Traditions
It has been a long tradition to elect the Woman of the Year in Estonia and to attribute the title to socially and professionally outstanding women of Estonia; as a result, strengthening the importance of the role active and inspiring women hold in Estonian society. The Women of the Year are highlighted below:
The Women of the Year
1993 Daisy Järva – Managing Director of the Tallinntuur Travel Agency
1994 Heidi-Ingrid Maaroos – Professor of Medicine at the University of Tartu
1995 Aino Valgma – Promoter of regional studies and local development
1996 Annely Ojastu – Winner of Paralympic Games
1997 Ivi Eenmaa – Mayor of Tallinn
1998 Liis Klaar – Director of the Foundation of Tallinn Pediatric Hospital at Tallinn office
1999 Tiia Loitme – Conductor of the Girl’s Choir Ellerhein
2000 Zanna Botvinkina – A member of the board of Kehra Pulp and Paper Factory Horizon, Chairwoman of Kehra Town Council
2001 Leida Kikka – Executive Director of Samelin Ltd.
2002 Merike Martinson – Chairman of the Board of the Foundation of Tallinn Pediatric Hospital, currently serves as the Vice Mayor of Tallinn
2003 Birute Klaas – Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of Tartu University
2004 Marika Mikelsaar – Professor of the microbiology of Tartu University
2005 Signe Ratso – Director of the Directory of Foreign Trade of the European Commission
2006 Maie Orav – Teacher of folk dance of recognized authority, organizer of the first Folk Dance Festival of men
2007 Anna Levandi – Figure skating coach
2008 Kauksi Ülle – Writer and stage director
2009 Aet Maatee – Manager of Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation
2010 Kristina Šmigun-Vähi – Cross-country skier
2011 Tea Varrak – Founder of two private business schools, Chairman of the Board of Enterprise Estonia
2012 Maike Parve – Chief Physician of Childbirth Center at the Central Hospital of Western-Tallinn
2013 Katri Raik – Director of Tartu University Narva College
2014 Reet Aus – Fashion designer
2015 Marina Kaljurand – Estonian diplomat and currently serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs
2016 Helve Särgava – Saidafarm OÜ, Vice Manager
2017 Mari-Liis Lill – Actress and Producer
2018 Eva Truuverk – “Let’s Do It”, leader
2019 Emoke Sogenbitz- Industrial leader
2020 Irja Lutsar – Estonian microbiologist and virologist, professor of medical microbiology and virology at the University of Tartu
2021 Katrina Lehis – Estonian left-handed épée fencer, 2018 individual European champion, 2021 team Olympic champion
2022 Johanna-Maria Lehtme – founder of the MTÜ Slava Ukraini
The Women of the Years
1993 Salme Reek – Actress
1997 Marju Lauristin – Professor at the University of Tartu
2007 Ita Ever – Actress
2012 Siiri Oviir – Politician
2015 Ingrid Rüütel – Folklorist and Philologist
2017 Reet Laja – Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Center, Chairman of the Board
2019 Anu Raud- Textile artist, Academician
2022 Kersti Kaljulaid – President of Estonia in 2016-2021
Young Woman Entrepreneur
2011 Eva-Maria Õunapuu – Founder of Estonian nature cosmetics brand Joik
2012 Katriin Jüriska – Manager of NGO Re-use Center
2013 Darja Saar – Executive Director of Foundation ENTRUM
2014 Kriss Soonik-Käärmann – Fashion Designer
2015 Kristi Täht – Owner and CEO at Marat OÜ, Qualitex AS, Katarina OÜ
2016 Kristi Saare – Founder of the Women’s Investment Club
2017 Kristel Kruustük – Founder and CEO of Testlio
2018 Ann Runnel- Reverse Resources, Founder
2019 Mari Liis Lind – Tech educator
2020 Marion Teder – CEO at CareMate
2021 Kadri Tuisk – CEO at Clanbeat, impact entrepreneur
2022 Kerli Ats – head of the family company Luigeveski Agro OÜ and CEO of the Central Union of Estonian Farmers
BPW Estonia organizes an annual hat party every summer. Every year, we support a children’s or women’s organization or institution in Estonia with this event.
In 2023, we supported the activities of the SA Estonian Children’s Fund’s ATH support groups. The hat party took place for the 26th time.
BPW Estonia invites everyone throughout April, and especially on Earth Day, April 22nd, to think more about their daily activities in the context of environmental conservation and to make commitments to both themselves and Mother Earth based on environmental and nature preservation.