Swedish Doctor Honored for Her Humanitarian Work: Elly Reinolds Named Swedish Woman of the Year 2025
SWEA International announced at an online ceremony that Elly Reinolds has been voted Swedish Woman of the Year 2025 by its nearly 6,000 members worldwide.
This prestigious honorary award has, since 1989, been presented to 34 Swedish women who have made a distinctive international impact and who, through their work and dedication, have put Sweden on the global map. The award is given to a Swedish woman who, directly or indirectly, fosters interest in and curiosity about Sweden.
Elly Reinolds is a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, and co-founder of the humanitarian aid organization OperationAid. Established in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the organization has since delivered tons of essential supplies, including thousands of relief packages to vulnerable Ukrainian women. Reinolds plays an active role in the OperationAid's humanitarian efforts in war-affected regions of Ukraine. Among her many contributions, she has established several activity centers for children and their families, coordinated nearly a hundred ambulances from Sweden, several of which are used near the front lines to transport civilians and the wounded, and launched a project that educates the civilian population in emergency preparedness.
In addition, she conducts research on healthcare and civil preparedness in times of war, in collaboration with the Swedish Defence University. She also serves on the advisory council of the Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sweden’s government agency for peace, security, and development, and has been a strong advocate for the situation of Ukrainian women, both in Ukraine and in Sweden.
Elly Reinolds on receiving the honorary award:
"I accept this award with deep gratitude and humility, but also with a renewed commitment to continue making a difference and to be a voice for those who have none."
Lotta Rigby Fors, President of SWEA International:
"SWEA is incredibly proud to honor Elly Reinolds as Swedish Woman of the Year. She is an exceptional example of courage, compassion, and determination. Through her work with OperationAid and her efforts in war-affected areas, she demonstrates extraordinary civil courage and a profound commitment to supporting those in need, particularly women and children."
With her medical expertise, courage, and unwavering commitment, Reinholds is a source of inspiration and a powerful example of how civil courage, professionalism, and compassion can make a difference.
The award ceremony will take place during SWEA Sweden’s Summer Days, previously known as the Sweden Dinner (Sverigemiddagen), on August 7 in Stockholm.
---
Background Information
The nominees for Swedish Woman of the Year 2025 included six remarkable women: Carolina Dybeck Happe, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft; Elly Reinolds, medical doctor and co-founder of the aid organization OperationAid; Josephine Bornebusch, actress, director, and author; Lena Persson Herlitz, Major General in the Swedish Armed Forces and head of the Swedish delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea; Sarah Sjöström, Professional swimmer, Olympic champion, world record holder; Tina Thörner, rally world champion, coach, and HR manager at Moelven.
Learn more about the nominees here: Swedish Woman of the Year – SWEA International
Swedish Woman of the Year is SWEA International's highest honorary award and has been presented to 34 women since its founding in 1989. Through their work and expertise, all recipients have served as ambassadors for Sweden on the global stage. One of the key criteria for the Swedish Woman of the Year award is that she distinctively represents and promotes Sweden in the world. This means that she directly or indirectly enhances Sweden internationally and creates curiosity about the country. Through her actions, Sweden's reputation and standing abroad are strengthened. The Swedish Woman of the Year award aims to showcase the diversity of women's achievements and expertise, inspire growth and development regardless of life circumstances, and recognize both well-known and lesser-known Swedish women.
SWEA International is a global network for Swedish and Swedish-speaking women who live – or have lived – abroad. With close to 6,000 members in around 70 chapters worldwide, SWEA is the largest nonprofit organization promoting Sweden outside of Sweden. Every year, SWEA awards scholarships and donations totaling more than 2 million SEK.
Media Contact
Marita Holmkvist Lendenfelt
media@swea.org
Tags:
