WIM gets ready to go global with ‘Top50’ International Awards in Dubai

Judging Commences for the ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards 2021.

Nominations closed recently for the ‘Top 50’ Professional and Career Women Awards 2021, organized by Women in Management (WIM), in collaboration with Women in Work; a partnership between IFC and the government of Australia. The judging of the 11th edition of the awards, which is currently underway, includes a panel of esteemed judges to ensure that only the best candidates from the professional and career categories will be accoladed for their inspirational and impactful contributions to business and the country.

Having started the judging process on the 23rd of November 2021, the panel of judges are faced with the daunting task of evaluating a strong line-up of applicants from various industries. The 2021 judging panel is chaired by Nadija Tambiah, Head of Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Social Responsibility at John Keells Holdings PLC, and includes Amanda Jewell, Acting Australian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka; Jayanthi Dharmasena, Managing Director of Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd, Dr. Kishu Gomes, Managing Director and CEO of Dreamron Group of Companies, Nisthar Cassim, Founding Editor and CEO of Daily FT, Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, Country Head, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pakistan, Clootrack Labs, Sandra De Zoysa, Group Chief Customer Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, Sandaya Salgado, Strategic Marketing Professional, Santosh Menon, CEO of KL.LK, and Sarah Twigg, Program Manager for Women in Work, IFC.

Commenting on this year’s judging process, Dr. Sulochana Segera, Founder and Chairperson of WIM stated, “nominations were open when the country was in its third lockdown and when many were working from home. This year’s ‘Top50’ Awards theme is “Empowered Women for a Resilient Future”, which resonates with the current pandemic-driven environment. This year, WIM received over 450 nominations. Ninety percent of the nominations were made directly by the corporates employing the candidates, which shows the value placed on these awards by the private sector.”

While Sri Lanka battles the ongoing global pandemic, which has crippled the economy, the profiles and endorsements of nominees received from corporates and professional bodies is proof that women are resilient. The positive contribution to work, family, society and the economy is a testament to the power of Sri Lankan women during the past two years in the midst of COVID-19.

Launched in 2011, with the objective of recognizing women's contribution to the Sri Lankan society and economy, the first awards ceremony kicked off with just five awards. Today, it is a nationally recognized award presented to inspirational Sri Lankan women of all walks of life, and has grown into a global brand. Dr. Segera stated that, “WIM has fulfilled its responsibility towards women in Sri Lanka. It is time we open the awards for women around the world. Therefore, WIM International ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards will be held in Dubai in March 2022. Nominations will open in December 2021 to women across the world who have excelled in their careers, businesses, and everyday life, inspiring others.”

Amali Mendis, Chair of the ‘Top50’ Awards Committee 2021 said that, “one of the remarks we received from the Panel of Judges was that nominees have failed to articulate their stories in a way that they can take the credit for a successful project or work done well. My personal view is that Sri Lankan women are team players and hence hesitate to take the credit when achieving success.”

The Panel of Judges also commented that getting the state sector to nominate women in leadership for this year’s awards is a great achievement. Sri Lanka’s state sector has many remarkable women in positions of leadership, whose silent contribution is unknown to the country. This year, nearly twenty-five percent of the nominations are from the state sector. There will be four to five rounds of judging before the winners are finalized. Judges will be checking references, the impact the candidates have made beyond their scope of work and also how the winners intend to conduct themselves as ‘Top50’ winners after receiving the award.

   The ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards 2021 is scheduled to take place in January 2022.