Public service is often measured in systems, regulations and institutions. But at its best, it is about people: protecting them in moments of crisis, creating safer systems and building communities where everyday life works better. Meet three women recognised by the Women Changing the World Awards Czech & Slovak Edition for transforming public service through courage, expertise and long-term impact.
The Women Changing the World Awards Czech & Slovak Edition recognise women whose work creates measurable change in business, institutions, communities and society. In this week’s edition, we introduce three women whose leadership demonstrates a distinctive way of creating impact.
Alexandra Janečková
For Alexandra Janečková, diplomacy is not primarily ceremony or protocol. As head of crisis management at Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, she became the first woman in the country’s history to lead the department responsible for some of the most difficult situations citizens can face abroad. Her work includes coordinating evacuations, repatriation flights and humanitarian operations in conflict zones. She was involved in crisis response during the fall of Kabul and later led the largest evacuation in Slovak history from Israel and Jordan, bringing 266 people to safety, including citizens of 27 other countries and staff of the UN and EU. Her leadership shows public service in its most direct form: making high-stakes decisions when lives depend on them.
Irena Storová
Irena Storová is a pharmacist and public-sector leader who has helped modernise both Czech pharmacy practice and the state regulation of medicines. As Director of the State Institute for Drug Control, she led the institution through a period of significant transformation, strengthening digitalisation and helping advance the ePrescription system. Her work has focused on making regulation more effective while keeping patient safety at the centre. By connecting professional expertise with institutional leadership, she demonstrates how seemingly technical public administration can have a direct impact on millions of people who rely on safe and accessible medicines.
Růžena Balláková
Růžena Balláková represents another face of public leadership: the everyday work of transforming a municipality into a place where people genuinely want to live. As a mayor, she combines ecological responsibility, community building and careful economic management. Under her leadership, the municipality has attracted major investment and earned recognition including the Village of the Year award. Her approach shows that modern public administration does not need to be distant from citizens. It can be practical, human and rooted in the long-term quality of community life.
Discover all Women Changing the World Awards 2025 winners → https://thewomenchangingtheworld.cz/edice-2025/winners-profiles/