Badge of Honor | Awards

About the Award

Recognizing those who have achieved national recognition in improving the status of women

Badge of Honour is one of the most prestige award given by BPW International. This award is given to a person, who in his or her community, has exhibited those attributes or achieved national recognition in improving the status of women.

Badge of Honor Awards 2021

Four honorees recognized at the virtual ceremony on 29 March 2021

Congratulations to the recipients of BPW International’s Badge of Honor Awards 2021. All of them lead by example, making them role models for BPW members in their own rights. Badge of Honour is typically given at the Opening Ceremony of BPW International Congress. For 2021, Dr Amany Asfour, BPW International President 2017-2020, held the award ceremony virtually on 29 March 2021.

Dr. Antoinette Ruegg
Switzerland

H.E Dr. Shiekha Hissah Saad Abdulla Alsalem Al-Sabah
Kuwait

Judith Van Unen
Australia

Yinka Ajibola
Nigeria

Dr. Antoinette Ruegg, Switzerland

Dr Antoinette Ruegg is BPW International Past President 2002-2005 who mentors presidents and continues to explore ways to sustainably develop BPW and overcome many of its challenges.

H.E Dr. Shiekha Hissah Saad Abdulla Alsalem Al-Sabah, Kuwait

H.E Dr. Shiekha Hissah Saad Abdulla Alsalem Al-Sabah, president of BPW Kuwait, plays significant roles in establishing BPW affiliates in countries in Arab States region. Her contribution helps bring the dream of IFBPW founder, Dr Lena Madesin Phillips into reality.

Judith Van Unen, Australia

Judith van Unen was a past president of BPW Australia 2000-2004. She is a fighter and her decades of work influences national and international policies to empower women and promote gender equality.

Yinka Ajibola, Nigeria

Yinka Ajibola is President of BPW Nigeria, the largest BPW federation in Africa. She led BPW clubs in Nigeria to continue to promote women empowerment and help women in rural areas. These efforts continue despite the pandemic. She is highly respected by BPW members in Africa region.

Past Winners

A continuum of honorees since 1989

1989 Esther Hymer, USA (Honorary Life Member of IFBPW)

1991 Esther Ocloo, Ghana · Angela Butler, Switzerland

1992 Margaret Lessing, South Africa

1993 Isabelle Claridge Taylor, USA (posthumously)

1996 Wu Ganmei, China

1997 Phyllis E Deakin, United Kingdom (posthumously)

1998 Nazla Dane, Canada (posthumously)

1999 Maxine Hays, USA · Helvi Sipila, Finland

2002 Dr Livia Ricci, Italy · Dr Yvette Swan, Bermuda · Pauline Gapper, New Zealand · Ambica Shrestha, Nepal · Prof. Silvia Salazar Salazar, Mexico

2005 Dr Salima Ahmed, Pakistan · Dr Claire Fulcher, USA · Dr Eugenia Bono, Italy · Lucia Ajovalasit, Italy · Dr Vera Verzegnassi Frangipane, Italy

2008 Dr. Chansamorn Wattanvekin, Thailand · Dr. Pat Harrison, Australia · Joan Bielby, New Zealand

2011 Rosmarie Michel, Switzerland · Tuulikki Juusela, Finland

2014 Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, Thailand

2017 Sylvia Perry, United Kingdom

2021 Dr. Antoinette Ruegg, Switzerland · H.E. Sheikha Dr Hissah Saad Al-Sabah, Kuwait · Judith Van Unen, Australia · Yinka Ajibola, Nigeria