Six prominent Swedish women have been nominated for SWEA International’s prestigious award, Swedish Woman of the Year 2025. The title is given to a Swedish woman who, through her professional achievements and dedication, has helped raise Sweden’s profile globally.
The nominees for this year’s award are:
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Carolina Dybeck Happe – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft. She is regarded as one of Sweden’s most influential international business leaders.
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Elly Reinolds – Medical doctor and humanitarian. She is the founder and Operations Manager of OperationAID, an organization providing emergency aid in crisis zones.
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Josephine Bornebusch – Acclaimed actress, director and author. She began her acting career at the age of two and has become a widely recognized figure in Swedish film and television.
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Lena Persson Herlitz – Major General in the Swedish Armed Forces. She currently leads the Swedish delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) at the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
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Sarah Sjöström – Olympic gold medalist, world record-holding swimmer, and one of Sweden’s most successful athletes of all time.
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Tina Thörner – Rally and Rally Raid world champion. In addition to her motorsport legacy, she is active as a coach, mentor, mental trainer, and HR Manager at Moelven.
The winner will be revealed on Thursday 15 May 2025. The official award ceremony will take place on Thursday 7 August in Stockholm, during SWEA Sweden’s Summer Days – previously known as the Sweden Dinner (Sverigemiddagen).
SWEA International has awarded Swedish Woman of the Year annually since 1989. The title recognizes Swedish women who act as ambassadors for Sweden through their work, values, and global presence. The award celebrates diversity in women’s achievements and seeks to inspire development regardless of background or life circumstances.
SWEA International is a global network for Swedish and Swedish-speaking women who live or have lived abroad. With around 6,000 members across 70 chapters worldwide, it is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Sweden outside the country. Each year, SWEA awards over 2 million SEK in scholarships and donations.
For more information, visit: Swedish Woman of the Year – SWEA International
Video presentation (in Swedish): Meet the Nominees
