XR Women Global Honors Three Leaders Shaping the Future of Immersive Technology

6th Annual XR Women Awards recognize innovation, trailblazing leadership, and real-world impact at Augmented World Expo

Long Beach, CA – June 17, 2026 — At its 6th Annual XR Women Awards, held during Augmented World Expo (AWE) USA in Long Beach, XR Women Global recognized three women whose work is advancing immersive technology — as a field of invention, as a creative industry, and as a force for social good.

Presented in the categories of Innovation, Trailblazer, and Real World Impact, the awards celebrate women making meaningful and lasting contributions to the XR community worldwide.

2026 Award Recipients

Innovation Award: Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira. A pioneer of virtual reality and creator of the CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), Cruz-Neira helped invent the room-scale immersive computing that the field still builds on today. Her technologies are used worldwide in scientific research, engineering, and training for NASA, the U.S. military, and national laboratories. Across nearly four decades, she has secured more than $200 million in research funding, authored over 100 publications, and mentored students now leading at companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Boeing. A member of the National Academy of Engineering, an IEEE Fellow, an inaugural inductee into the AWE XR Hall of Fame, and a 2025 Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree, she serves as Agere Chair Professor and Director of the Institute for Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida.

Trailblazer Award: Wadooah Wali. As Co-Founder, Chief Strategy Officer, and Executive Producer of New Canvas, an award-winning XR studio, Wali has shown that an independent studio can compete at the highest level — building partnerships with companies including Meta and Google, and earning a place as one of just thirteen companies selected for Warner Bros. Discovery and Acme Innovation's Collider On The Lot accelerator. She is a producer and executive producer of When Brooklyn Was Queer, a first-of-its-kind LGBTQ+-led VR narrative executive produced by Elliot Page and PAGEBOY Productions and selected for the Venice Gap-Financing Market at the Venice International Film Festival. Most recently, New Canvas's The Obscura Society earned a 2026 Webby Award nomination.

Real World Impact Award: Nonny de la Peña. Widely credited with establishing the field of immersive journalism, de la Peña reconstructs real events using authentic data, spatial audio, and immersive environments, placing audiences inside stories of food insecurity, conflict, and human crisis. Her experiences, including Hunger in Los Angeles and Project Syria, have reached audiences at the Sundance Film Festival, the World Economic Forum, and leading museums. A Peabody Award winner and founder of Emblematic Group, she directs Arizona State University's Narrative and Emerging Media program.

"Each of these women expands what XR can be — Carolina as an inventor who built the foundations of the field, Wadooah as a creative leader proving independent studios can set the pace, and Nonny as a storyteller using immersion to deepen how we understand one another," said Dr. Karen Alexander, Co-Founder and President of XR Women Global. "It is a privilege to honor them, and it reflects what our community stands for: advancing the field while making room for more people to lead it."

“I am honored to be recognized by XR Women Global,” remarked Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira. “All throughout my career I have been surrounded by female trailblazers, unconventional thinkers, and disruptive innovators. Their courage to challenge assumptions, push boundaries, and redefine what is possible has been my compass. I am beyond grateful to be recognized by this extraordinary community whose determination, fearlessness, and innovation continue to redefine what is possible and shape the future of XR.”

Celebrating the Next Generation

This year's ceremony also spotlighted XR Women's student programs. Yuxuan "Linda" He, a Ringling College of Art & Design Class of 2026 graduate and former officer of the XR Women Student Chapter at Ringling, spoke about the opportunities she found through XR Women to showcase her work and build connections across the industry.

Nominations for the 2027 XR Women Awards will open in the new year and will be posted at XRWomen.com.

XR Women at AWE 2026

Beyond the awards ceremony, XR Women convened its community throughout the conference. The organization hosted a coffee meetup for members to connect in person, and led twenty members on an exclusive, guided tour of the Expo Hall before it opened to the public. XR Women also hosted a roundtable where members gathered with one another and with subject-matter experts to discuss key takeaways from the conference across selected topics.

“XR Women is built on mentorship and collaboration. Being together in person at AWE turns connection into community and strengthens the shared leadership shaping the future of XR & AI,” said Julie Smithson, Vice President of the XR Women Board of Directors.

About XR Women Global

Founded in 2020, XR Women Global is a nonprofit network of 1,600 members from over 60 countries. The organization offers weekly programs in virtual worlds where members gather to share knowledge, showcase projects, and build professional networks. In addition to its virtual events, XR Women fosters opportunities for students through its Student Chapter programs and internships and hosts occasional in-person gatherings, including the annual Awards Ceremony and educational symposia.

Membership is free and open to anyone who supports the growth of an inclusive XR ecosystem.

XR Women Global is incorporated in the State of Delaware as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its Board of Directors includes Karen Alexander, President; Julie Smithson, Vice President; Sophia Moshasha, Secretary; Christine Hobbi; Laura Kusumoto; Ginna Lambert; Amy LaMeyer; Robin Moulder; and Judith Okonkwo.

For more information: Contact Communications [at] XRWomen.com; Website: https://www.xrwomen.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xr-women Instagram: @XRWomenGlobal YouTube: @XRWomen XR Women Museum and Gallery: framevr.io/xrwomenmuseum