MEET MINA GULI.
THIS IS HER STORY
Melbourne-born Mina Guli is the founder and CEO of Thirst Foundation, an ultra-runner, and a global leader committed to protecting the world’s water resources.
Following a successful 15-year career in law, finance and climate change, in 2011 Mina dedicated the rest of her life to solving the global water crisis after her eyes were opened to the concept of “invisible water” – the water that goes into everything we buy and consume – at the 2011 World Economic Forum.
She began her quest in 2012 by establishing Thirst Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on raising awareness, creating urgency and driving action on water. After creating youth education programs that reached more than two million students, she realized that to draw attention to a cause that was largely ignored by consumers, businesses and governments, she would have to do something that no one could ignore – a world first.
In 2016, Mina completed the 7 Deserts Run campaign, running 40 marathons across seven deserts in seven weeks on seven continents.
She followed this with the 6 River Run in 2017, where she ran 40 marathons along six rivers in 40 days.
At the end of 2018, Mina began #RunningDry – a campaign with a goal for her to run 100 marathons in 100 days for water. While the campaign ended abruptly for Mina personally when she broke her leg during marathon 62, the seeds for a global grassroots movement for water were planted.
From March 22, 2022 - March 22, 2023, Mina ran 200 marathons for the Run Blue campaign. Averaging 3.8 marathons a week for 365 days, Mina ran at the frontlines of the water crisis in 32 countries, delivering critical messages at key international fora and calling for urgent action on water.
THIS IS HER STORY.
Melbourne-born Mina Guli is the founder and CEO of Thirst Foundation, an ultra-runner, and a global leader committed to protecting the world’s water resources.
Following a successful 15-year career in law, finance and climate change, in 2011 Mina dedicated the rest of her life to solving the global water crisis after her eyes were opened to the concept of “invisible water” – the water that goes into everything we buy and consume – at the 2011 World Economic Forum.
She began her quest in 2012 by establishing Thirst Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on raising awareness, creating urgency and driving action on water. After creating youth education programs that reached more than two million students, she realized that to draw attention to a cause that was largely ignored by consumers, businesses and governments, she would have to do something that no one could ignore – a world first.
In 2016, Mina completed the 7 Deserts Run campaign, running 40 marathons across seven deserts in seven weeks on seven continents.
She followed this with the 6 River Run in 2017, where she ran 40 marathons along six rivers in 40 days.
At the end of 2018, Mina began #RunningDry – a campaign with a goal for her to run 100 marathons in 100 days for water. While the campaign ended abruptly for Mina personally when she broke her leg during marathon 62, the seeds for a global grassroots movement for water were planted.
From March 22, 2022 - March 22, 2023, Mina ran 200 marathons for the Run Blue campaign. Averaging 3.8 marathons a week for 365 days, Mina ran at the frontlines of the water crisis in 32 countries, delivering critical messages at key international fora and calling for urgent action on water.
Run Blue also established and built the biggest global grassroots movement on water in history, with people from 202 countries and territories stepping up for water as part of Run Blue’s virtual global runs.
Mina has been widely acknowledged for her leadership on water, including being recognised by Fortune Magazine as one of the greatest leaders in the world in 2016. She has spoken at the United Nations on several occasions and has been regularly featured in major global, local and regional media outlets around the world.