2025 CME STEM Leadership Award™ Honoring Bourla, Spergel and O’Donovan

Chemical Marketing & Economics (CME) warmly invites you to the CME STEM Leadership Award™ Luncheon and Gala Reception in celebration of our 71st Anniversary, taking place in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM. The honorees in the following categories are:

• Lifetime Achievement – Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO
• Fundamental Research – David Spergel, Simons Foundation President
• Corporate Reinvention – Anthony O’Donovan, Arkema Inc. President and CEO

The Keynote will be NASA former Chief Scientist James Green. Past honorees include transformative figures such as Martin Brudermüller (The Mercedes-Benz Group), Ed Breen (DuPont), Henry Kravis (KKR), Daniel D’Aniello (The Carlyle Group), Jon M. Huntsman, Sr. (Huntsman Corp.), Roy Vagelos (Merck & Co.), and seven Nobel Laureates—including Frances Arnold, Carlolyn Bertozzi, Moungi Bawendi and Barry Sharpless, one of only five individuals in history to receive two Nobel Prizes.

Make a Difference

• Sponsor a table and bring guests
• Donate a table or seats to support STEM students
• Make a STEM contribution to help advance talent for sustainable innovation

Attire and Registration

This is a Gala Luncheon. Attire is Business Elegant with dark suits and ties for men and equivalent level or formality for women. To participate, please use the “Register” button at the top right of this webpage. The venue location will be shared with attendees after registration. To explore high-impact STEM sponsorship opportunities, please email us at contact(at)cme-stem(dot)org

The keynote speaker will be NASA’s former Chief Scientist Dr. James Green—the only speaker we’ve featured with a 5.3 km asteroid named in his honor. Discovered in 1981 and officially renamed “Jamesgreen” by the International Astronomical Union in 2017, this minor planet is larger than 99% of known asteroids. You will find his full bio by clicking on the plus “+” sign on the bottom right of his picture.

Since 2018, Dr. Green has partnered with CME to co-organize events such as the Annual CME NASA Symposium and the Earth & Space Sustainability Summit, bringing visionary leadership and a deep commitment to advancing STEM through collaboration across industry, academia, and government.

At the luncheon, Dr. Green will share a review and outlook on major developments in space exploration—spanning life sciences, advanced materials, and energy solutions. Among these frontiers, microgravity experiments aboard the International Space Station have accelerated biomedical innovation. One notable example is a top-selling cancer immunotherapy, now leading global pharmaceutical revenues, which benefited from space-based crystallization studies aimed at improving its formulation and delivery.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO, will be recognized for his transformative leadership in global health. When, for the first time in history, a pandemic halted life across continents and summoned humanity’s brightest minds, Dr. Albert Bourla’s steady, hands-on leadership helped light the way, culminating in one of 2020’s most consequential triumphs. A veterinarian by training, shaped by the resilience of his heritage and the curiosity of a scientist, he guided Pfizer through uncharted waters to deliver its groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccine in under a year—averting an estimated 20 million deaths worldwide. Today, he advances mRNA science into cancer immunotherapies and rare diseases, turning challenges into catalysts for healing. Since becoming CEO in 2019, Bourla has cultivated a spirit of discovery. In 2024 alone, Pfizer invested over $10 billion in R&D to accelerate innovation. His commitment to expanding access to care, fostering scientific collaboration, and nurturing STEM talent earned him the 2024 AACR Award for Service to Cancer Science and a place on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Health. His mission: empower every patient to thrive.

Pfizer Inc. is a leading global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines and vaccines. In 2024, Pfizer reported revenues of $63.6 billion and employed approximately 81,000 people, leveraging cutting-edge science to advance health and well-being for patients and communities.

Simons Foundation President David Spergel will receive the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for Advancing Fundamental Research. As president of the Simons Foundation since 2021, he has led efforts to advance research in mathematics and basic sciences. An astrophysicist renowned for his work on the cosmic microwave background and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Spergel previously chaired Princeton University’s astrophysics department and founded the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics. He served as Chair of the NAS Space Study Board and was a member of the NASA Advisory Council. He has received the NASA exceptional public service award and he currently serves on the board of Brookhaven National Laboratory. With over 400 publications, more than 100,000 citations, and an h-index of 120, he has mentored over 32 graduate students, 35 postdoctoral fellows, and 60 undergraduates—many now leading academics worldwide. Spergel’s honors include the MacArthur Fellowship, Shaw Prize, Breakthrough Prize, and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard and a B.A. from Princeton.

As president of the Simons Foundation, Spergel leads the New York City-based organization in its mission to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Founded in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the private foundation supports transformative science through grantmaking, in-house research and public engagement.

Anthony O’Donovan, president and chief executive officer of Arkema Inc., will receive the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for Corporate Reinvention. As industries recalibrated for a lower-carbon future, Dr. Anthony O’Donovan brought strategic clarity and technical depth to Arkema’s leadership in specialty materials. A chemical engineer with a Ph.D. from the University of Cape Town, he has guided Arkema’s North American operations toward growth in adhesives, advanced materials, and coatings. Appointed President and CEO of Arkema Inc. in 2021, Dr. O’Donovan is focused on advancing materials that support sustainability. His global experience in chemical engineering drives a results-oriented approach to sustainable product development. His team earned the American Chemical Society’s Heroes of Chemistry Award for innovations that helped reshape electric vehicle technologies. He also prioritizes STEM excellence through scholarships, teacher and mentoring programs that build a skilled workforce. He gives back through service in industry associations fostering collaboration, technical standards, and future-ready innovation. He chairs the Society of Chemical Industry America and serves on the Board of the American Chemistry Council.

Arkema Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Arkema S.A., a global leader in specialty materials for a wide range of markets. In 2024, Arkema S.A. reported net sales of €9.5 billion and employed more than 21,000 people globally, leveraging technology and expertise to create value for customers and shareholders.

Celebrating Visionaries, Empowering the Future

CME is a forward-thinking nonprofit dedicated to advancing diverse talent and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Our mission is to champion sustainable innovation across energy, materials, and life sciences—while connecting trailblazers across sectors. Through dynamic collaborations with NASA, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the DOE National Laboratories, CME creates transformative experiences that unite Nobel Laureates, industry pioneers, and the public. Our hallmark programs—including the CME STEM Leadership Awards™, CME NASA Symposia, Earth & Space Sustainability Summits, STEM Festivals, and CME PMSE Student & Mentor Awards—ignite bold ideas and foster STEM talent.

CME is committed to fostering a welcoming, respectful, and professional environment at all its events. To uphold this standard and ensure a safe experience for all participants, we ask that every attendee adhere to the following Code of Conduct. The following behaviors are strictly prohibited:

• Harassment of attendees, staff, or organizers
• Unauthorized access to stages or restricted areas
• Disruption of presentations or event activities
• Use of demeaning, derogatory, or discriminatory language
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, or harassing photography/recording
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Unwelcome sexual attention
• Any other actions deemed disruptive by the Executive Committee or security personnel

Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event. Violations may lead to immediate removal without refund or compensation. Violators may also face legal consequences to the full extent of applicable laws. CME reserves the right to revise this Code of Conduct at any time. Thank you for your cooperation.