The purpose of this award is to recognize a professional member of IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) who has made an outstanding contribution to IEEE WIE, their community, and the engineering community, through their dedication and involvement in projects or activities directed toward fulfilling one or more of the IEEE WIE goals and objectives. One award will be awarded annually.
Schedule
The IEEE WIE Awards submissions window is now closed. It will reopen on 1 January 2027 for the 2027 Awards.
Scope
One award annually
Eligibility
- An IEEE WIE Member grade or higher
- A professional member of IEEE WIE for at least two (2) consecutive years
- A professional working in industry/academia for greater than five (5) years
- Must not be a past recipient of the IEEE Women in Engineering Inspiring Member of the Year Award
- Self-nominations and nominations from others are acceptable.
Basis Of Selection
- Two letters of endorsement by colleagues and fellow members
- Service to IEEE WIE at Section or Society level
- Service to non-IEEE professional/technical organizations
- Candidates will be evaluated based on the candidate’s IEEE WIE volunteer participation and community involvement; not on professional achievement
Nomination Package
- Completed nomination form, completed by nominator
- Two (2) letters of endorsement
Selection Committee
- The winner will be recommended by the IEEE WIE Awards Subcommittee and approved by the IEEE WIE Committee.
Prize
- Certificate of Recognition
- Cash prize US$1,000
Instructions & Guidelines For Award Nominations
Nominators can submit nominations, endorsers can upload endorsement letters all within the online system.
Please email wie-award@ieee.org if you have any questions about this award or the IEEE WIE Awards process.
2025 Winner
Pooja Sharma
What inspires me is the unwavering spirit of women who rise despite challenges, the joy of empowering others, and the strength found in women uplifting one another. I’m also driven by a deep passion to encourage more women into STEM and create spaces where every woman can thrive.
2024 WIE Inspiring Member of the Year
Winner: Foram Chandarana (R10) 
Honorable Mention: Donna Roper (R9)
Honorable Mention: Vijayalaxmi Biradar (R10)
Dr. Supavadee Aramvith (Pictured) – Thailand Section (R10) 
“I am deeply inspired by the opportunity to be a guiding force behind someone’s personal and professional growth, supporting them in achieving their accomplishments. I hold mentorship in high regard, as I strongly believe in empowering the next generation of young individuals, creating a nurturing environment where they can cultivate self-assurance, explore their fullest potential, break barriers, and foster a more diverse and inclusive society.”
Honorable Mention:
- Dr. Kumudhini Ravindra – Bangalore Section (R10)
- Dr. Yarlagadda Padma Sai – Hyderabad Section (R10
Inmaculada Plaza (Pictured) (R8) 
I am inspired by the IEEE objective: working and innovating for the benefit of humanity. But I have always wondered how to put it into practice. To do so, I have kept in mind two ideas. Firstly a statement that I read when I was young: “Life is your own work of art“. Secondly the concept of continuous improvement, enclosed in the statement “There is at least one corner of the universe that you can certainly improve, and that is yourself“. Both have helped me in everyday life. I have also been inspired by the example of all the people who have fought for justice and equality throughout history.
Honorable Mention: Susana Lau Hou (R9)
Honorable Mention: Cristiane Agra Pimentel (R9)
Winner (pictured): Sunitha Beevi K. (R10)
As an academician, I was able to use my experience and knowledge to organize STEM based programs in the Kerala Section, to inspire the students and professionals of the engineering community, thereby applying technology for the benefit of humanity.
Honorable Mention: Cristiane Agra Pimentel (R9)
Honorable Mention: Mercy Chelangat (R8)
Winner (Pictured): Yoot Khuan Lee (R10, Malaysia Section)
“Being a first-generation academic, I appreciate the importance of education, especially engineering education, which can make a difference to one’s life – I am living proof of this. Cognizant of the declining interest towards STEM education and careers in Malaysia, and its detrimental effect to national development in the long term – that inspired me to bring disruption through education to boys or girls, men or women, underserved or privileged, using IEEE instruments and platforms that I know.”
Honorable Mentions
- Divya M G (R10)
- Simay Akar (R8)
Lucia Pia Torres (R9, Argentina Section)
“It inspires me to think that I can really be a Change Maker, and thanks to volunteering I was able to use my skills, knowledge and experience to use technology as an educational tool, for social inclusion, integration, diversity and community growth. I am inspired that, new leaders can be supported and empowered to emerge and develop, and with this shared vision, we can work together to create technology-based projects that can help the social and economic development of people.”
Honorable Mentions
- Octavia Dobre (R7, Newfoundland-Labrador Section)
- Chidimma Ijeoma Ibeh-Dimnwobi (R8, Nigeria Section)
Winner (Pictured): Winnie Ye, IEEE WIE Ottawa AG (R7)
Dr. Winnie Ye is an exceptional role model and mentor for women in engineering. Under her leadership as the Chair of the IEEE WIE Ottawa Chapter since 2012, she organized seven major seminars/workshops and social events, of three are international. For example, the “International Forum for Women in Photonics” held at the Photonics North Conference is the first International Forum of its kind. Her initiative in holding the IEEE WIE TechW event in Ottawa not only exposes Ottawa as the technology hub in Canada, but also creates excellent opportunities for bringing together Canadian women to network with other women around the world. IEEE Ottawa Section recognized her efforts and officially appointed her as the General Chair of the IEEE WIE TechW event, to be held in 2019. These successful events have national and international impact on promoting women in engineering and science. Acknowledging the achievements, the WIE Ottawa Chapter won the 2017 Outstanding Affinity Group of the Year Award from the IEEE Ottawa Section. In addition, her leadership in the IEEE Photonics Society Ottawa Chapter contributed towards the winning of the 2015 IEEE Photonics Society Chapter of the Year Award, honoring the achievements and educational activities conducted by the Canadian team. Dr. Ye is an advocate for women in engineering, as evidenced by her contributions to various activities as outlined in the achievements mentioned above. For example, the presentation on “IEEE Women-in- Engineering” for the Advancing New Canadian Women in Technology (ANCWT), provides training and guidance for new female Canadians. Her participation in Media Action’s panel discussion promotes gender equity through media analysis and action.
- Winner (Pictured): Parveen Wahid (IEEE WIE Orlando AG)
- Honorable Mention: Y Vijayalata (IEEE WIE Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology – GRIET SBAG)
- Honorable Mention (TIE): Mayra Mendez (IEEE WIE El Salvador AG) and Ana Luisa Trejos (IEEE WIE London AG)
