Sydney scientist the first Australian to win international technology prize
The prestigious award recognises a lifetime’s work towards a renewable energy future
2 min
A scientist from the University of New South Wales is the first Australian to be awarded the prestigious international Millennium Technology Prize.
Scientia Professor Martin Green was awarded the prize for his lifetime’s work and leadership in developing the world’s most commercially viable and efficient silicon solar cell, known as the Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC).
The Millennium prize is awarded once every two years by the Technology Academy Finland to highlight innovation in science and its impact on society. It is considered Europe’s most significant science prize and is worth 1 million euros. Prof Green was awarded by prize patron and President of Finland Sauli Niinistö at a ceremony in Helsinki.
Prof Green said he believed there was a huge transformation underway as the world shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
“We need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to sustain the trajectory of human civilisation on our shared planet,” he said. “The pace of change is accelerating and the world will shift to solar and wind energy over the coming decade. I believe a huge transformation of historic significance is underway.”
The UNSW said that Prof Green is often referred to as ‘the father of modern photovoltaics’ and as a result of his work, solar energy is now considered a pillar in the transition towards renewable energies and away from fossil fuels.
Australia has the highest uptake of solar in the world, with about 30 percent of households with panels attached to their homes as of January this year.
In a statement, Prof Green also thanked his team, including students and research colleagues, who contributed to his work.
“The Millennium Prize not only recognises my contribution to photovoltaics (the conversion of light into electrical power), but also the achievements of my students and research colleagues at UNSW, as well as those of the broader photovoltaic (PV) research and commercial community.
As Australia’s family offices expand their presence in private credit, a growing number of commercial real estate debt (CRED) managers are turning to them as flexible, strategic funding partners.
Knight Frank’s latest Horizon 2025 update signals renewed confidence in Australian commercial real estate, with signs of recovery accelerating across cities and sectors.
Soneva’s groundbreaking Coral Restoration Program in the Maldives has been endorsed by the United Nations and listed on UNESCO’s Ocean Decade platform, recognising it as a global model for reef regeneration and sustainable marine science.
2 min
In a landmark moment for marine conservation, the Soneva Foundation’s Coral Restoration Program has received official endorsement from the United Nations and been listed on the UNESCO Ocean Decade website — an international recognition of its pioneering work in large-scale reef restoration.
Based in the Maldives and operating from Soneva Fushi’s AquaTerra science centre, the program is now the region’s largest coral restoration facility. Combining advanced marine biology with local collaboration, it has redefined how the tourism sector can contribute meaningfully to ocean health.
What sets the program apart is its blend of innovation and scale. The facility includes a Coral Spawning and Rearing Lab—Maldives’ first of its kind—replicating natural reef conditions to stimulate coral reproduction. Thirty micro-fragmentation tanks further accelerate coral growth, enabling up to 150,000 coral fragments to be produced and replanted on damaged reefs each year.
Since launching in 2022, Soneva’s coral team has relocated more than 31,000 coral colonies and fragments from threatened areas, establishing a thriving coral hub in the Indian Ocean.
he initiative is managed by Soneva Conservation, a Maldivian NGO set up by the Soneva Foundation, and forms part of the group’s broader sustainability strategy.
“This milestone is a testament to the scientific rigour and community-driven ethos at the heart of our work,” Dr Johanna Leonhardt, Soneva’s Coral Project Manager, said. “It validates the potential of hospitality to lead ocean regeneration at scale.”
Beyond science, the program engages governments, NGOs, research institutions and the wider tourism industry—demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can drive real environmental impact.
The UN recognition now positions the project as a beacon for similar initiatives globally, reinforcing the Maldives’ role as both a luxury destination and a marine conservation leader.
The Soneva Foundation’s wider environmental efforts include carbon mitigation projects, reforestation, and waste-to-wealth innovation. As part of the Pallion group, Soneva continues to redefine what it means to be a responsible luxury brand.
Renovations in Yorkshire included the revamp of a 30-room wing where a descendant of the estate’s builder still lives.
In today’s luxury market, selling a home isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about selling a lifestyle.
