The Woman of the Year Awards 2025 celebrates outstanding women who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities. At the heart of this prestigious recognition is a dedicated Technical Jury, whose role is fundamental in ensuring the selection process is fair, transparent and rooted in merit. Establishing Clear Criteria One of the primary responsibilities of the jury is to define the selection criteria. These must be relevant, objective and aligned with the spirit of the awards. Key areas typically assessed include leadership, innovation, social impact and community service. By setting a robust framework, the jury ensures that every nominee is evaluated on equal footing. Rigorous Evaluation Process Once nominations are received – often in the form of video submissions – the jury carefully reviews each entry against the defined benchmarks. Using a structured assessment process, members independently score or rank candidates based on their achievements and influence. This method promotes consistency and objectivity across all categories. Upholding Confidentiality and Ethics Integrity is central to the jury’s role. Members are required to maintain strict confidentiality throughout the process and must declare any conflicts of interest, stepping aside if impartiality cannot be guaranteed. This ethical approach fosters trust in the legitimacy of the awards. Shortlisting and Recommendations After thorough assessment, the jury compiles a shortlist of finalists. Each recommendation is supported by detailed scoring and written justifications, ensuring accountability and transparency. Final selections are then submitted to the organising body, which may use these insights to determine the ultimate awardees. Contributing to Continuous Improvement Beyond their evaluative duties, the jury also plays a forward-looking role. By documenting the entire process and offering feedback, they help refine the system for future award cycles – ensuring the awards remain relevant, inclusive and impactful. Let us now introduce the members of this year’s esteemed Technical Jury. Ameer Hassan Abubakr Bashir National Investment Promotion Expert Ameer Hassan Abubakr Bashir graduated from the University of Khartoum with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics in 1987 and earned an M.Sc. in Project Management through a DAAD scholarship in 1992. He completed further studies in development planning and project management in Kuwait and Germany. From 2001 to 2005 he trained with UNIDO in entrepreneurship and investment promotion. He has worked with GTZ, the Management Development Centre in Sudan and as a consultant for UNIDO and the Arab International Centre for Entrepreneurship. He played a key role in establishing entrepreneurship centres across multiple countries and has mentored international competitions. womanthismonth.com | APRIL 2025 WOTYA 2025 7
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