Meet the new WorldSkills Champions Trust

WorldSkills is excited to introduce the new WorldSkills Champions Trust. These eleven exceptional young people will serve as ambassadors for the WorldSkills movement for the next two years. Their role is to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals and demonstrate the value of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The WorldSkills Champions Trust for 2025 to 2026 was chosen from a record-breaking 157 applications, an incredible 97% increase from 2023. The cohort is made up of seven new representatives and four returning representatives.

Each of them shares a passion for skills and a commitment to excellence. All of them are WorldSkills Champions, having competed at either WorldSkills Kazan 2019, WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, or WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

The group is also rich in its diversity. They each represent a different skill and come from a different Member country or region. This breadth of experience will be invaluable as they step onto the global stage for skills as the voice of youth.

Region by region, here are the newest representatives of WorldSkills Champions Trust 2025–2026.

Representing Africa

• Abraham Mundengo from Zambia, WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, Information Network Cabling

Representing the Americas

• Diego López from Costa Rica, WorldSkills Kazan 2019, IT Network Systems Administration

Representing Asia

• Jingyi Lu from China, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, Chemical Laboratory Technology

Representing Europe

• Nurit Davidowicz from Austria, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, Industry 4.0
• Aapo Paunonen from Finland, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, CNC Milling

Representing Middle East & North Africa

• Leyla Valiyeva from Azerbaijan, WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, Cooking
• Narmeen Almarzooqi from UAE, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, IT Software Solutions for Business

And returning for a second term are:

Representing Africa

• Mihle Mvelakubi from South Africa, WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, Bricklaying

Representing the Americas

• Sonya Hill from Jamaica, WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, Mobile Robotics

Representing Asia

• Shweta Ratanpura, India, WorldSkills Kazan 2019, Graphic Design Technology

Representing Oceania and ASEAN

• Rachel Crawford from Australia, WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, Bakery

Their term will include a week-long Training Camp where they will gain more experience in public speaking, social media content development, and media training. Over the next two years, these young ambassadors will take on high-profile roles, joining international delegations, speaking engagements at WorldSkills Partner organizations events such as UNESCO, ILO, and OECD, and leading conversations on important occasions such as World Youth Skills Day.

Within their regions, they will build relationships with WorldSkills Members and Partners and use their experience and their profile to inspire more young people to follow a career in skilled professions.

The WorldSkills Champions Trust 2025–2026 will play a significant role in the journey to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, following in the footsteps of their predecessors who, during WorldSkills Lyon 2024, helped lead the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony, presented medals at the Closing Ceremony, spoke at the WorldSkills Conference, and networked with global industry leaders.

Shawna Bourke, Director of Marketing and Communications at WorldSkills International, celebrates this news. She says, “Over the next two years, these eleven remarkable young people will support our work to elevate skills excellence on the global stage. They will help us make sure the needs of our next generation are heard and understood. And they will help us shape the future of skills development so our education systems and our industries remain innovative, inclusive, and responsive to the challenges of an ever-changing world.”

Congratulations to the new WorldSkills Champions Trust! Read more about these inspiring individuals.