Why Participate
Your work deserves to be seen and celebrated.
The She Shapes AI Global Awards are a launchpad for visibility, opportunity, and connection.
Participating will help you:
Gain global visibility and credibility.
Connect with leaders driving women-led innovation.
Shape the future of responsible AI, together.
How to Apply or Nominate
Whether you’re building AI solutions or advancing the field through your thought leadership, your works deserves to be recognised.
Step One
Review the eligibility criteria and FAQ.
Step Two
Choose to apply directly or nominate someone.
Complete your submission via Awards Force, our online application platform, between 15 October - 8 December.
Step Three
Step Four
Join our global community of female trailblazers shaping responsible AI.
Timeline
Global Awards Council
We’re bringing together one of the most qualified and specialist councils of responsible AI and impact experts globally.
-
Galit Ariel is an award-winning Technofuturist, author and creative, exploring the wild & imaginative side of bleeding-edge technologies through her practice. Galit's research explores resemblances, gaps and possibilities stemming from new entanglements across digital, physical, and cultural spaces. Her creative work includes location-based Augmented Reality installations, speculative digital aesthetics, alternative human-computer interactions, and subversive animation.
Galit founded Future Memory Inc. - a speculative design agency and future innovation facilitator for lead tech platforms, organizations, and policymakers, and is a sought-after speaker and curator for global conferences, organizations and think tanks, including TED, SXSW, Slush, The European Union, Bell Labs, Microsoft, The City of Sydney, The City of Amsterdam, THE150 and many more.
Galit Ariel
-
Professor Angela Aristidou speaks, writes and consults about the deployment of digital and artificial intelligence tools in health, MedTech and pharma, higher education, nongovernmental organizations and nonprofits.
Currently, Angela holds a large research grant by UK Research Innovation, leading a multi-disciplinary team of researchers to examine the implementation of digital innovations in the UK, USA, China and Canada. Angela is an international award-winning academic (among others: Fulbright; Stanford CASBS Award, UK Research Innovation Award), and has been included in USA and UK expert panels on the development of AI regulation. She specializes in strategy and entrepreneurship at University College London’s School of Management, is a Fellow at the Stanford Digital Economy Lab of the Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence Institute, and holds degrees from Cambridge and Harvard.
Prof. Angela Aristidou
-
With an unwavering passion for merging mission-driven initiatives with cutting-edge technology, Sheena's professional background spans brand strategy, programmatic ad technology, media production and data-centric digital transformation initiatives across media and journalism sectors, in both corporate and non-profit settings.
At Google, Sheena spearheaded regional ecosystem programs under the prestigious Google News Initiative since its inception in APAC in 2018. Her role involved collaborating with partner newsrooms to develop comprehensive data strategies & solutions, culminating in the co-authorship of the first data and product design playbook and labs for media and journalism in Asia. She also co-developed data tools that integrated editorial and business capabilities, fostering collaboration across newsrooms.
Her initiatives encompassed the full spectrum of newsroom operations and strategy, from diversity, equity, and inclusion to advanced analytics and data-driven decision-making. Sheena designed and executed transformative programs such as the GNI APAC Subscription Lab, Design Accelerator, and Data Labs in 2019-2020, empowering newsrooms to develop innovative products that consistently meet their evolving audience needs.
In her current avatar as a founder, Sheena is deeply committed to unlocking potential for other mission-led founders. Her startup Modulexero is committed to cultivating future leadership practices that foster collaboration and sustainability, within the burgeoning wellness and tech sectors. Her team and she are dedicated to mapping the wellness and AI founder landscape in Asia, in an effort to ensure wellness businesses build and incorporate access, inclusion, and ethics into their products and services.
As a certified professional and life coach, welltech entrepreneur, and design thinking facilitator and lecturer, her rich geographical experience includes working in markets such as Japan, India, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Sheena Bhalla
-
Claudia Del Pozo is the Founder and Director of Eon Institute, a women-led Mexican think-tank that seeks to future-proof society in light of the accelerated changes in tech. They're an independent spin-off of C Minds, an organization Claudia helped create in 2017. Her work has led her to be selected to be part of the Senate's National AI Alliance and the UK's Emerging Tech Advisory Council for Mexico, among others. In 2024, she was featured by WIRED as one of the leading women protecting Latin America from AI risks and was recognized in 2022 as a key component of the Mexican ecosystem by the Women in AI Awards, as well as a finalist in the Responsible AI Leader category.
She is currently working on an AI blueprint for Mexico's next administration. In the past, she coordinated the very first public policy prototype (sandbox-like) for more transparent AI systems in Mexico with the support of the local DPA (INAI) and the IA2030Mx National AI Alliance, which she co-founded. In 2018, she was part of the team that created a proposal for the basis of a National AI Strategy for Mexico, which was adopted by the Presidency and positioned Mexico among the top 10 countries globally to be working towards a strategy. She graduated from Warwick Business School in the UK and started her career at IBM Germany.
Claudia Del Pozo
-
Ivana Feldfeber is a data feminist activist from Bariloche, Argentina. She is the co-founder and Executive Directress of the first Gender Data Observatory in Latin America, "DataGénero." She is part of the Feminist AI network for Latin America, and she was a team leader at the Center of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy (CAIDP), where she worked to analyze different AI policies in her region.
Ivana has been working as a programming and robotics instructor since 2017 and holds a postgraduate diploma in Data Science, Machine Learning, and its Applications from the Universidad de Córdoba, Argentina. In 2022 Ivana and her team were selected by A+ Alliance to research AI tools for Criminal Courts working with gender-based violence data in Argentina. She was recently featured in Vanity Fair as an ethical leader of the new generation. She was also a specialist speaker at UN's CSW 68. With DataGénero, Ivana worked with several governments and companies to build inclusive data processes, train teams, write recommendations and help decision-makers to create better data policies.
Ivana Feldfeber
-
Olivia Gambelin is a world-renowned expert in AI Ethics and one of the first movers in Responsible AI. She is the Founder of Ethical Intelligence.
Olivia Gambelin
-
Shikoh is the CEO of Qhala, a Digital Innovation company that catalyzes digital transformation capabilities for organizations across Africa. She has over 10 years of experience in the Research, Design, Implementation, and Management of Digital Technologies. She has established expertise in both African and Emerging Markets specialized in solving problems in Agriculture, Education, Health, Payments, Retail and Renewable energies.
She is responsible for the set-up of Safaricom Alpha, a first of the kind corporate innovation hub in Africa. Where she worked as the Head of Products - Innovation and acted as the Chief Innovation Officer. Shikoh also led Safaricom's foray into becoming a digital company, by putting together a strategy, and cross-functional teams to execute the strategy.
Dr. Shikoh has previously worked with Africa Development Bank (AfDB), where she was leading and advising governments across Africa to adopt ICT for service delivery, she developed the Digital Government Blueprint, a strategic document to guide governments in digital transformation, now adopted by Smart Africa. She has also worked with Google and Microsoft in their emerging markets teams.
She has received numerous awards in recognition of her efforts in influencing Business and Government as well as Technology. Dr. Shikoh seats on various boards in ICT companies and contributes to a number of steering committees and think tanks on Africa and technology. Shikoh holds a PhD and MSc in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Dr. Shikoh serves as an advisor to governments on matters of data and digital development.
Dr. Shikoh Gitau
-
Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting (McGraw-Hill). Susan has 30+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Massachusetts Conference for Women, BSR, DLD, Worth Women and Techonomy, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.
Susan is the recipient of Forbes magazine's 50 over 50—Impact 2021 award and Worth Media's Worthy100 award. She has also won numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. Currently, Susan invests in and advises women-led start-ups, including: iFundWomen,Inc., The Meteor, Our Place, Spicewell, The June Group, Hint Water, The Helm, Apolitical, The Muse and has recently begun investing in women-led Broadway productions including Like Water for Elephants and SUFFS. She previously served on the boards of USA for UNHCR, Bpeace, The Lower Eastside Girls Club and presently serves on the 19th News board. She is on the advisory boards of the Apolitical Foundation, Lebec Consulting and Just Capital. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits including She's The First and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and a member of the New York Women's Forum and Extraordinary Women on Boards. She resides in Brooklyn.
Susan McPherson
-
Nnenna Nwaknma is the former Chief Web Advocate of the World Wide Web Foundation. She is an ICT4D strategist and an expert in eParticipation and Citizen Engagement with 15 years of experience working for the UN. A strong advocate for policy and systemic changes, she focuses on the need for meaningful internet access, open data, open government, and open web across Africa. Nnenna is a board member of Health AI and an Expert with the UN's Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
Nnenna Nwakanma
-
Gina Romero is a Filipino-British entrepreneur, community builder, and technology advocate. She is the Founder and Head of Special Projects at Mettamatch, an Ethical AI Data Services company.
Gina's community-building journey began in the UK in 2005 when she became a founding member of The Athena Network, taking on the role of Operations Director in 2008. Her early work in the UK laid the foundation for her commitment to women's economic empowerment.
After moving to Singapore in 2010, Gina focused her advocacy on bridging the technology gender gap and launched Connected Women Singapore in 2013.
In 2016, she moved back to the Philippines where she co-founded Connected Women, an award-winning organization based in the Philippines, dedicated to upskilling and empowering Filipino women, especially those from vulnerable sectors of society.
Since 2020, the company's data services division, MettaMatch, has extended its impact by offering managed data services for AI and automation to international markets, supporting companies worldwide in building sophisticated AI and automation systems.
Gina was a finalist in the global Women in AI awards by VentureBeat and received the prestigious TOWNS award. She serves on the Board of Trustees of De La Salle University and TOWNS Foundation.
Gina Romero
FAQ
-
Any woman from anywhere in the world working in responsible AI development and deployment to solve real-word issues is invited to complete an application for our Awards.
-
Anyone can submit a nomination: individuals, organisations, or the candidates themselves. Nominations are open worldwide, and there is no limit on the number of nominations one can submit.
-
Yes, if their contribution fits multiple areas. However, a finalist or winner will be selected for only one category.
-
No, the working language for the application is English. This ensures that our international expert reviewers and global council have no barriers during their review. The downloadable application template is available in multiple languages to assist with preparing your response.
Applying
-
Nominations open at 12:00 AM CET on 15 October 2025 and close at 11:59 PM CET 8 December 2025.
-
Self Application: Please submit your application through our online platform AwardForce here.
Nominating Someone
Step 1: Nominate a female leader working via the nomination form via AwardForce here. The nominee’s email will need to be provided to move forward.
Step 2: Once a nomination is reviewed for eligibility, She Shapes AI will contact the nominee directly and invite her to complete the full application. This ensures we capture the depth and detail required for fair evaluation.
-
You’ll be asked for the nominee’s name, organisation, contact details, and a short summary of their AI-related work and impact. If available, you may attach supporting materials (e.g., press coverage or project descriptions).
-
Yes. A confirmation email with an edit link will be sent once your entry is submitted. You can revise it before the deadline.
-
Yes, you’ll receive an email acknowledgement confirming your entry was successfully submitted.
-
All applications are managed through our secure Award Force platform (ISO/IEC 27001 certified, GDPR/CCPA compliant, with MFA protection). Information is used only for evaluation and communications related to the She Shapes AI Awards
Nomination Process
-
Applicants and nominees must be women who have made a demonstrable contribution to the responsible and ethical development or use of AI for positive real-world impact. Their work should be current or have taken place within the past two to three years.
-
Not necessarily. Nominees may also be using AI as part of a broader solution or innovation that creates social, economic, or environmental value. We celebrate both AI creators and AI integrators demonstrating responsible practice.
-
If your or the nominee’s work spans multiple categories, you can select more than one. The selection committee will ensure the entry is evaluated appropriately.
-
Yes. Applicants or nominees must be 18 years or older at the time of application.
-
No, we do not require any specific academic or professional qualifications.
Eligibility & Requirements
-
On a rolling basis, the She Shapes AI team conducts eligibility checks. In December, a global panel of expert reviewers then evaluates each application based on five core criteria.
-
Finalists will be announced in late January 2026. Winners will be revealed at the She Shapes AI Global Awards and Conference in March 2026 in London, UK.
Judging & Selection
Award Ceremony & Benefits
-
The She Shapes AI Global Awards and Conference will be held in London, UK in the second half of March 2026 (date TBC).
-
Winners receive recognition at the ceremony, a custom She Shapes AI trophy, featured profiles across our global network, and priority access to the She Shapes AI membership platform and ecosystem partnership opportunities. More details to come!
-
Yes. Finalists and winners are featured across She Shapes AI’s website, social media, press releases, and partner networks to celebrate their impact and amplify their reach.
-
Yes. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase, and there are also plans for the ceremony also be livestreamed for global viewers. Details will be announced in early 2026.
Additional Information
-
The She Shapes AI Global Awards and Conference will be held in London, UK in the second half of March 2026 (date TBC).
-
Winners receive recognition at the ceremony, a custom She Shapes AI trophy, featured profiles across our global network, and priority access to the She Shapes AI membership platform and ecosystem partnership opportunities. More details to come!
-
Yes. Finalists and winners are featured across She Shapes AI’s website, social media, press releases, and partner networks to celebrate their impact and amplify their reach.
-
Yes. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase, and there are also plans for the ceremony also be livestreamed for global viewers. Details will be announced in early 2026.