September 29, 2026 | Hotel ZaZa

12th Annual WISE Luncheon

Registration Opens August 1st

Celebrating Houston women leading with excellence in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Date: September 29, 2026
Location: Hotel ZaZa, Houston Museum District
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

The Women in Science with Excellence (WISE) Luncheon honors exceptional women whose work is shaping Houston’s future across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. From groundbreaking research and clinical innovation to energy, education, entrepreneurship, and industry leadership, WISE recognizes women whose achievements have made a lasting impact on their fields and on our region.

Now in its 12th year, the luncheon brings together leaders from across Houston’s innovation ecosystem to celebrate excellence, hear inspiring stories, and recognize the women helping move discovery, business, and community forward.

About WISE

Founded by BioHouston, WISE was created to spotlight women who have excelled in their careers and contributed meaningfully to the advancement of STEM in Houston and beyond. Past honorees have included astronauts, medical researchers, educators, inventors, and senior executives whose leadership continues to inspire the next generation.

The luncheon is both a celebration and a gathering point for Houston’s broader STEM community—an opportunity to honor achievement, elevate visibility, and connect across sectors.

Nominations

BioHouston invites nominations for the 2026 Women in Science with Excellence (WISE) Honorees.

WISE recognizes women whose work is advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—and whose leadership is shaping the future of Houston and beyond. Nominees may come from academia, life sciences, engineering, energy, space, technology, or related fields.

For 2026, honorees will be recognized across the following categories:

  • Emerging Leader: Recognizing a rising professional who has demonstrated exceptional promise, leadership, and early impact in a STEM-related field.

  • Excellence in Innovation: Honoring a leader whose work has driven meaningful advancements, discoveries, or breakthroughs, contributing to progress within their discipline or industry.

  • STEM Leadership Award: Celebrating a distinguished leader whose career reflects sustained excellence, influence, and a lasting contribution to the advancement of STEM and the broader community.

Nomination Criteria

All nominees will be evaluated based on:

  • Impact – Demonstrated contributions and measurable influence within their field

  • Innovation – Advancement of new ideas, technologies, or approaches

  • Leadership – Ability to lead teams, initiatives, or organizations effectively

  • Inspiring Story – A personal and professional journey that motivates and influences others

Nomination deadline: July 31, 2026

Access Nomination Form

2026 Judges

The WISE honorees are selected by a distinguished panel of esteemed senior executives and leaders from across Houston’s innovation ecosystem.

Representing sectors including life sciences, healthcare, academia, energy, investment, and industry, the judging panel brings a depth of experience and perspective that reflects the breadth of Houston’s STEM landscape. These leaders are not only recognized for their professional accomplishments, but for their role in shaping organizations, advancing innovation, and influencing the future of their fields.

Judges review nominations based on excellence, impact, leadership, and contribution to both their industry and the broader community. Their collective insight ensures that each WISE honoree represents not only individual achievement, but the spirit of progress and possibility that defines Houston.

Judges will be announced soon—stay tuned as we unveil this year’s distinguished panel.

Why Attend

By attending, you are not only supporting the honorees—you are contributing to a culture where women in STEM are seen, valued, and celebrated at the level they deserve.

While women are leading breakthroughs across science, healthcare, engineering, and technology, their contributions are too often underrecognized, underrepresented, or quietly carried forward without the visibility they deserve. The WISE Luncheon exists to change that—to create a space where excellence is not only acknowledged, but elevated.

This is more than a luncheon. It is a moment to convene a community that believes in recognizing leadership, to connect across industries and disciplines, to catalyze new ideas and opportunities, and to curate a room filled with the people shaping Houston’s future.

Attendees will experience:

  • High-value networking with senior leaders across life sciences, healthcare, energy, academia, and innovation

  • The opportunity to celebrate and amplify the achievements of women driving meaningful impact

  • A thoughtfully curated environment designed to spark connection, visibility, and collaboration

  • Stories that inspire not just recognition—but action

Sponsorship Opportunities

The WISE Luncheon offers companies and organizations an opportunity to support the recognition of women leaders in STEM while aligning with one of Houston’s longstanding celebrations of excellence and innovation.

Sponsorship opportunities include visibility before and during the event, recognition on event materials, and opportunities to host clients, colleagues, and community partners.

For sponsorship information, please contact:
Sahar Paz | Sahar.Paz@biohouston.org