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.
Afif Barhoumi
Investment Promotion Expert, UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain
Programme Coordinator, International Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Mr. Barhoumi earned his BS in Business-Computer in 1994 and later completed an MBA at the Lebanese American University. In 1995 he began working at the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), where he remained until 1999. During his time at IDAL he participated in the UNIDO delegate programme, serving at UNIDO-ITPO Milan. In 1999 he moved to Investcom as a marketing and commercial consultant for one of Syria’s mobile networks. By 2000 he joined UNIDO-ITPO Italy as a national consultant, later becoming an Investment Promotion Expert at UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain. He has extensive experience in entrepreneurship and investment promotion.
Ahmed Zakaria Hejres
Financial Business Counsellor,
UNIDO ITPO Bahrain
Ahmed Hejres has extensive experience in entrepreneurship and investment promotion and has been a financial business consultant at the organisation since 2008. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kingdom University in Bahrain and obtained a certificate in financial management equivalent to a Master of Science in Finance from the American University of Beirut in 2007. Ahmed excels in crafting business plans and financial statements. He provides guidance to entrepreneurs and investors on business plan development and project management. Additionally, he conducts numerous training courses with a strong focus on entrepreneurship and investment.
