All speakers

Antonia Nanau

Antonia Nanau

President

As President of the large European student’sorganisation BEST (Board of European Students of Technology), Antonia Nanauleads a non-profit present in 97 technical universities in Europe, withapproximately 3,500 people. The organisation is fully run by students and aimsto develop fellow technology students professionally and personally throughtheir education.‍

Birgit DeBruin

Birgit DeBruin

Boglárka Duray

Boglárka Duray

President of Local BEST Group Budapest

Boglárka Duray is a student of Product Design Engineering (MSc) at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. In 2018 she became a Soft Skills Trainer at the Youth Trainers Academy. She serves as President of the Budapest branch of the Board of European Students of Technology (BEST), an international student NGO.

Bruno Woeran

Bruno Woeran

EU - Affairs & Innovation Network Manager

Bruno Woeran is currently EU-Affairs ManagerInternational Innovation Networks at Merinova Technology Center AB for theEnergyVaasa Cluster. Fostering the collaboration of Vaasa higher education,industry and regional institutions for international networking and cooperationin research, education and innovation actions; strategies for EU researchgrants; directly funded - EU, int’l and nat’l - opportunities; proposalmanagement from application to execution and follow-up; regional networking andspecial interest focus groups. ‍

Chantal Barry

Chantal Barry

Head of International Publications for Research, CEVIPOF - Sciences Po, France

At the CEVIPOF, Chantal Barry is responsible for ensuring the international visibility of the research team and also leads a weekly seminar focusing on topics of intercultural and political interest. Since 2014, she has been a consultant at Petrus focusing largely on employability skills and cooperation between universities and the corporate world.

Charlette N'Guessan

Charlette N'Guessan

Co-founder, BACE GROUP & 2020 Recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Charlette N’Guessan is a business-oriented problem solver who is passionate about using technology at the heart of business innovation. She collaborates with various NGOs which strongly advocate for gender balance in the tech ecosystem and promote the use of technology in Africa. Charlette is a co-founder and CEO of BACE GROUP, a disruptive startup that provides AI-based facial recognition services for online identity verification. Certified digital identity, she believes that the uniqueness of the individual is at the heart of good management of digital identity. She has a degree in electronic and software engineering and is currently studying data science and machine learning. She is co-author of the AI BOOK published by Wiley in April 2020. Charlette has been recognized by global shapers as one of the 50 African innovators to watch in 2020 (https://globalshakers.com/world-shakers/charlette-desire/) and she is Africa prize winner 2020.

Claudia Buzatu

Claudia Buzatu

Academic Alliance and Automation Ready Relationship Manager

As a Relationship Manager, she is in charge of alleducational initiatives at UiPath on a global scale and develops partnershipsand strategies for deploying the training in robotic process automation tostudents, youth, underrepresented groups in tech and unemployed, underemployed,military veterans or coming from other specialized professions (reskilling).

Colin Lovering

Colin Lovering

Senior Vice-President

Colin Lovering is Senior Vice-President of Avison Young Commercial Real Estate, Romania as well as Vice-Chairman of the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce. He has trained hundreds of sales professionals and managers worldwide. He is an active speaker in supporting disability and homelessness in Romania. He is also a Senior Tutor with the Institute of Sales Management and an associate lecturer at the University of Bucharest.

Colin Tan

Colin Tan

Director Of Operations, TusPark UK

Colin Tan is the Director of Operations for TusPark Newcastle, the first international TusPark fully-owned by TUS Holdings, China’s largest innovation ecosystem of over 200 bases in every major city in China. He works with TUS’s partners in the UK to help businesses, universities and governments to enter and scale-up in the Chinese marke TusPark Newcastle works with Barclays Eagle Labs, the UK’s largest network of tech incubators, and together the combined entity “TusPark Newcastle Eagle Labs” is the biggest UK-China business support network, connecting UK companies directly to Chinese industries, universities, and governments everywhere in the TUS network. Colin is also an early-stage investor and entrepreneur. As one of the first tech startups in the North of England, his company Rentlord became an investee of Seedcamp and 500 Startups, and was the first UK company on the Techcrunch Disrupt stage. He also helped create Dotforge Impact, the first accelerator in the North of England funded by the Cabinet Office to help tech entrepreneurs create social impact businesses. Colin is an active mentor and community builder for the UK tech ecosystem. He established and ran the first UK-China accelerator, FORGE, and regularly shares his insights with early-stage startup entrepreneurs. Originally from Singapore, he is also a published poet and was active in the literary scene early in his life. He remains passionate about social causes, especially education, and had worked in the non-profit sector at the United Nations in Geneva. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.

David Wilson

David Wilson

Vice President, Product Marketing for Software

Leads global team responsible for defining and promoting software technologies. David Wilson is ensuring proficiency development of National Instruments' platform in both education and industry. Joined National Instruments in 1991 and has held roles in sales and marketing. He is member of several corporate boards, is an avid maker, inventor and evangelist for STEM activities, and holds two patents. Holds a Bachelors degree in Physics from the State University of New York.

Diem Ho, Ph.D.

Diem Ho, Ph.D.

University Relations

Dr. Diem Ho, member of the IBM Academy of Technology since 1995, is in charge of research collaborations, skill development, providing academic access to IBM resources, and promoting education reforms to meet industry needs and societal challenges. He is a frequent invited contributor to UNESCO, OECD and European Commission conferences on skills.

Dr Andrew Hogg

Dr Andrew Hogg

Deputy Chairman, Group Ethics Committee, Total

Andrew Hogg has worked in a variety of technical,communication and HR management roles with BP and Total in Canada, France,Kuwait and the UK. Working with both senior leaders and employees he helps themmake the right ethical decisions. Via a global network of ethics specialists,he leads and supports the implementation of Total's business ethics policies,working across a wide range of cultural and professional contexts. ‍

Dr Ishwar K. Puri

Dr Ishwar K. Puri

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, Canada

Dr. Puri is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is Dean of Engineering and Professor at McMaster University and a member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Puri is the author of several books and archival papers and has founded technology startups. He served as chair of Engineering Deans Canada. He is the architect of The Pivot, a significant transformation of engineering education that embeds design thinking, innovation mindset and entrepreneurship in all programming. The Pivot transforms the curriculum through integrated project-based learning experiences, reimagines the classroom as a purpose-built studio, and amplifies experiential learning. Puri initiated the MacChangers program through which interdisciplinary teams of students work on local solutions for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr Sandra Bour Schaeffer

Dr Sandra Bour Schaeffer

Head of Airbus Group Demonstrators & CEO Airbus UpNext

Dr Susan Tighe

Dr Susan Tighe

Provost and Vice-President Academic, McMaster University, Canada

Susan Tighe, PhD, PEng, FCAE, FCSCE received her BASc in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University, her MASc Civil Engineering and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo. She has been a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario since 1995 and was a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo from 2000 to 2020 where she held a Canada Research Chair, the Norman W. McLeod Endowed Chair in Sustainable Pavement Engineering, served as Director of the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology and Deputy Provost and Associate Vice President Integrated Planning and Budgeting. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, she worked for the Ministry of Transportation Ontario in various roles including construction site engineer, geotechnical materials engineer and materials engineer writing standards and specifications. She also spent a sabbatical working in the private sector for a leading civil engineering construction company in Australia. Susan has gained national and international recognition for her outstanding contributions to the development, design, and management of sustainable concrete and asphalt transportation infrastructure including Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, New College of Scholars Royal Society of Canada, Fellow Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers Medal for Research and Development. She is the past president of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. Her reputation as a scholar, educator, and professional engineer is well illustrated by the breadth of her technical publications in pavements and infrastructure and involvement in several national and international research projects in Canada, Africa, Chile, India, China, Australia, New Zealand and throughout North America She has successfully completed over 80 graduate students many of whom are now in academic, public and private sector leadership positions.

Dr. Emilia Pecheva

Dr. Emilia Pecheva

Science and Innovation Officer

Dr. Emilia Pecheva started working as a Science and Innovation officer at the British Embassy in July 2018. Her work involves engaging with S&I communities in Romania and Bulgaria (seniors in academic, research, business and government S&I organisations) and the creation of strategic relationships leading to mutual UK-Romania and UK-Bulgaria benefits. She also organises S&I events connecting stakeholders from the UK, Romania and Bulgaria.

Dr. Michael Fors

Dr. Michael Fors

Executive Leader, Leadership, Learning
and Organizational Capability

Dr. Michael A. Fors is an Executive Leader in Boeing’s Leadership, Learning & Organizational Capability (LLOC) Team. Previously he was Executive Leader of Learning at Microsoft. He is an adjunct professor at Stanford University and the University of Washington. As a Senior UN Fellow for 20 years, he leads United Nations strategy and leadership programmes for post-conflict nations. He has Ph.D. that combines business and education.

Dr. Michael Schoenwetter

Dr. Michael Schoenwetter

Head of R&T Partnerships

Michael graduated with a diploma in mechanicalengineering from the Technical University of Munich where he also conductedresearch work, resulting in a PhD thesis on “Thermal radiation in combustionchambers.” Having started his industrial career in the printing press business,Michael joined Airbus UK in 2003. He held positions in the Design Office andCustomer Services before joining the Research and Technology Program in 2009 managingR&T cooperations.

Dr. Peter Kilpatrick

Dr. Peter Kilpatrick

Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of Engineering

Dr. Kilpatrick is Chairperson of the GEDC, and author of more than 90 refereed journal articles in the areas of colloid and interfacial science, and molecular self assembly. He is also the holder of 13 patents and has been actively engaged in two startups.

Dr. Theresa Mkandawire

Dr. Theresa Mkandawire

Associate Professor and Dean of Engineering

Dr. Theresa Mkandawire is a trained civil engineer with over 19 years’ experience lecturing at University level specializing in water quality and supply, sanitation, wastewater treatment, and Water Resources Management. Dr. Mkandawire is also the first Vice President of Malawi Institution of Engineers.

Felipe Gómez Gallo

Felipe Gómez Gallo

President, Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED)

An Environmental and Civil Engineer from Universidad de los Andes, with complementary studies in Biodiversity, highly interested in Engineering Education and Sustainability Studies. Currently a Master's student in Environmental Engineering. Knowledge of sustainable development goals (SDGs), engineering education (EE) and climate change adaptation. As President of SPEED (Student Platform for Engineering Education Development) have had the opportunity of leading the organization. Experienced leadership working with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams with verifiable results.

Femke Verdegaal

Femke Verdegaal

Team Coordinator of the Business Connect Team, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Femke Verdegaal is Team Coordinator of the Business Connect Team at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, TU Delft. The business connect team is responsible for business relations, (inter)national strategic partnerships, public affairs and alumni relations. Femke’s focal areas are business relations, internationalisation (of education), innovation & entrepreneurship, and the Mentor Alumni Programme. Femke shares the Industry Forum Advisory Board position with Birgit de Bruin.

Grazia Vittadini

Grazia Vittadini

Executive Vice President Head of Engineering

Grazia Vittadini was appointed Executive Vice President Head of Engineering in January 2017, and is a member of the Executive Committee of Airbus Defence and Space. She started her career on the Italian side of the Eurofighter Consortium, before joining Airbus Operations in Germany in 2002 and setting on her path towards senior management positions.

Greg Konstantinov

Greg Konstantinov

Director, Human Resources

Greg is an HR Generalist with broad experience in the US and internationally. He is interested in challenging HR leadership assignments in global organisations. His specialties are in: Organisational change, performance-based pay systems, employee development, and integrating global HR practices in a local context.

Hans J. Hoyer

Hans J. Hoyer

Executive Secretary, GEDC & IFEES Secretary General

Dr. Hans Jürgen Hoyer is Executive Secretary of the GEDC and Secretary General of the IFEES. Based in Fairfax, USA, he is a Resident Scholar in Global Engineering at George Mason University and an Honorary Professor in Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, and Peru. He has been a Resident Scholar at MIT and Harvard and is on the board and advisor of various universities and companies.

Jaime Bonilla Rios

Jaime Bonilla Rios

Associated Dean for Continuing Education

Dr. Rios is the Associated Dean for Continuing Education, Consulting and International Affairs of the National School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He conducts research at the Center for Innovation in Design and Technology and is a Visiting Professor at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Dr. Bonilla has previously served as President of the Latin American Global Engineering Deans Council.‍

Jens Meyer

Jens Meyer

Dean of Programmes

A serial entrepreneur, with a passion for unlocking value in organisations and people, Jens is the master designer of learning, development and innovation processes. He was a pioneer in e-learning and the internet economy, and spent years coaching companies on developing Blue Ocean strategies. Thought provoking, enthusiastic, supportive and thoughtful, he’s the catalyst of all the exchanges at CEDEP.

John Preston

John Preston

Associate Dean, Research and External Relations, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, Canada

John Preston is a Professor in the Dept. of Engineering Physics and serves as McMaster Engineering’s Associate Dean, Research, Innovation and External Relations. He is responsible for the Faculty’s $45M research portfolio. He has served as a CIFAR Associate in Quantum Materials, as a founding member of the Board for the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology and on the Materials Research Advisory Committee for the TRIUMF National Laboratory. He has represented Canada on numerous technical delegations including those to Germany, UK, Scandinavia, India and China and represented Canada on the ISO technical committee on nanotechnology. Prof. Preston is a device physicist and materials scientist who specializes in the application of laser-based manufacturing approaches for novel device applications. Current research includes a new approach for 3D printing of BiTe to produce high-efficiency thermoelectric generators and the pulsed laser deposition of solar cells on oxide crystals that can be lifted off those crystals.

Joris Melkert

Joris Melkert

Senior Lecturer / Director of Education, TU Delft, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, The Netherlands

Kaleb Oxley

Kaleb Oxley

Launch Network Leader, Deakin University, Australia

Katherine Bennett CBE FRAeS

Katherine Bennett CBE FRAeS

Senior Vice President, Airbus

Katherine is a Senior Vice President of Airbus and has been with the company for 16 years. She leads the company’s external engagement and strategy in the UK and works closely with Global CEO, Guillaume Faury. Based out of London and Bristol, she has specific responsibility for Public Affairs for all parts of the Airbus company which employs 14,000 people in the UK. Katherine has held roles in Communications for Airbus and spent several years based at Airbus HQ in Toulouse, France running the global public affairs function. Katherine’s previous employment was with General Motors UK where she headed up their government affairs function and prior to that worked for Hill and Knowlton Public Relations in London. Katherine was awarded the Order of Commander of the British Empire in January 2019 for services to the aerospace and aviation sector. This followed her Order of the British Empire award in June 2004 for services to industry and charity. She has served on various boards of public/private enterprises focused on economic development in UK regions including the West of England LEP and is Vice President, Aerospace on the Council of ADS (the UK aerospace trade association). She serves on the Board of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy), the Board of the French Chamber of Great Britain and Wales Government Science and Innovation Council. In November 2019 Katherine was appointed as Chair of the new Western Gateway, a cross government and local authority initiative which will aim to promote and maximise economic growth across south Wales and the West of England. In March 2020, following the Covid-19 pandemic, Katherine took up the additional role of leading public affairs for VentilatorChallengeUK. A Consortium (which includes Airbus) of UK manufacturers to turnaround and deliver, the urgent requirement to assist UK Government in their national task to provide medical grade ventilators to the NHS. In July 2018 she founded the UK’s Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter which is committed to building a fair and balanced industry for women in this sector. She has also been instrumental in Women in Defence activity. She is President Elect of the International Aviation Womens’ Association and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Katherine has an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University, one of the world’s leading aerospace universities Katherine is active in her local community in Wiltshire, is a church organist, a member of the UK Parliament Choir and founder of the Airbus Filton Choir.

Kirsten Williamson

Kirsten Williamson

Founder and CEO, Petrus

Petrus is a multi-award-winning international design company that specialises in connecting employers with students and the global education community. Created in 2005 by Kirsten, Petrus now comprises a team of 20 research, communication, education and digital experts creating and implementing projects world-wide. Petrus designs and delivers impactful learning experiences and creative campaigns, bringing together companies, students and universities worldwide for skills development, innovation, brand communications, recruitment, and community engagement. Kirsten believes that everyone has potential, and her mission is to enable young people worldwide to achieve their potential and make a successful start to a fulfilling career, whatever they choose to do.

Lianna Genovese

Lianna Genovese

Biomedical & Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Canada & CEO & Founder of ImaginAble Solutions

Lianna Genovese is the CEO & Founder of ImaginAble Solutions and the inventor of Guided HandsTM. As a passionate entrepreneur, Lianna used her interdisciplinary skills as a biomedical and mechanical engineering student at McMaster University to transform her first year school project into an international award-winning product called Guided HandsTM , an assistive device that enables people living with limited fine motor skills to write, paint, and draw as well as type and scroll on a tablet phone or a computer. Her company’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people people living with umpires hand function to enable them to live the life they had always imagined! www.imaginablesolutions.ca

Lucian Andrei

Lucian Andrei

Coordinator Innovation Grants

Lucian Andrei graduated in Law at the University of Bucharest. He is the Coordinator of Innovation Grants & Tenders at Zitec and he has been involved in various innovation projects in the fields of ICT, Security, Energy and Transport. Focus: Horizon 2020, Research, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, SME Internationalisation, Start-ups, Project Management, Training, Border Management, ICT, Security, Smart Cities, Safe Cities, Energy, Transport.

Mihnea Costoiu

Mihnea Costoiu

Rector

Mihnea Costoiu studied Economic Engineering at the University Politechnica of Bucharest. He previously held the position of Secretary General of the Romanian National Ministry of Education. He is Rector of the University Politechnica of Bucharest, General Secretary of the Romanian National Council of Rectors and Senator in the Romanian Parliament. He is a member of CESAER’s Board of Directors and the AUF Administrative and Associative Councils.

Murat Büyükerk

Murat Büyükerk

General Manager

Murat Büyükerk is the General Manager of household appliances leader Artic. He has held management roles in the Arçelik Group for the past 29 years, including Head of International Regional Sales, successfully leading the introduction of a wide range of best in class products and technologies. Arçelik Group is the third largest home appliances company in Europe, offering products and services in more than 145 countries.

Natacha DePaola

Natacha DePaola

Dean of the Armour College of Engineering

Dr. Natacha DePaola serves as the Carol and Ed Kaplan Armour Dean of Engineering and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, USA.Dr. DePaola is the GEDC Chair Elect until October 2017, when she assumes the role of GEDC Chair, serving until 2019.‍

Nor Azlinda Azmi

Nor Azlinda Azmi

Master of Philosophy (MPhil.), Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Nor Azlinda Azmi obtained her Master of Philosophy (MPhil.) in Engineering Education from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. She is passionate in engineering education, specifically in computing education and student-centred learning. She worked as an assistant research officer at the Centre for Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (CEE-UTM) and has been active in scholarly research in engineering education network. Currently she's a manager in the manufacturing industry, mentoring young executives in administration, sales and operation. She is also preparing to further her doctoral study in engineering education. She has been a member of SPEED since 2016 as a participant of the 12th Global Student Forum (GSF) in Seoul, South Korea. She was appointed as the chair of the 13th Global Student Forum in Kuala Lumpur and has become SPEED's ambassador in the Asia Pacific region since then. Outside her daily job routine, she is a volunteer in experiential adult self-development workshops and working on research and publications in engineering education.

Olivier Crouzet

Olivier Crouzet

Dean of Studies

Having worked as both a technical assistant and ateaching assistant during his studies, Olivier Crouzet holds a master’s degreein Computer Engineering. After working for 2 years as a System Administratorfor a leading French Internet service provider, he spent 13 years as Dean ofStudies at a leading French IT school, Epitech. He was involved in the creationof ’42’, a new IT school founded in 2013, which uses an advanced, 100%project-based training methodology, called Peer-Learning. ‍

Paul Blackmore

Paul Blackmore

Divisional Head for Student Employability & Academic Success

Paul oversees a portfolio of careers and employability support, work-based learning, employer services,international experience, student engagement, academic skills and Widening Participation, working in senior roles for +25 years at the University-Business interface and speaks and provides consultancy both nationally and internationally.‍

Prof. Adina Magda Florea

Prof. Adina Magda Florea

Dean of the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Science

Adina Magda Florea is Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Computer Science, University Politechnica of Bucharest. She is the Dean of the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers and the coordinator of the Artificial Intelligence and Multi-Agent Systems Laboratory. She is a Senior Member of both IEEE and ACM, and President of the Romanian Association for Artificial Intelligence.

Prof. Dr. Christine Ortiz

Prof. Dr. Christine Ortiz

Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

At MIT, Dr. Ortiz is currently the Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and served as the Dean for Graduate Education between 2010 and 2016. Dr. Ortiz is also the founder of a new nonprofit post secondary educational institution that seeks to create an inclusive and modernized model of science and technology-focused higher education.

Prof. Dr. Henri Werij

Prof. Dr. Henri Werij

Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering

My academic education took place at the University of Leiden, in the field of atomic physics. After obtaining my PhD I worked at the University of Colorado (JILA) and the University of Amsterdam. After that I joined TNO, working in the fields of space instrumentation and semiconductor equipment. Since June 1st 2017 I am Dean of the Aerospace Engineering faculty at the Delft University of Technology.

Prof. Dr. Yannis  Yortsos

Prof. Dr. Yannis Yortsos

Dean of Viterbi School of Engineering

Dr. Yortsos is the Chester F. Dolley Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and also holds the Zohrab A. Kaprielian Dean’s Chair in Engineering at USC. In his capacity as dean, Dr. Yortsos leads the Viterbi School with more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 300 faculty, and annual research expenditures

Prof. Hasan Mandal

Prof. Hasan Mandal

President

Prof. Hasan Mandal received his PhD degree from Newcastle University, United Kingdom in 1992. In 1994, he started his academic career in the department of Ceramic Engineering in Anadolu University, achieving Professor status in 2001. Prof. Hasan Mandal became President of TUBITAK in February 2018. He is a member of the Presidential Board of Science, Technology and Innovation Policies. He has 6 international patents and over 140 publications.

Prof. Jianbin Luo

Prof. Jianbin Luo

Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering

Prof. Jianbin Luo, a member of Chinese Academy of Science, has been working on lubrication theory and nanomanufacturing for more than 20 years. In 2013, he received the STLE International Award. He has published more than 300 papers, 2 books and holds more than 50 authorized patents

Prof. Şirin Tekinay

Prof. Şirin Tekinay

Dean of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE, & Chair of the Global Engineering Deans Council

Prof. Şirin Tekinay joined American University of Sharjah as Dean of Engineering starting February 1, 2020. Prof. Tekinay has held posts of academic administration as Dean of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Vice President for Research and Development, and Rector during the last decade. Prior to her tenure in Istanbul the last decade, she lived in the United States where she served as Program Director at the US National Science Foundation; she was tenured faculty at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Director of NJ Center for Wireless Telecommunications. In addition to her core area of research and teaching (wireless communication networks and related areas), she has been working in and teaching Gender in Science and Technology. She is the elected ’18-21’ Chair of Global Engineering Deans Council (https://www.gedcouncil.org) and a Board Member of the European Society for Engineering Education. Before starting her academic career, she was a researcher at Bell Laboratories. Dean Tekinay holds the PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from George Mason University, Virginia, and the MS and BS degrees in Electrical-Electronics Engineering from Bogazici University, Istanbul.

Rhys Phillips

Rhys Phillips

Electromagnetism Scientist

Rhys Phillips is an electromagnetism scientist atAirbus Central R&T in Toulouse. In addition to his research, he leads theCorporate Technology Office's Gender Diversity Tiger Team. He is anaward-winning science presenter, presenting science stage shows to schools andthe general public around the world. Rhys is also an experienced radiobroadcaster, is VP for Public Relations for the nonprofit European YoungEngineers, and an honorary lecturer at Cardiff University.‍

Riitta Lehtinen

Riitta Lehtinen

Principal lecturer in the Department of Clean Technologies, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland

Riitta Lehtinen, Licentiate in Technology (Chemical Engineering) works as a principal lecturer in the Department of Clean Technologies in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. She has long experience of teaching engineering students and over 17 years’ experience in different head and director positions in Metropolia. Her core competencies are food technology and hygiene in food production chains and main interests nowadays in circular economy and sustainable development. Since 2016 Riitta has been a manager of different circular economy related research projects, the aim of which is to promote students’ understanding about the change from linear to circular economy.

Sam Presley

Sam Presley

Lead Inspiration Engineer, RS Components

Sam Presley is an Electronics Engineer - graduating from the University of Southampton UK in 2017 where he specialised in the development of low power wireless systems. He currently works for RS Components developing opportunities to help address the skills gap between university and the engineering workplace for the next generation of engineers, through the organisation's Grass Roots university engagement programme. As a student and in his early career he worked in the public and private sector, for the UK MOD and for international consumer products brand Dyson where he was developing their next-generation of connected products.

Sana Djelidi

Sana Djelidi

Recent Graduate - Petroleum Engineering and Project Development

Sana obtained a Master of engineering in Petroleum Engineering and Project Development from IFP School in 2019 and a Master of Engineering in Energy and Environment from ECE Paris in 2017. As part of her training at IFP School, Sana worked as a Research Reservoir Engineer at IFPEN (French Institute of Petroleum). Her studies focused on petrophysical issues (wetiability recovery and resistivity measurements). She was also the vice-president of the IFP School Society of Petroleum Engineers Student Chapter and a Peer Tutor for the IFP MOOC about Energy Transition.More than passionate about the Energy Industry, Sana also has a keen interest in new technologies. In 2017, working with three other colleagues she helped conceive a device designed for fighter pilots, which analyses the variations of deconcentration and identifies its possible sources. This project won the Thales Arduino International Competition, achieving First Place in France and Second Place globally (behind the USA and ahead of China).

Simona Sandru

Simona Sandru

President and Founder

Simona Sandru is the President and Founder of Global Women in Tech, an organisation supporting the educational and professional development of women in STEM. She joined Pentalog, the European IT engineering and consulting services leader, as Projects Director being responsible for the management of the IT projects at international level. Simona Sandru holds an MBA degree awarded by the University of Wales and an MSc in Marketing.

Taiwo Tejumola

Taiwo Tejumola

Assistant Professor

Tejumola Taiwo is an Assistant Professor of space applications at the Strasbourg central campus of the International Space University. My research interest includes small satellite for capacity development, integrated space applications, plasma science, science and technology policy for developing countries, diversity and inclusion in engineering education. ‍

Una Beagon

Una Beagon

Assistant Head of School, School of Civil & Structural Engineering, TU Dublin

Una Beagon acquired her MEng degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland and worked in industry as a Chartered Structural Engineer for twenty years before joining academia. She is now Assistant Head of School of the School of Civil & Structural Engineering at the Technological University, Dublin, Ireland. Her research interests include professional skills in engineering students, problem based learning and the first year experience.

Vincent Saubestre, Ph.D.

Vincent Saubestre, Ph.D.

VP Group R&D Strategy & Intelligence

Dr. Saubestre started his career in 1990 at Total and has worked in Operations, Business Development and R&D in seven countries. He is currently working at company headquarters in Paris to implement an R&D Strategy for the Total Group following a corporate reorganization supporting Total’s ambition to become the ‘Responsible Energy Major’.

Zinyat Agharzayeva

Zinyat Agharzayeva

Master Student

Zinyat Agharzayeva is highly passionate MS student with proven academic background both in research and taught studies, winner of numerical paper contests and holder ofB.Sc. degree in Petroleum Engineering with distinction from Istanbul Technical University. Currently, owner of TOTAL International Scholarship for pursuing double degree in Petroleum Engineering and Geo-Science at Texas A&M and IFP School.‍

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