2024 XR Women Awards Winners

XR Women Announces Winners of 2024 Awards, Recognizing Pioneering Women in XR Technologies

June 24, 2024 – XR Women, a global community of women in XR technologies, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 4th Annual XR Women Awards: Real World Impact, Innovation, and Trailblazer. These awards recognize exceptional women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and have made significant contributions to the XR industry.

The 2024 XR Women Award recipients emerged from a pool of highly qualified nominees following an open call. Those shortlisted were assessed in a multi-stage process and evaluated on several criteria in making the final selections, including their contributions to the XR Women community.

The 2024 honorees were announced at the Augmented World Expo on Wednesday, June 19, in Long Beach, California. XR Women extends heartfelt congratulations to all the winners for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the XR industry.

Amy Hedrick won the Innovation Award for her exemplary leadership as the CEO of Cleanbox Technology. Under her direction, the company developed groundbreaking, patented UVC LED decontamination products that keep users of shared devices such as VR headsets safe. As the sole product of its kind on the market, this innovation has the potential to transform how businesses approach hygiene across various sectors. Recognizing the critical need for hygiene in VR, Hedrick’s work at Cleanbox significantly contributes to the industry's growth. Her work included publishing a pivotal whitepaper on UVC technology, which serves as the foundation for all Cleanbox products. Her strategic acumen was instrumental in transforming a mere idea into a multi-million dollar global business in two short years. Hedrick’s innovative approach and dedication to improving VR hygiene were key factors in her receiving this prestigious award.

The Trailblazer Award was presented to Dr. Muhsinah Morris for her vision and leadership in pioneering virtual reality in higher education through metaversities. As the inaugural Metaversity Director at Morehouse College, she has set a benchmark for integrating virtual reality into education.. Her efforts have trained professors and educators on utilizing VR for teaching, resulting in hundreds of students participating in synchronous VR classes each semester.

Beyond her administrative role, Dr. Morris actively advocates for XR technology, frequently speaking to groups and promoting the involvement of women in XR technology and education at all levels. In 2024, she is introducing the use of spatial 3D AI chatbots as Teaching Assistants in virtual reality education.

The Real World Impact Award honor was presented to Sonya Haskins, the Head of Programming at Augmented World Expo. Haskins has profoundly influenced the XR landscape. She has given a voice to many women in the industry through her tireless efforts to ensure equitable representation in speaking roles. Haskins is a passionate gamer and advocate for inclusivity and accessibility in gaming. Her efforts, often behind the scenes, champion unheard voices and inspire through her stories of resilience and advocacy.

Haskins's commitment to amplifying diverse perspectives and fostering collaboration has significantly changed the landscape for women working in the XR industry, making a lasting impact on the XR community. Haskins has written thousands of articles and eight books.

About XR Women

XR Women is a vibrant and inclusive global community that meets weekly in virtual worlds. XR Women’s reach encompasses more than 1000 members from 60 countries. The mission of XR Women is to provide a platform for women in XR to learn, connect, and succeed.

Since its inception in November 2020, XR Women has orchestrated more than 175 immersive events, solidifying its position as a pivotal platform for networking, professional growth, and knowledge exchange within the XR industry. With an unwavering commitment to empowering women in XR, the organization remains dedicated to showcasing women’s significant contributions to a worldwide audience.

Among XR Women members, almost 60 women joined the community as Founders, and more have created companies since then. More than 45 community members are CEOs. These figures demonstrate the power, influence, and business acumen of women in the XR space.

The XR Women Museum in FrameVR showcases past speakers and events, honors XR Women Award winners, and includes a gallery where the work of women XR artists is displayed on a rotating basis.

The XR Women Spatial Computing Business Showcase is a virtual showroom floor with interactive booths representing 9 women-led XR businesses. Among the interactive elements are 3D recordings of the women business leaders’ avatars giving their pitches. The Showcase is featured in XR Women’s persistent space in ENGAGE and can be accessed via Session ID MRGPL.

For more information about XR Women and to explore partnership & sponsorship opportunities, contact:

Karen Alexander Karen@XRconnectED.com

GlobalXRWomen@gmail.comXRWomen.com

Real World Impact