On December 20, 2024, Aspen Institute Romania hosted the 14th edition of the ASPEN LEADERSHIP AWARDS AND GALA DINNER, the most special annual event of the Aspen community, marking 18 years of existence of the Institute and of our common quest for a “Good Society”.

Already a treasured tradition, the Aspen Leadership Awards and Gala Dinner represent the opportunity for the thriving and growing Aspen community to reunite and revisit its shared values and interests. A pleasant night among friends, a celebration of values-based leadership, innovation and excellence, the event aims to allow all of our guests a moment of reflection on the impact that the Aspen community had on the development of the region.

The Aspen Leadership Awards are an opportunity to bring recognition to individuals who left their mark on the Romanian and global society, who were innovators and examples of ethical and professional conduct, in fields such as public service, technology, research and innovation, arts or cultural heritage.

Also, the Aspen Gala offers to the Aspen Young Leaders, Aspen Fellows and Alumni the opportunity to present their accomplishments from the past year and to reaffirm their ambition of producing a significant impact in the society.

The Awardees of the 2024 edition of the Aspen Leadership Awards and Gala Dinner are:

  • “Mihnea Constantinescu” Values-Based Leadership Award: Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee  
  • Service with Dignity Leadership Award: Lieutenant General (r.) Vasile Toader
  • Innovation and Technology Leadership Award: The National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies – IMT Bucharest
  • Arts and Society Leadership Award: Șerban Savu (artist) & Ciprian Mureșan (curator)
  • Cultural Heritage and Society Leadership Award: Grivița 53 Cultural Association  
  • Aspen Social Action Prize: ”WORLDWIDE STUDENTS FORUM 2024”, initiated by Decebal Mohîrță, Aspen Alumnus.
  • Aspen Society of Fellows and Alumni Grant: ”The Good Society Festival”, initiated by a team of participants of the 2024 generation of the Aspen Young Leaders Program.

We thank all the Members of the Institute, the Aspen Fellows and Alumni and our Partners and Sponsors for their constant support, dedication, and willingness to contribute to the Good Society.

We thank the Partners of the Aspen Leadership Awards and Gala Dinner 2024 for their devotion to the Aspen Idea:

  • Award Sponsors: BANCA COMERCIALĂ ROMÂNĂ (BCR), RAIFFEISEN BANK, UNICREDIT BANK, Ms. Cătălina Iuga and Mr. Vasile Iuga
  • Aspen Social Action Prize Sponsor: ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE ROMANIA
  • Silver Leaf Sponsors: MSD, UBER
  • Bronze Leaf Sponsors: GARANTI BBVA, ORION
  • Table Captains: ENEVO GROUP, VERANDA MALL
  • With the support of MAIGRE COUTURE, DAVID SANDU JEWELRY, VALVIS HOLDING, AQUA CARPATICA, DOMENIILE SÂMBUREȘTI, CRISTALLINI.
  • Host of the event: Dan Fințescu.

The Aspen Leadership Awards and Gala Dinner constitute a source of financial support for the Aspen Leadership Trust, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Romania aiming to support the Leadership Initiatives of our Institute and to offer scholarships to join our Leadership Programs to high school students, university students, young professionals, public sector representatives and NGO representatives, in Romania and the region.

We invite you to become a Leadership Trustee or to make a donation as an individual contributor to the Aspen Leadership Trust.

For more details regarding the Aspen Leadership Trust, the current Leadership Trustees and Individual Contributors and various possibilities to contribute, please click here or contact us via e-mail at [email protected] and [email protected].
The Aspen Leadership Awards and Gala Dinner 2024 was a Black tie, table seating event, open only to members of the Aspen community.

The photo album of the event is available at this link.