14 | Management Consulting Awards 2025 Global Strategy & Sustainability Consulting Firm of the Year 2025 From its home in Brussels, Belgium, AELSTONE channels a passion for sustainable, innovative, and ethical solutions into partner support of the highest calibre, which it delivers to clients all over the world. The firm was born out of a drive to accelerate efforts concerning Sustainability Goal 17 (SDG17), ‘Partnership for the Goals’, which it achieves by setting the wheels in motion for actionable partnerships, specifically through the provision of crosssector ecosystem opportunities, policy, and cross-cultural dialogue. AELSTONE is guided by the belief that sustainability and innovation are both essential components in laying the foundation for a healthy and thriving future, and the firm more than does its part through its role as an intermediary across both international relations and investor finding. This is driven by the recognition that a sustainable impact can only be achieved if organisations have strong relationships with investors and each other. AELSTONE has become the point of reference for breakthrough projects, through its traditional AI and Sustainability dinners many startups have been exposed and introduced to different decision makers helping them jump ahead towards scalability. The woman behind all of this is Dr. Lidia Esther Aviles, a renowned thought leader whose advisory scope covers institutions, firms, and sovereign ecosystems alike. Lidia also serves in various capacities across Asset Management Firm Futurewave as one of its Managing Partners, the European Innovation Council being AELSTONE an official Partner, and the European Commission as an Expert evaluating Projects, with her status as a distinguished EU Climate Pact Ambassador – a title she has held since 2021 – resulting in her being a major voice at events such as COP 27, 28, and 29, as well as AI for Good and the SET Tech Festival, and in different regions such as in the UK, EU and GCC, to name just a few. Lidia’s speaking engagements have seen her cover topics such as sustainability’s role in competitiveness, AI’s status as a core enabler in Economy where she co-authored with Petteri Heino, as well as the expectations and uncertainties of sustainability and the climate agenda. Interviews and thought pieces alike have then followed with publications including Empire Magazine, The Female Factor, UN SDGs, EU outlets, and Enlit Europe, further highlighting Lidia’s unique ability to blend Innovation, sustainability, and economics through Foresight. In the realm of sustainability, Lidia’s experiences including serving as operations director for the Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDES) and leading digital and sustainability transformations across 134 global airports, this during her tenure at Skytanking. These experiences have resulted in Lidia advising leading top tier consultancies through GuidePoint, GLG, and AlphaSights, with her published research and thought leadership shaping key future strategies across areas such as energy, finance, and geopolitics through pre-policy analysis. On the back of her sector-leading expertise, Lidia has bridged AELSTONE secure official partnerships with the likes of the European Innovation Council, Allied4Future, Sustainable Finance Goals, Balkans ACRID Network, UNIDO, Vision for Sustainable Africa, Global Oxford Impact Group, and Saudi Arabia’s Center for Sustainability and Climate. The success of these relationships is rooted in the unique, future-aligned results the firm garners at every turn and supporting partners across the different sectors and regions. “We base our solutions on truth and non-biased information for real results. We are always ahead of the curve and take pride in how we have supported the different ecosystems and created positive waves of human-centred awareness.” Basing its operation around the core values of authenticity, uniqueness, trustworthiness, foresight, cooperation, and leadership – underpinned by a proven track record – AELSTONE’s main focus is to inject the truth into developments for the client. As Lidia explained: “It’s not always easy to navigate this process because most people want to achieve things as they imagine, rather than how it is. Therefore, bringing them down to earth and activating a full-scale vision is the main part of the process; the rest is easy.” Helping it to realise its goal of a future focused on sustainability, Lidia told us how AELSTONE has a number of exciting future plans, including leveraging its book – ‘AI for the Economy’ – to bridge any gaps and provide effective tooling for decision makers. Alongside this, a desire to continuously promote its status as an expert authority in the EMEA region and beyond is seeing the firm remain active across a variety of locations, sectors, and industries, offering its skill, expertise, and accelerating SDG17. Blending innovation, diplomacy, and strategic leadership to empower resilient global investment futures, Lidia Esther Aviles is a sought-after strategic partner. Her knowledge has proven invaluable in AELSTONE being recognised here with this award but fully thanks her core team for making it possible. Contact: Dr. Lidia Esther Aviles Company: AELSTONE Web Address: https://aelstone.com/ AIS-Jul25326 Specialising in tailored solutions, business strategies, and foresight developments for key decision makers, AELSTONE is its discerning clients’ global strategic partner. At the head of the company is Dr. Lidia Esther Aviles, a global advisor and strategic expert in sustainability, defence, foresight, and innovation. Lidia is a global leader in her field, and, as both the founder and CEO of the Global Strategy & Sustainability Consulting Firm of the Year 2025, we had the pleasure of catching up with her.
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