KwF Founder Aliyah Pandolfi Wins 2025 WIT Leadership Award

Winners of the 2025 Women In Technology Leadership Awards

On May 15, 2025, Aliyah Pandolfi, founder and executive director of the Kashmir World Foundation (KwF), was honored with the 2025 Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Award in the Non-Profit and Academia category at WIT’s 26th Annual Leadership Awards Gala in Reston, Virginia.

This prestigious award recognizes women who are shaping the future of technology through innovation, leadership, and mentorship in education and non-profit work. Pandolfi was celebrated for her groundbreaking initiatives at KwF, where she merges drones, AI, and bioacoustics to protect endangered species while creating educational opportunities for students, researchers, and citizen scientists worldwide.

From detecting poachers through AI-analyzed rainforest bird calls to empowering students to apply cutting-edge technologies to real-world conservation challenges, Pandolfi’s programs bridge scientific innovation with environmental stewardship, demonstrating how academic knowledge and non-profit action can combine to achieve high-impact results.

“We are incredibly proud to honor this year’s winners, who are true trailblazers in their fields and serve as an inspiring testament to the profound impact women are making across the technology sector,” said Lisa Shea Mundt, President of WIT.

Aliyah Pandolfi, Winner of the 2025 WIT Non-Profit & Academia Award 

Pandolfi reflects on her work with a guiding principle: education is empowerment, and technology is a tool to make that empowerment tangible.

“As Nelson Mandela so wisely said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ Every day, I try to live by that—educating myself, empowering those around me, and guiding students to apply their passions for a greater purpose. It’s a privilege to help them realize that their skills can protect endangered species and create lasting impact.” – Aliyah Pandolfi

Her recognition in the Non-Profit and Academia category underscores the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges. Through KwF, Pandolfi continues to inspire the next generation of conservationists, engineers, and scientists, proving that when education, technology, and purpose converge, the future becomes sustainable.