The award winners were honoured on 20 August 2023 during the opening ceremony of the IUPAC World Chemistry Congress at the World Forum The Hague in the Netherlands. The award was established as part of the International Year of Chemistry 2011 celebrations to recognise and promote the work of women chemists and chemical engineers worldwide.
The biennial award has received increasing attention from the global community since 2011. The twelve awardees were selected based on excellence in basic or applied research, distinguished accomplishments in teaching or education, or demonstrated leadership or managerial excellence in the chemical sciences. The Awards Committee was particularly interested in nominees with a history of leadership and/or community service during their careers.