On December 5, Blueprint for Free Speech announced their 2023 Whistleblowing Awards. The awards, “which recognize the bravery and integrity of whistleblowers who have made a positive impact in the public interest,” were granted to 11 individuals from across the globe.
“From persevering through the NHS grievance procedure to see a killer apprehended, to holding a billion-dollar company, Tesla, accountable for its private evidence in the race to roll out self-driving cars, this year’s winners demonstrate how vital whistleblowing is, particularly when it saves lives,” said Lord Clive Hollick, an international businessman and member of the U.K.’s House of Lords who serves as one of the awards 3 judges.
Each year since 2016, Blueprint for Free Speech has awarded annual Whistleblowing Awards. Blueprint is a non-profit charity that works internationally to promote the right to freedom of expression. The winners of the awards share a £25,000 prize.
The 11 winners are:
- Lukasz Krupski, a whistleblower in Norway who blew the whistle on safety concerns around technology safety, vehicle production, and internal cybersecurity at Tesla.
- Dr Ravi Jayaram, Dr Steve Brearey, Dr John Gibbs and the other pediatric consultants at the Countess of Chester NHS Trust who blew the whistle on the Lucy Letby case.
- Mathapelo More, a South African whistleblower who raised concerns about an alleged $10 million fraud scheme Daybreak Farms, a large state-owned chicken producer in South Africa.
- Johannah Phenya, a South African whistleblower who alongside her husband exposed alleged corruption and fraud at Foursight IT Business Solutions. Her husband was shot and killed after they blew the whistle.
- Mzukisi Makatse, a South African Lottery Commission whistleblower who was fired after raising concerns about a suspicious grant.
- Dawood Khan and Wardah Latief; South African whistleblowers who blew the whistle on an alleged money laundering scheme in which a South African businessman funneled the proceeds of illicit cigarette sales in South Africa to Dubai.
- Neville Devete, a whistleblower in Papua New Guinea who exposed the missaportion of $45 million USD of public funds by a law firm.
- Michael Bawduniak, an American False Claims Act whistleblower whose qui tam suit against Biogen led to a $900 million settlement.
For more information on the 2023 Blueprint Whistleblowing Awards visit: https://www.blueprintforfreespeech.net/en/prize/2023-winners
