Celebrating the Winners of the 2026 Scrum Alliance Member Awards

The Scrum Alliance community is fueled by the passion of its members. Every day, agile professionals around the world dedicate themselves to mentoring others, forging deep connections, and driving meaningful change. These are the individuals who breathe life into scrum values and agile principles within their organizations and beyond.

To honor these extraordinary contributions, we established the Scrum Alliance Member Awards. This annual program shines a spotlight on those who consistently show up for our network, embodying the core pillars of commitment, courage, focus, openness, and respect.

We received countless inspiring nominations this year. Reading through the submissions served as a powerful reminder of the profound impact our members have on a global scale. The stories of transformation and selfless support were truly moving—and now, the wait to share them is over.

We are thrilled to reveal the individuals and groups who earned top honors this year. Meet the agile leaders who are setting new standards for excellence.

Meet the 2026 Scrum Alliance Member Awards winners

Our vision is powered by members who believe that agile is for anyone. The 2026 winners represent the pinnacle of this vision, leading by example and inspiring those around them to reach new heights.

Ricardo Rottmann-Ordoñez: Volunteer of the Year Award

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an agile professional who demonstrates outstanding dedication to the community through service. This honor celebrates those who champion connection by investing their time and energy as ambassadors for Scrum Alliance.

Ricardo Rottmann-Ordoñez embodies this spirit completely. He has spent countless hours giving back to his network and community. His selfless dedication helps make agility accessible to aspiring practitioners everywhere. We are so grateful for his unwavering support.

"What motivates me to give back is the impact this community can have on people—opening doors, building confidence, and creating connections. Coming from Central America, I see it as a way to make these spaces more visible and accessible for others. It’s my way of giving back to something that has already given me so much."

Enitan Hannah Adeniji: Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award honors an agile professional who is within their first three years of membership. This recognition is given to emerging leaders whose initial contributions demonstrate they are poised to make a significant future impact on agility.

Enitan Hannah Adeniji has shown exceptional performance and leadership potential. She approaches complex challenges with a fresh perspective and a collaborative mindset. Enitan represents the bright future of our community, and we cannot wait to see what she accomplishes next.

"My passion for agility grew from working on projects where collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning were essential for success. Through these experiences, I saw how agile principles help teams communicate better, respond to change, and focus on delivering real value to stakeholders. That realization sparked my deeper interest in agility, not just as a framework but as a mindset that helps teams continuously improve."

"Moving forward, I hope to continue applying agile principles to projects where technology and public service intersect. My goal is to help teams build solutions that are responsive to real needs while fostering environments where collaboration and innovation can thrive."

Janani Liyanage: Agile Impact Award

The Agile Impact Award is reserved for an individual or team that drives widespread change by advancing agile values outside their immediate organization. This recognition celebrates innovative leaders who leverage agile practices to overcome challenges, promote collective advancement, and benefit entire communities.

This year’s Agile Impact Award goes to Janani Liyanage, a trailblazer who saw opportunities to bring agile principles to education, government, and local nonprofits. Janani fostered inclusive partnerships, empowered new voices, and created lasting improvements for people from all walks of life, demonstrating that real impact happens when we carry agile values into the world—together.

"We are not born only to survive; we are born to grow," Janani said. "Training is not just about certification, but about creating space for growth in our busy lives. Agile is like water to a plant—when used simply and meaningfully, it helps people, teams, and organizations grow."

Rumesh Wijetunge: Agile Achievement Award

The Agile Achievement Award is a prestigious honor given to an individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership in the scrum and agile community. It recognizes a respected leader, dedicated mentor, and community builder whose efforts create a lasting impact.

Rumesh Wijetunge has spent his career uplifting others and advancing agile values. He provides steadfast support to teams and organizations navigating difficult transformations. His dedication to mentorship makes him a cornerstone of the global agile network.

"There are many rewarding aspects of being a leader in the agile community, but one that I value deeply is the opportunity to connect with passionate practitioners and leaders from around the world who are all committed to improving the way people work and create value. Engaging with this vibrant global community allows me to continuously learn, challenge my own thinking, and grow through the shared experiences and perspectives of others who are navigating similar journeys in different contexts. Equally meaningful is the opportunity to influence individuals and organizations by helping them shift their mindset from rigid processes and limitations toward curiosity, collaboration, and a focus on solving real problems. When people begin to see what is possible and start working in ways that are more open, adaptive, and customer-focused, it often leads to better outcomes not only for the organization but also for the people doing the work. One of the most fulfilling moments is seeing individuals grow in confidence and capability, eventually becoming the people who guide others and carry these ideas forward in their own environments (this I saw firsthand when I was the co-chair in RSG Colombo 2025 and when I participated in multiple RSGs in 2025 held in Canada, Dubai, and Singapore). Being able to contribute to that ongoing journey of learning, growth, and positive change is what makes leadership in the Agile community truly meaningful to me."

Agile Singapore: User Group of the Year Award

The User Group of the Year Award honors a Scrum Alliance group that has demonstrated extraordinary influence. This award recognizes a group for consistently producing valuable experiences and fortifying our global network.

Agile Singapore has cultivated a thriving space for connection, collaboration, and learning. They embody community-driven agility by hosting engaging events and fostering a supportive environment. Their work proves that we achieve more when we learn together.

"What makes Agile Singapore a true community is our spirit of radical generosity and abundance. Whether it’s local volunteers or coaches flying in from around the world, everyone shares a willingness to give, without expecting anything in return. Because everyone—regulars and first-time attendees alike—brings their knowledge, time, and care so ready, every meetup leaves us with not just fresh ideas, but also deeper connections and lasting friendships. Over the years, as familiar faces gather to learn, laugh, and catch up on how work and life are unfolding, our shared sense of belonging continues to grow—one that feels both personal and enduring."

Defining the future of agility together

These awards hold deep significance for our members, training and coaching community, and staff alike. The awards celebrate a diverse community of professionals who are actively defining what agility looks like in the modern world.

As the business landscape shifts, it requires practitioners who can adapt and innovate while supporting one another. Our 2026 winners prove that human connection remains the heart of any agile transformation. They remind us that tools and frameworks only succeed when paired with empathetic leadership.

How we evaluate our nominees

While the awards are open to the entire global membership community, we evaluate our nominees based on several rigorous factors to ensure they reflect the highest standards of the Scrum Alliance.

See the complete program guidelines for details about each award.

Many of our past and present winners hold credentials like the Certified ScrumMaster® or Certified Scrum Product Owner®. However, these awards go beyond formal certifications; they focus on real-world impact and heart-led community service.

For example, a dedicated professional might hold the role of a product owner, but it is their commitment to mentoring others that earns them a nomination. Similarly, when a scrum master volunteers their weekends to host community workshops, they exemplify the exact spirit of these awards.

Looking ahead to next year's nominations

The 2026 awards cycle has come to a close, but the search for next year's heroes begins in the fall of this year. We encourage you to keep an eye on the awards page for the upcoming nomination period.

Remember: Anyone can nominate—you do not need a special title or a Scrum Alliance membership yourself to highlight someone doing great work. Start observing the people around you and noting their everyday contributions.

Consider the following as you look for potential 2027 nominees:

• Who consistently volunteers to help new team members find their footing?
• Who leads complex, high-stakes projects with unwavering courage and focus?
• Who is the heartbeat of your local agile User Group, bringing people together to learn?

Your nomination could be the reason a deserving colleague receives global recognition next year. Until then, please join us in congratulating our 2026 Scrum Alliance Member Awards winners. We are incredibly proud to have them in our community.