Dubai: Charles O`Holliday Jr, who is credited with shifting the focus of one of the world`s largest chemical companies towards a more sustainable way of doing business, said he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi`s ideals.
Holliday held the chairmanship of DuPont from 1998 to 2008. He is one of the finalists in the race for the USD 4 million Zayed Future Energy Prize.
"One of Gandhi`s famous quotes is `Be the change you want to see`. I have led change in business and other sectors because I wanted to see better functional, social and environmental performance related to the products and services that help our societies operate," he told Gulf News. Holliday has been recognised for his contributions to the chemical industry, integrating biology and chemistry to create sustainable solutions such as biofuels, and was awarded the International Palladium Medal in 2009.
Holliday serves on several boards such as the UN Global Compact, Royal Dutch Shell and the Climate Works Foundation. The 2012 edition of the the Zayed Future Energy Prize has received a record 475 applications from 71 countries. Holliday said if he is the winner of the award, he would donate the prize money to individuals and organisations developing solutions for the improvement of energy generation and effectiveness.
"Additionally, I will personally mentor the individuals to improve their probability of success," he said.
The prize was established in 2008 under the auspices of the Government of Abu Dhabi.
The primary purpose of the Zayed Future Energy Prize is to inspire, encourage and honour innovators and achievers in the field of renewable energy and sustainability. PTI