Amelia Singh Named 2026 Woman of the Year at 23rd Annual Awards Gala
Independent jury recognizes her professional excellence, public service, and fearless leadership at the annual gala in Burlington.
BURLINGTON, MA — Amelia Singh, Deputy Chief of District and Municipal Courts at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, has been named the 2026 Woman of the Year by an independent panel of seven distinguished judges at the 23rd Annual Woman of the Year Awards Gala, held on March 14 at the Burlington Marriott Hotel. (Photos: Dyuti Majumdar)
The annual event, organized by INDIA New England News and produced by the Mishra Group, brought together more than 400 community leaders, philanthropists, business executives, and professionals from across New England to celebrate the achievements of outstanding South Asian women.
Singh was selected following a rigorous evaluation by an independent panel of judges chaired by Navjot Singh, who noted that the decision was based on a careful assessment of the candidates’ professional accomplishments, leadership, and impact on the community.
“Our judging committee assessed each candidate objectively and systematically,” Singh said. “Some of the criteria we used were scale of impact, depth of impact, professional impact, community and public service contributions, and most importantly whether the candidates were true trailblazers and fearless leaders. Amelia Singh rose to the top among a distinguished group of candidates because of the remarkable work she has done across all of these dimensions. We are equally excited to see what she will accomplish in the future.”
Accepting the honor, Singh expressed gratitude and humility for being recognized among a legacy of accomplished women.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Woman of the Year 2026 award,” Singh said. “To be selected by an independent jury makes this recognition especially meaningful. For more than two decades, this platform has celebrated extraordinary trailblazers whose leadership and courage have shaped our community. To now be included among those remarkable women is both inspiring and profoundly humbling.
“I accept this honor with immense gratitude and share it with the mentors, colleagues, and supporters who believe in the power of women lifting each other up and creating opportunities for the next generation.”
In her role at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Singh oversees roughly 50 prosecutors and plays a critical leadership role in navigating complex challenges within the criminal justice system. Known for her steady and thoughtful approach to justice, she has worked to balance accountability with compassion while ensuring that legal decisions reflect both fairness and public safety.
During a recent interview with INDIA New England News, Singh reflected on the meaning she finds in her work. “The greatest sense of meaning and joy comes from using that discretion thoughtfully and seeing the tangible impact,” she said.
Her leadership was especially evident during Suffolk County’s unprecedented attorney work stoppage, when she handled cases and hearings across the county during what she described as a public safety crisis. At the same time, she spearheaded the creation of the Suffolk County Animal Cruelty Taskforce, transforming her lifelong commitment to animal welfare into a formal institutional initiative.
Singh’s leadership philosophy is rooted in resilience, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility. In the same interview, she emphasized that resilience is rarely dramatic or visible.
“Resilience is not performative—it’s practiced daily, often without recognition,” she said.
She also credits her family and close friends as her greatest sources of inspiration. “Watching them navigate hardship, responsibility, and change with quiet determination taught me early on that resilience is practiced daily,” she said. “Those lessons remind me to approach my work with humility, to listen before judging, and to measure success not just by outcomes, but by whether I acted with integrity and care.”
Singh says that **loyalty—to people, principles, and responsibilities—**is the core value she strives to live by both personally and professionally.
“Loyalty means showing up consistently, especially when doing so is difficult,” she explained. “It’s not blind allegiance, but a commitment rooted in trust, integrity, and accountability.”
When asked what advice she would offer young women aspiring to make a difference, Singh emphasized the importance of judgment, integrity, and resilience.
“You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to be effective,” she said. “What matters most is preparation, ethical clarity, and the courage to stand by your values when it matters most.”
For Singh, the journey toward justice is guided not only by legal principles but also by inspiration from figures who have demonstrated moral courage. One quote she often returns to during challenging moments comes from Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Her selection as Woman of the Year 2026 places Singh among a distinguished legacy of women who have been recognized over the past 23 years for their leadership, courage, and transformative impact across fields ranging from business and philanthropy to science, public service, and the arts.
The Woman of the Year Awards Gala remains one of the region’s premier celebrations honoring the achievements of Indian-American and South Asian women, highlighting the contributions of leaders whose work continues to shape communities and inspire future generations.
The following were honored as the 10 Outstanding Women of the Year 2026. Diana DiZoglio, the Massachusetts State Auditor and the youngest serving statewide constitutional officer in the Commonwealth, served as the Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker, and gave the awards.
Pubali Banerjee, Cultural Luminary Award
President of Prabasi of New England; Senior Staff Process Development Engineer, Takeda
Deepali Gulati, Advocacy Catalyst Award
Executive Director, Saheli Boston
Ekta Jain, Arts & Heritage Ambassador Award
Founder & Director, Ekta Dance Academy/Co-Chair, Baal Yuva Vibhag, Hindi Mancg
Neha Kaushal, Humanitarian Impact Award
Joint Cordinator, Sewa International–Boston Chapter
Shikha Malhotra, Community Builder Award
Co-Founder, Indian Family Network (IFNet)
Shama Nannapaneni, Global Education Trailblazer Award
Co-Founder & CEO, Shimingly
Monica Shah, Justice & Leadership Award
Partner, Zolkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP
Amelia Singh, Public Service Excellence Award
Deputy Chief, District and Municipal Courts, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Dr. Lakshmi Thalanki, Healthcare & Community Leadership Award
Founder, Family Orthodontists of Cambridge & Hudson
Monika Manocha Wadhwa, Community Inspiration Award
Researcher & Educator/COA Co-Chair, Vision-Aid
The event was hosted by WOY Director Dr. Manju Sheth, and emcees Mandy Pant and Sheetal Acharya.
