Bangladeshi educator Maryam Noor Yunus, head of Smart Innovations School, has been announced as a finalist for the 2025 Women Changing the World Asia Awards.
The award recognises women across Asia for outstanding achievements in sustainability, humanitarian impact, leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship, product development, education, health and innovation, according to a press release.
Organisers said the initiative not only honours individual accomplishments but also aims to inspire others to pursue positive change in their own communities.
Maryam Noor Yunus is a veteran educator and former academic adviser for Cambridge schools in Bangladesh, with nearly three decades of experience in curriculum design, teacher training and school leadership.
She has founded schools and created learning pathways intended to empower teachers and students through innovative curriculum models, inclusive teaching practices and holistic development approaches.
She believes education is the most powerful tool for long-term social change and has dedicated her career to nurturing students who are academically competent, socially responsible and capable of leading community transformation.
Over the years, she has received multiple international honours, including the Woman of Influence Award in the UK, the Iconic English Teacher Award, Best Principal Award, Innovation in Education Award and the Global Teacher Award.
She was also listed among the top 60 teachers worldwide by Cambridge University Press in 2023.
The vision of the Women Changing the World Asia Awards is to empower women and encourage global solidarity in shaping a better future, according to organisers.
The award ceremony will be held in Paris in 2026.
Maryam Noor Yunus said she is committed to continuing her work in education and encouraged others to follow their passion and use their skills to make a meaningful difference.
