22 women honoured at Women of Pune awards for work from technology to environment

Pune, October 26, 2026: Twenty-two women were honoured in the city under the "Women of Pune - Leadership, Impact and Excellence Awards 2026". They work in fields including artificial intelligence, health, education, entrepreneurship, law, cultural heritage, animal welfare and environmental protection. The ceremony was held on October 23, 2026, at the Novotel hotel in Viman Nagar. Saloni Mahadik was the host.

According to the organisers, the awards were not only for professional success. They also recognised sustained efforts to strengthen society, widen opportunity, preserve traditional knowledge and tackle social and environmental challenges. The honourees included technology leaders, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, artists and women bringing change at the grassroots. Oxyrich was the title sponsor, Pure Elements the gifting partner and Zeal Advertising the production partner.

Pavneet Kaur, IAS, Additional Commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), was the chief guest. Amit Singh, founder of the organising body, welcomed her with a tulsi plant presented on behalf of Rise n' Shine Nursery. Kaur said real progress towards gender equality needs everyone to work together, to break old entrenched prejudices and to create an environment in which women can advance without making extraordinary sacrifices.

Kaur said, "True leadership is not just breaking the glass ceiling for yourself, but opening doors for every woman who comes after us. If your journey gives even one little girl the courage to dream without hesitation, that is our real collective success." She also said gender equality is not only a women's issue but the responsibility of the whole society. She recalled Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's view that a community's progress is measured by the progress of its women, because advancing one woman advances the whole family and the whole community.

Mubarak Ansari, co-founder and managing editor of the organising body, said the job of local journalism is not only to point out problems but also to recognise those working to improve things. He said, "Pune's progress cannot be measured only by buildings, business or growing roads. We must also see how many opportunities people get to learn, grow, work safely and contribute fully."

In technology and education, Priyanka Sureshkumar Shah, Associate Director at HSBC, received the Women in AI and Emerging Tech Award. Mugdha Thombare, head of the Generative AI and Cloud Centre of Excellence for Retail Americas at Tata Consultancy Services, received the Technology Leadership Excellence Award. Armin Modi, founder of Ashta No Kai, an organisation working since 1998 for rural women and girls, especially in Shirur taluka, received the Grassroots Change Leader Award. Amita Indraneil Chitale, founder of a school for children with autism, received the Inclusive Education and Social Impact Award, and Dr Nuzhat Faiz Shaikh, head of computer engineering at Wadia College of Engineering, was honoured for excellence in STEM education.

In health and business, the honourees were Dr Neelam Jaiswal, Dr Madhu Juneja, Dr Mini Salunkhe, Annie Thomas, Apurva Kulkarni, Vidita Moongi, Preeti Deshmukh and Pooja Doshi. In law, art and heritage, awards went to Advocate Ruhi Ahire Shukla, Advocate Akshada Thakare Gudhe, Dr Devika Borthakur, Dr Veethika Tikku, Lalita Paranjpe and Dr Savita Kelkar. For animal welfare and the environment, Priya Kailad, Sampada Gangakhedkar and Pooja Bhale were honoured.

The event ended with dinner, where the honourees and guests could talk, share experiences and build professional relationships.