Dr. Buddhima Abeygunawardena named BWIO Women Icon of the Year

Dr. K.A. Buddhima Indu Abeygunawardena, DBA (HC), has been honoured as the Women Icon of the Year 2026 at the Business World International Organization (BWIO) Awards in recognition of her contributions to Sri Lanka's apparel industry, operational excellence, innovation and corporate leadership.

The award was presented at the BWIO Awards 2026 ceremony held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, recognising individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation and professional excellence across diverse industries.

With more than 25 years of experience in Sri Lanka's apparel sector, Dr. Abeygunawardena has built an extensive career in merchandising, sourcing, operations, supply chain management, Lean Enterprise, customer interface, process excellence and business transformation.

She currently serves as Consultant – Process Excellence, Customer Interface at a leading Sri Lankan apparel company, where she oversees customer-focused process improvement initiatives while supporting operational excellence and business transformation.

Her professional experience also includes serving as a District Wealth Planner at AIA Sri Lanka, where she earned the prestigious Million-Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualification for excellence in financial advisory and client service.

Beyond her corporate career, Dr. Abeygunawardena is the Co-Founder of Blues of Nature, reflecting her commitment to entrepreneurship and sustainable business development.

Her academic qualifications include an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Abraham Lincoln University, USA, an MBA (International) from Edith Cowan University, Australia, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), and a Diploma from the Sri Lanka Institute of Apparel and Textile Technology (SLITA).

She is also a Chartered Marketer and holds professional certifications in Lean Enterprise, supply chain management and quality improvement.

Most recently, she completed a Diploma in Childcare and Psychology with Distinction, further expanding her multidisciplinary expertise.

During her career, Dr. Abeygunawardena has received several honours, including the Game Changer Innovation Award, multiple Kaizen Awards, National Gold Awards for Quality and Productivity, and MDRT recognition.