PRESS RELEASE
International hospitality leader, wellness advocate and purposeful leadership champion to receive Nelas Academy Award 2026
LAGOS, NIGERIA — 15 September 2026:
The Nelas Academy of Arts, Media and Television has announced Lady Farah Shammas, Managing Director of the award-winning St Raphael Resort & Marina in Limassol, Cyprus, as one of the distinguished personalities selected for inclusion in the Top 50 Most Inspirational & Humanitarian People 2025/2026.
Lady Farah Shammas will join 49 other outstanding personalities from Africa, Europe, Eurasia and beyond who are being recognized for their exceptional contributions to humanity, leadership, social impact, culture, business, wellness, sustainability and the advancement of communities.
The 50 honourees will be formally celebrated and honored with the Nelas Academy Awards 2026, as part of the Academy’s broader programme of recognizing individuals whose achievements demonstrate that leadership can extend beyond professional success to create meaningful and positive impact on society.
A LEADER IN SUSTAINABLE LUXURY HOSPITALITY
Lady Farah Shammas has distinguished herself as an influential figure in international hospitality and sustainable luxury tourism. As Managing Director of St Raphael Resort & Marina in Limassol, she has championed a model of hospitality that places increasing emphasis on sustainability, wellness, responsible leadership and meaningful guest experiences.
Her professional journey has also extended well beyond the traditional boundaries of hospitality. She is an international speaker, author and podcast host whose platforms, including Hotel Talk with Farah Shammas and The Farah Shammas Podcast, provide a forum for conversations around wellness, sustainability, purposeful leadership, personal development and women’s empowerment.
Through her public engagements, Lady Farah has consistently used her voice to encourage individuals and organizations to reconsider what success means and how professional achievement can be aligned with health, happiness, kindness and purpose.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH WELLNESS AND PURPOSE
Lady Farah Shammas is also the founder of Farah’s Club, an international wellness community created to bring people together around healthier, happier and more purposeful living.
Through Purple Perfect Events, she has further developed a platform for creating landmark experiences that connect entertainment, wellness, leadership, business and social engagement.
Her portfolio of initiatives has included major international events such as The Jacksons in Cyprus and SUM IT UP – International Summit on Health, Happiness & Balance, demonstrating her ability to combine entertainment, human connection and purposeful dialogue on issues affecting contemporary society.
A passionate advocate for plant-based living, Lady Farah is also the author of four books, through which she continues to communicate messages centred on wellbeing, compassion, healthy living and purposeful personal leadership.
WHY NELAS ACADEMY RECOGNIZES LADY FARAH SHAMMAS
According to the President of The Nelas Academy, Frank Ikegwuonu, Lady Farah Shammas represents the type of contemporary leadership that the Top 50 recognition seeks to celebrate.
“Lady Farah Shammas represents a remarkable convergence of leadership, hospitality, wellness, sustainability and humanitarian values. Her work demonstrates that influence is not measured only by professional position, but by the lives touched, the conversations initiated and the positive values promoted through one’s leadership.”
Ambassador Ikegwuonu added:
“What particularly distinguishes Lady Farah is her commitment to bringing people together around health, happiness, kindness, sustainability and purpose. Through hospitality, public speaking, publishing, wellness initiatives and international events, she has created platforms that encourage people to live better and lead with greater consciousness. The Nelas Academy is proud to recognize her among the Top 50 Most Inspirational & Humanitarian People 2025/2026.”
He further noted that her recognition reflects the Academy’s broader philosophy of celebrating “leadership with purpose and influence with responsibility.”
THE TOP 50 MOST INSPIRATIONAL & HUMANITARIAN PEOPLE
The Top 50 Most Inspirational & Humanitarian People 2025/2026 initiative is being developed by The Nelas Academy as an international recognition platform highlighting individuals whose work, achievements and personal example contribute to a more compassionate, innovative, sustainable and interconnected world.
The selection brings together personalities whose influence cuts across diverse fields, including business, diplomacy, entertainment, culture, humanitarian service, leadership, healthcare, education, sustainability, creative industries and social development.
Rather than focusing solely on conventional awards categories, the initiative seeks to document people whose stories can inspire others to make a positive difference.
The publication and recognition programme will provide a lasting record of the achievements and values of the selected personalities.
NELAS ACADEMY AWARDS 2026
Lady Farah Shammas will be among the 50 distinguished personalities to receive the Nelas Academy Awards 2026, joining an international gathering of leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, cultural ambassadors and changemakers.
The 2026 programme forms part of the wider international activities marking the continuing development of The Nelas Academy as a platform for arts, media, culture, creative industries, international exchange, humanitarian engagement and cultural diplomacy.
For the Academy, the recognition of Lady Farah Shammas is not simply an acknowledgement of her achievements in hospitality. It is a celebration of a leadership philosophy built around wellness, sustainability, empowerment, human connection and purpose.
ABOUT LADY FARAH SHAMMAS
Lady Farah Shammas is an internationally recognized hospitality executive, speaker, author, wellness advocate and purposeful leadership champion.
She serves as Managing Director of the award-winning St Raphael Resort & Marina in Limassol, Cyprus, and has established a distinctive public profile through her work in sustainable luxury hospitality, wellness and leadership.
She is the founder of Farah’s Club and Purple Perfect Events, host of Hotel Talk with Farah Shammas and The Farah Shammas Podcast, and author of four books.
Her advocacy focuses on wellness, sustainability, plant-based living, purposeful leadership, kindness and women’s empowerment.
Through her professional career, publications, speaking engagements, podcasts, communities and international events, she continues to inspire audiences to pursue a more balanced and purposeful approach to life and leadership.
ABOUT THE NELAS ACADEMY
The Nelas Academy of Arts, Media and Television is an international platform dedicated to the advancement of arts, media, film, television, culture, creative industries, cultural diplomacy and humanitarian engagement.
Founded at the Artists’ Village of the National Theatre, Lagos, in 2003, The Nelas Academy has evolved into a platform for recognizing excellence, documenting creative and cultural achievements, facilitating international exchange and celebrating individuals whose contributions transcend professional boundaries.
The Nelas Academy Awards form part of this continuing legacy of recognition and international engagement.
Issued by:
The Office of the President
The Nelas Academy of Arts, Media and Television
Frank Ikegwuonu
President, The Nelas Academy
Lagos, Nigeria
15 September 2026
