Women in Leadership
Awards 2025

Celebrating Excellence in Education Leadership

The Women in Leadership Awards 2025 is a prestigious event honouring outstanding female leaders who are making a remarkable impact in Basic Education. Held on the first night of the Women in Leadership Conference 2025, this inspiring awards ceremony will recognize trailblazers, innovators, and changemakers who are shaping the future of education.

"True leadership in education is not only about breaking through the barriers we face, but also about building the bridges that empower future generations of women to rise, lead, and transform the world."

Selection Process

A fair and transparent selection process is key. Here’s the structure:

Call for Nominations (March – June 2025)

- Self-nominations and Peer nominations.

2. Review & Shortlisting (July 2025)

- A selection panel (comprising education experts and industry leaders) will review and shortlist top candidates for each category.
- Shortlisted nominees will be asked to submit additional evidence or participate in a brief virtual interview if necessary.

3. Final Selection (Late July 2025)

- The panel will evaluate and vote on winners based on set criteria.

4. Winners Announcement (22 August 2025 – Awards Ceremony Night)

- Winners will be announced live at the conference and will receive trophies, certificates, and recognition.

Award Nomination Criteria

Eligibility:

Open to female school management team members, educators, and education leaders in primary and secondary schools.
Must have at least 3 years of experience in education (except for Rising Star Award).
Must demonstrate exceptional impact, innovation, or leadership in their category.

Nomination Requirements:

Nomination Form (Basic details of the nominee, including position and school).
Nomination Statement (300–500 words explaining why they deserve the award).
Supporting Documents (Evidence of their work, such as reports, testimonials, lesson plans, media features, or videos).
Endorsement (A recommendation letter from a colleague, supervisor, or community member).

Nomination Process

Nominations for the Women in Leadership Awards 2025 are now open! We invite you to nominate a deserving female leader who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in education.

✅ Who can nominate? Educators, colleagues, students, and community members.
✅ How to nominate? Complete the online nomination form [Click here to Nominate].
✅ Deadline for nominations: [30 June 2025]

Awards Nomination Guidelines

Download the Awards Nomination Guidelines

Judges

Salma Seedat

Executive Director at Instructional Leadership Institute

Ruth Shogoe

Group Executive: Corporate & Public Sector @ Novus Holdings Ltd

Tamara Carter

Head of Business Development @ MasterStart

Dorcas Dube

National Marketing and Communications Manager @ Citizen Leader Lab

Prof Cina Mosito

Associate Professor (Inclusive Education), Nelson Mandela University

Melissa Bailey

Education Specialist in eLearning WCED

Event Date

Why Attend?

Award Categories

Our awards highlight excellence in the following areas:

Leadership & Impact Awards

🏆 Woman Leader of the Year in Education – Recognizing an exceptional female leader driving transformation in education.
🏆 Excellence in School Leadership Award – Honouring a Principal or SMT member demonstrating outstanding leadership.
🏆 Innovative Leadership in Education Award – Celebrating a leader who has introduced groundbreaking initiatives in schools.
🏆 Rising Star in Educational Leadership Award – Recognizing an emerging female leader making a significant impact.

Teaching & Learning Excellence Awards

🏆 Outstanding Educator Award – Honouring an educator who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and student engagement.
🏆 Innovative Teaching Practices Award – Recognizing an educator who uses creative methods to enhance learning.
🏆 STEM Education Champion Award – Celebrating a female educator excelling in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Inclusivity & Community Impact Awards

🏆 Champion for Inclusive Education Award – Recognizing a leader fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
🏆 Education for Social Change Award – Honouring a female leader using education to uplift underprivileged communities.
🏆 Mentorship & Empowerment Award – Celebrating an educator who has mentored and uplifted other women in education.
🏆 Bridging the Gap Award – Recognizing efforts to create stronger partnerships between schools, parents, and communities.

Innovation & Technology in Education Awards

🏆 EdTech Innovator Award – Honouring an educator who effectively integrates technology into teaching.
🏆 Best Digital Learning Initiative Award – Recognizing a school leader driving digital transformation in education.

Special Recognition Awards

🏆 Lifetime Achievement in Education Award – Honouring a woman with a long-standing legacy of impact in education.
🏆 Trailblazer Award for Women in Education – Recognizing a woman breaking barriers and paving the way for others.
🏆 Resilient Educator Award – Celebrating a teacher who has overcome challenges and demonstrated resilience.

Women in Leadership Awards 2025