Judges

Carlos Fernandes is a seasoned Executive, Entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director (NED) with close to 25 years of experience in sectors spanning digital, internet, technology, media, education, non-profits, law, academia, shipping, government and logistics in strategic, operational and advisory roles. Through his career, Fernandes has worn numerous hats: inventor, public policy advisor, adjunct professor, venture capitalist, op-ed writer and even a judge. Through his decade-plus association with the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader (and now alumnus), Fernandes has built deep relationships with leaders across every continent across the spectrum of business, government, academia and non-profits.

Fernandes’ board experience is sector/vertical agnostic but relates to three key areas of today’s dynamic organizations: Digital, ESG and Risk/Crisis Management. Through his experience building and patenting large scale technology products and being an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore who has taught a course on Innovation, Fernandes’ experience in Digital relates to Digital Transformation, Digital Disruption, Web3 and Cybersecurity. As a result of his appointments (including Ministerial appointments) to various Government committees & Boards such as the Board of Yellow Ribbon Singapore (that focuses on ex-offender rehabilitation), the Advisory Board of the Asian Civilisations Museum, the anti-trust focused Competition Appeal Board and the Singapore Business Federation, Fernandes has developed a deep understanding of the ESG issues - not just as it relates to consumers and citizens, but small businesses as well. In the area of crisis management in organizations, Fernandes has dealt with everything from very public litigation that made the front page of the national newspaper, to several other matters related to legal liability, public relations, and data protection.

Fernandes currently runs the venture builder, Next Opus Ventures, that is developing several ventures in the edtech space – Puzzicle.org (a deeptech play for video-based peer-learning), Rookieverse.org (career guidance for children and teens through interviews with iconic individuals) and TinkerWiz (help kids learn STEM through kinesthetic learning and tinkering) to help bring about a more equitable world.

Fernandes’ op-eds have been published by the Guardian, the Financial Times, the Business Times and several other publications. For his contributions to the IT industry, the Singapore Computer Society named him its youngest-ever “Young Professional of the Year''. The World Economic Forum named him a “Young Global Leader”. BusinessWeek has also identified him as among Asia’s “Top 25 Entrepreneurs”. Fernandes has an MBA (High Honors) from the University of Chicago, a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from Bombay University, a Masters in Information Technology. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Yale University Global Leadership programs.

"Schools are the lifeblood of the next generation. T4's World’s Best School Prizes recognize schools charting a new path for their students, and as a consequence, for society as a whole. I can't wait to see the flow of innovations and creativity that flows as a result of the prizes."