Seona Shand Shortlisted for Woman Who Achieves Award

The Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) is proud to announce that its Chief Operating Officer, Seona Shand, has been nominated for the Woman Who Achieves Award 2026: Celebrating Excellence in Business.

This latest recognition marks the third award nomination for Seona, reflecting her leadership, strategic vision and commitment to strengthening commercial links between Scotland and countries across Africa.

In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Seona plays a central part in delivering SABA’s mission to support Scottish organisations to explore opportunities, build partnerships and grow sustainably in African markets. Under her operational leadership support, the company has expanded its programme of trade missions, market insights, business support services and high-level engagement with government, industry and academic partners.

The Woman Who Achieves Awards celebrate outstanding women who demonstrate excellence, innovation and impact within their fields. Seona’s nomination recognises her contribution to international business development and her role in helping organisations navigate and succeed in dynamic and fast-growing markets.

Commenting on the nomination, Seona Shand said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be nominated for the Woman Who Achieves Award. While it’s a personal privilege, this recognition really reflects the work of the Scottish Africa Business Association and the impact we are making together. I’m fortunate to be part of a fantastic organisation that is doing meaningful work to help businesses engage with African markets, build strong partnerships and unlock opportunities for shared growth.”

Through its work, SABA continues to support collaboration across sectors including energy, education & skills training, agriculture, infrastructure and technology, helping Scottish expertise connect with priority markets across the continent.

This latest nomination highlights the growing recognition of both Seona’s leadership and the important role the organisation plays in strengthening international trade relationships and supporting inclusive economic development in Scotland and the UK.

The winners of the Woman Who Achieves Awards 2026 will be announced later this year.