ENOWA, Extreme E’s official Green Hydrogen Power partner and the driving force behind renewable energy, water, and hydrogen at NEOM, presented its inaugural Hyperdrive Most Valuable Person (MVP) Award at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix.
Since partnering with Extreme E last year ENOWA has been pivotal in steering a multi-year collaboration, advocating for sustainable solutions in the world of motorsport. This collaboration has prominently highlighted green hydrogen as a transformative energy source, amplifying its potential on a global scale.
The ENOWA Hyperdrive MVP Award was conceived this year to honour individuals within the Extreme E paddock whose ethos aligns with the principles of circularity, innovation and collaboration inherent in this unique championship. Ten nominees were chosen across various sectors – from production, mechanics, engineering, events and operations – all of whom considered to show dedication to innovation and positive change.
A distinguished jury comprising of Ceciel Mulders (Head of Marketing – ENOWA), Ali Russell (Managing Director – Extreme E), Richard Washington (Scientific Committee – Extreme E), and Naganethra Reddy (Social Impact Strategist – Extreme E) had a tough job to pick the final two winners and after much deliberation agreed on the following, who were: Megan Aldridge – Series Producer, Aurora Media Wordwide and Tom Badham – JBXE Engineer.
Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme E, said: “Selecting the inaugural ENOWA Hyperdrive MVP Award winners was an immensely challenging task given the exceptional talent and dedication of the nominees within the Extreme E paddock.
“Tom Badham’s engineering brilliance at JBXE and Megan Aldridge’s incredible visionary work at Aurora Media Worldwide have epitomised excellence in their respective fields, setting a remarkable precedent for the ENOWA MVP Award. Their dedication and innovation have truly shaped the narrative of Extreme E, driving us towards a sustainable and electrifying future in motorsport.”
Ceciel Mulders, Head of Marketing at ENOWA, said: “ENOWA are thrilled to present the inaugural ENOWA Hyperdrive MVP Award. We were passionate about developing this award to display our commitment to circularity, innovation and collaboration at all levels.
“Selecting just two winners from the many deserving nominees was a difficult task, but we felt that Tom Badham and Megan Aldridge’s work this season was outstanding and deserved to be commended.
“We were very impressed with Tom’s work in introducing new sustainable practices as an engineer with JBXE, and Megan’s commitment to spotlighting highly relevant climate issues around the world.
“We would like to celebrate all the contributions of our winners and nominees in the spirit of this award this season and look forward to highlighting more great work in this field next season.”
Tom Badham, who has been with JBXE since Extreme E’s inaugural season in 2021, epitomises engineering excellence, showcasing exceptional problem-solving skills and an unwavering commitment to sustainable practices. His systematic approach led to the development of protocols for assessing, repairing, and reusing non-critical components, significantly reducing waste and costs, thus promoting a sustainable engineering ethos in motorsport.
On receiving his prestigious ENOWA Hyperdrive MVP award, Badham said: “Being recognised as the inaugural Hyperdrive MVP by ENOWA and Extreme E is truly humbling. Sustainability and innovation are at the core of our work at JBXE. I believe our responsibility lies not just in winning races but in leading by example and promoting sustainable practices in engineering. This award validates our team’s efforts in fostering a greener future for motorsport.”
Megan Aldridge is a talented young producer who’s storytelling finesse and unyielding dedication have reshaped the landscape of sports media. Her investigative journalism for Extreme E has unveiled compelling stories in remote corners of the world, amplifying climate issues, future technology, and initiatives fostering positive change.
In addition, Megan’s exceptional ability to connect with people and create a ground-breaking sports magazine show (Electric Odyssey) underscores her invaluable contribution to the cause of sustainability and awareness.
An equally thrilled Aldridge on receiving her award, said: “I am so honoured to receive the Hyperdrive MVP Award from ENOWA and Extreme E. Our storytelling journey in Extreme E has been about amplifying voices that resonate with global issues. This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to shedding light on crucial environmental and societal topics, and it fuels our mission to bring about positive change.”
In front of their delighted Extreme E friends and colleagues, the winners each received a prestigious ENOWA-themed XE trophy, along with an ‘ENOWA Hyperdrive MVP’ Jacket.
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