Governance award, while Dr. Manal Guen was honoured with the Healthcare Transformation Leadership Award.
Education also featured prominently, with the Education Excellence category recognising contributions to learning, research, skills development and educational leadership. Theodoor Mannaert received the Visionary Leadership award, Dr. Salwa Arfaoui was recognised for Global Wealth Education, and Dr. Deborah Greenhut received the Visionary Educator award. Strongroots – Empowering Knowledge received the Skills Development Impact Award.
In the Media Excellence category, Ivan Siyanko of PHOTO. VIDEO. LONDON was recognised for Photography Impact.
The Cambridge celebration formed part of LOSD’s broader international programme in education, skills development, research, leadership and professional recognition under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Parin Somani. Through its programmes, LOSD continues to create platforms for recognising individuals across different professional and social fields.
Beyond the presentation of awards, the Cambridge gathering created an opportunity for participants from more than 40 countries to connect around shared interests in excellence, lifelong learning, professional development and social contribution.
For the recipients, the recognition provided an opportunity to celebrate their achievements while becoming part of an international community of professionals and changemakers. Their contributions across business, healthcare, education, media and social development also demonstrated the diverse ways individuals can contribute to their communities and inspire others.
The LOSD Excellence Awards in Cambridge, Massachusetts, therefore added another international dimension to the organisation’s programme of recognition and empowerment. Bringing the celebration to a global academic environment such as Harvard University also provided a setting for professionals from different backgrounds to meet, network and celebrate excellence.
LOSD has announced that its next Excellence Awards will take place at an iconic venue in London in October 2026, with nominations open to individuals who have demonstrated excellence across Business, Health, Social, Media or Education.
The Cambridge edition ultimately reinforced LOSD’s stated focus on recognising excellence, leadership, service and lifelong development, while providing an international platform for individuals whose work continues to make an impact across their respective fields.