Women in Drupal Awards at DrupalCon Rotterdam 2026: who was recognized and why it matters

The 2026 awards were presented in three categories that capture distinct forms of contribution.

• Define: recognizes people who shape how Drupal projects and organizations are presented and understood. The nominee was Antonella Severo, Project Manager at Nestlé, noted for active community contribution and participation in the DrupalCon Success Stories track.

• Build: recognizes strong technical contributors who also support regional community growth. The nominee was Nikita Aswani, Senior Front-end Developer on Open Social and a member of the Drupal Asia steering committee.

• Scale: recognizes those who extend community capacity through mentoring and long-term engagement. The nominee was Rachel Lawson of the University of Cambridge, who has mentored community members and served as Community Liaison at the Drupal Association.

JAKALA is the official sponsor and creator of the Women in Drupal Awards. The company has supported the initiative since its inception and continued that support in 2026. The Drupal Association supported the awards and contributed to the jury alongside previous winners and JAKALA representatives.

Beyond the ceremony, the Women in Drupal program included a networking lunch organized with JAKALA for women and gender-diverse members. The initiative aims to combine recognition with practical opportunities for networking and mentorship, giving attendees a chance to build relationships across organizations and regions.

The three-category structure makes clear that contributions to an open-source ecosystem take many forms. Define points to storytelling and visibility work that helps institutions understand Drupal's impact. Build acknowledges hands-on technical development and regional governance work. Scale recognizes mentoring and institutional roles that increase the community's capacity over time.

How the awards fit into broader efforts

Drupal initiative is community driven and focused on increasing participation and leadership among women in the Drupal ecosystem. Recognition through awards is linked to other activities—mentorship, networking events, and efforts to make contributions visible across roles and regions.

• Continued sponsorship and institutional backing can sustain the awards and related events.
• Networking and mentorship activities tied to the awards create pathways for contributors in technical and non-technical roles.
• The three-category model can be replicated in other communities to highlight diverse contribution types.

The 2026 Women in Drupal Awards documented a deliberate effort to recognize different ways women contribute to Drupal: storytelling and project visibility (Define), technical and regional leadership (Build), and mentoring and community reach (Scale). Backed by JAKALA and the Drupal Association, the awards combine formal recognition with practical opportunities for connection and growth within the community.