2026 HBA Global Ascension Leadership Awards (GALA)

Join us for the 36th annual Global Ascension Leadership Awards!

24 April
Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center

At the Global Ascension Leadership Awards (GALA), leadership is honored for the tangible impact it creates. The 2026 HBA Woman of the Year, Honorable Mentor, and STAR Award recipients are celebrated alongside the 2026 class of Rising Stars and Luminaries: leaders from HBA Corporate Partner organizations whose work reflects leadership in action. From emerging talent to seasoned executives, these honorees are advancing innovation, building enterprise solutions, and guiding their organizations through change with clarity, purpose, and vision.

GALA also offers a space to pause, reflect, and learn. Attendees hear directly from those being honored, gaining insight into how they navigate complexity, adapt to a constantly evolving healthcare landscape, and stay focused on impact while shaping what comes next.

Be inspired to take action: Leave energized and equipped with ideas and perspectives that can influence your own work and leadership. Register today.

Tables at all levels (Premium, Elite, and Standard) are available. Click here to purchase tables.

Members receive up to 50 percent discount

Event Policies

Photography Policy
By registering for this event, you acknowledge that you may be photographed, videotaped, and/or audio-taped during the meeting and hereby give permission for your image, voice, or survey comments to be used in education, training, promotion, and/or trade and communications media by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association in any and all media throughout the world, without restriction as to frequency or duration of usage.

COVID-19 Policy
The HBA requires that all persons who participate in in-person events do so at their own risk and that each participant agrees to the following agreement before taking part in the activity and urges all participants to act in such a manner as to protect their own safety and the safety of others.

By registering for this event, I fully understand that my participation in the program is purely voluntary. I desire to participate and agree to act reasonably and prudently under the circumstances. I further understand that any HBA volunteers participating in the activity will act individually and will not represent the HBA. As a condition to my participation the activity, I waive and release the HBA and their officers, employees, and agents from any claim that I may have for any damage to property or injury to my person that may result in whole or in part from my participation.

Special Needs Policy
The HBA will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with special needs can enjoy all of its programs. Contact us if you require special accommodations for this event.