Maria Conceição, a Dubai-based humanitarian and record-breaking endurance athlete, has been honoured with the prestigious GlobalWIIN Global Award for Innovative Education and Capacity Building. The award was presented at the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GlobalWIIN) Summit and Awards held this week at London’s ExCeL.
Conceição, originally from Portugal and a former Emirates cabin crew member, was recognised for her transformative work empowering underprivileged communities, particularly in Bangladesh.
Her journey into humanitarian work began during a 2005 layover in Dhaka, where she encountered families living in extreme poverty.
“I came across children living in extreme poverty, but all I could see were their bright eyes, energy, and wasted potential. That moment changed my life forever.”
What started as a personal act of compassion, canceling a holiday to return to Dhaka with aid—evolved into a far-reaching mission. Backed by Dubai’s supportive community, Maria established a school in the city’s slums. At its peak, the initiative educated over 600 students, many of whom have since gone on to earn university and master’s degrees globally.
Conceição is not only known for her humanitarian work, she is also a powerhouse in endurance sports. Dubbed “the toughest woman alive” by Mindvalley CEO Vishen Lakhiani, she has smashed 10 Guinness World Records in ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons, despite having no formal athletic background.
She made history as the first Portuguese woman to summit both Mount Everest and K2, and in May 2025, she added Lhotse, Earth’s fourth-highest peak, to her achievements. Her completion of the Explorer’s Grand Slam, reaching the North and South Poles along with the Seven Summits, places her among just 17 women in history to achieve the feat.
Operating from her base in the UAE, Maria has used sport and education to support communities and expand access to opportunity.
As Conceição accepted her award, she said:
“Innovation means creating new ways to educate, support, and uplift others. I am deeply honoured by this recognition, which belongs to every child and every dreamer who believes that no mountain is too high.”
She uses her expeditions to build brand partnerships and global collaborations that support education, equality, and human development. These partnerships extend her reach and increase the impact of her work across communities and regions.
