Verbatim's Brent Stirton Celebrated in Inaugural LBS Photography Awards Story Prize

The London Business School Photo Awards is the first photography exhibition to explore how organisations worldwide can impact people’s lives by tackling today’s global challenges.

Born from a partnership between the London Business School, the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development, and Canon, the exhibition aims to let powerful images answer some of today’s most pressing questions. From sustainable development to gender issues, to clean energy to social responsibility, the selected works will extend across several continents and include contributions from world-renowned photojournalists.

Among the finalists whose work was recognised was Verbatim's Brent Stirton. His photo series Virunga's hydroelectric promise shows how hydroelectric power generation is impacting the conservation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park.

Stirton’s photo essay is one of 11 to make up this year’s LBS Photography Awards exhibition.

Stirton said the business world had a part to play in solving global problems.

“So many of the current crises we see as photographers have their solutions in the business world. Great economic thinking and planning can alleviate poverty, provide equality and ensure sustainability. Conversely, so many of the negatives we see are a consequence of corporate and political greed,” he said.

“Ethical thinking from the business sector can have a profound effect on security, migration and the cessation of conflict.

“Good visual journalism can influence ethical business thinking for the better, business in turn can be a profound influence of government. It's a conversation we absolutely should be having.”

Stirton’s work for healthcare company Novartis AG, documenting efforts to tackle malaria in Kenya, is also featured in the exhibition.