A 22-year-old climate advocate with legal ambitions to pursue environmental justice for the marginalized, a coral scientist who has activated over 900 divers for reef clean-ups, and a first-year university student championing for biodiversity credits and offsets at policy-making platforms with senior government leaders. 10* impressive and notable youth, some of whom are still completing their studies, have contributed immensely to conservation and environmental causes before hitting the age of 35. They have been chosen for the 10 for Zero Awards by Conservation International Singapore, with the award ceremony being held in commemoration of World Environmental Day. 

The 10 for Zero Awards is a new initiative that seeks to recognize, celebrate, and empower young environmentalists who are passionate about our natural world, sustainable development and climate action. Together, they will form a group dedicated to actions for a quicker journey towards a future of Zero waste and net Zero carbon emissions.

The 10 youth leaders will be announced at the 10 for Zero Awards Ceremony, where they will engage in panel discussions introducing their projects related to key environmental topics. They were carefully selected from nation-wide applications and nominations by a panel of subject experts, for the social benefit of their work, environmental impact, and community influence towards a future of Zero waste, net Zero carbon emissions and a healthy natural world.

The 10 youth are:

1. Heng Li Seng – Founder & CEO, Green Nudge

Heng Li Seng is the founder and CEO of Green Nudge, a Singapore-based social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainability and driving positive environmental impact. His focus lies in building thriving green communities through activities, outreach, training, and consultancy. Under his leadership, Green Nudge has engaged with over 200 organizations to collect marine debris and reduce CO2 emissions. Li Seng’s commitment to sustainability has been rewarded with several awards. He is also a participant in prestigious programs, including the ASEAN Youth Fellowship.  

2. Kong Man Jing – Co-Founder, Just Keep Thinking

Man Jing, known affectionately as MJ, is the co-founder of “Just Keep Thinking,” a Science and Nature channel with over 450,000 followers across all platforms. During a school camp on St John’s Island, her passion for nature blossomed as she explored various ecosystems and her environment. She has invaluable knowledge and insights of different sectors, having worked in both public and private environmental organizations. As a former Science teacher, she realized the power of education and now uses social media as an environmental educator and science communicator, so that she can reach global audiences.

3. Muhd Nasry – Executive Director, Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity

An environmental sciences student at Nanyang Technological University, Nasry also serves as the Executive Director of Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB). In addition to engaging in consultations with government stakeholders on land-use planning and wildlife issues, he focuses on building up youths to push for systemic change by capitalising on underexplored opportunities in the local nature community. From including biodiversity in mainstream education to tackling the growing interest in conservation finance, he believes that the potential for youths to participate in high-level decision-making can finally be realised.

4. Ng Lee Kiang – Co-founder, Young Nautilus

A dedicated marine educator with over 10 years of experience, Lee Kiang promotes environmental education and conservation, and is a divemaster. She co-founded Young Nautilus, an environmental education organization that develops and delivers nature-themed programmes to inspire an appreciation for the natural world and to foster a sense of responsibility for conservation. Young Nautilus has successfully reached over 10,000 audiences annually through interactive programs such as Biodiversity Walks, Conservation Talks, and Values-in-Action workshops. Lee Kiang hopes to expand Young Nautilus’s reach and impact, tailor programs to different demographics, and cultivate a community of young educators passionate about marine conservation.  

5. Oh Chu Xian – Founder, Magorium & M-Impact

Chu Xian is paving the road to a greener future – quite literally! She founded Magorium, a business that

molecularly transforms contaminated and unsorted plastic waste into a novel material used to build roads. This replaces traditional bitumen, which is refined from crude oil. In Singapore, Magorium has already

diverted more than 8,000KG of plastic waste from incineration. She also founded M-Impact, which

focuses on youth environmental literacy programmes to help younger generations engage with

sustainability issues more holistically.

6. Pamela Low – Founder, Tingkats

Pamela is dedicated to solving climate change and driven to benefit the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit as she believes businesses can be a force for good. Her founder journey began in 2018 with Tingkats, bringing to fore the urgency of climate action. Drawing from her data-centric and behavioural economics background, she partners businesses to identify new opportunities and create strategies for sustainable development. As a Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative fellow, she is part of a network of entrepreneurial youths from 11 Southeast Asia countries to alleviate poverty, economic growth and sustainable development in our region. She is currently on a mission to save 100 million fruits from being lost in farms to homes. In her free time, she helps out at Stridy, a non-profit organisation, advocating for less packaging and more recycling.

7. Sam Shu Qin – Marine biologist, Tropical Marine Science Institute, NUS and Co-founder, Our Singapore Reefs

A marine biologist who studies and protects coral reef ecosystems in urbanized marine environments, Shu Qin conducts research, publishes articles, and influences policy-making processes on environmental and wildlife management. She is passionate about bridging the gap between academia and the public through effective science communication. She has conducted numerous regional sharing sessions to raise awareness about Singapore’s marine biodiversity and conservation efforts. She also co-founded Our Singapore Reefs (OSR), organized clean-up activities involving over 1,200 volunteers and has been featured in over 40 media outlets. She also contributes to capacity building through her roles as a coordinator of Friends of Marine Park, a volunteer scientist with The International SeaKeepers Society (Asia) and Sea Communities, and an Eco Advisor at One°15 Marina. 

8. Samantha Thian – Founder, Seastainable 

As the founder of Seastainable, Samantha is passionate about Southeast Asian sustainability initiatives and has expanded Seastainable’s reach to seven ASEAN countries, supported over 33 global projects and committed over $50,000 SGD to marine conservation. Samantha’s work has been recognized by organizations like the National Environment Agency and she is actively involved in various sustainability and youth leadership initiatives. She believes in driving sustainability within organizations, and is part of the Climate Action Singapore Alliance and the Public Hygiene Council’s Youth Action Group. Samantha spearheaded community initiatives such as #eastcoastbeachplan and developed the Stridy app for cleanups, which has gained thousands of users globally.

9. Terese Teoh – President, Singapore Youth for Climate Action

An intersectional environmentalist and an aspiring environmental lawyer, Terese is also a third-year undergraduate majoring in environmental and political science. In the past few years, Terese has engaged in various forms of community building, education and empowerment. Her main interests lie in using the power of the law to create spaces for climate justice and a regional just transition. She aims to deepen her knowledge of environmental law, legal aid and advocacy through the “10 for Zero” Award.

10. Yasser Amin – Chief Stridy Officer, Stridy

Yasser Amin is an environmental advocate dedicated to sustainability and community building. He has organized regular beach cleanups at East Coast Park, raising awareness about plastic pollution and the importance of maintaining clean natural environments. Yasser is involved in various sustainability activities in Singapore, including organizing community events, advocating for cleaner environments, and connecting individuals and organizations in the green space. He currently serves as the Chief Stridy Officer at Stridy, a non-profit organization addressing urban waste management issues worldwide. With the Stridy app, Yasser promotes responsibility and accountability in waste cleanup efforts.

“We recognize the increasing need to take urgent action to conserve our environment and reduce carbon emissions. Young people are a critical driving force for the climate agenda, taking the lead in shaping their future and leading their communities for action. The 10 for Zero Awards seeks to empower passionate young champions of our environment, to maximize their reach and help them deepen their impact,” said Ms Geraldine Chin, Country Director, Conservation International Singapore.

Winning the award is just the beginning. The 10 youth will join an exclusive youth network that offers mentorship and coaching from global conservation experts, and opportunities to participate in local and international environmental proposals, value-adding workshops, field research, and overseas climate summits. The network also serves as a platform to form meaningful connections and encourages them to create collaborative efforts for greater impact. 

“We were very impressed with the work, dedication and drive of these youth leaders. It is our hope that through the 10 for Zero Awards, they will be provided resources, connections and opportunities to put their passion into concrete actions to build a better tomorrow for all,” said Ms Kathlyn Tan, Judge and Board Trustee of Conservation International Singapore.  

The 10 for Zero Awards is supported by funding from the Drop by Drop Project, a collaboration between Clean the World Foundation and Sands. In collaboration with Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum, the 10 for Zero Awards Ceremony and Panel is presented in conjunction with the opening symposium of the ArtScience Museum’s latest exhibition, Sensory Odyssey. Together, Conservation International and their partners hope to articulate a commitment to inspiring change and driving impact in the community through meaningful collaborations.

“We are delighted to support this meaningful initiative, which we foresee will empower youth to make a significant difference. Earth is a home to all of us, and it is our responsibility to work hand-in-hand to prevent its destruction. We are hopeful, and excited to see what inspiring, innovative solutions these youth will bring,” said Manohar Shenoy, Executive Director, Clean the World Foundation.

“We have continued supporting Conservation International Singapore because we recognize the importance of their efforts to educate today’s youth for the preservation of tomorrow’s future,” said Katarina Tesarova, Senior Vice-President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Sands. She adds, “Their environmental advocacy work to inspire and empower young people fits squarely with our focus on creating community engagement avenues that foster collaboration to preserve the natural heritage and ecological assets of our regions.”