The Middle East Process Engineering Conference (Mepec), currently under way in Bahrain, is taking the lead to promote women in the region’s energy engineering sectors, through a key initiative.
 
The Leadership Excellence for Women Awards (Lewas) is an initiative to encourage role models and champions of female empowerment in the sector to encourage women into engineering profession in the GCC, a statement said.

“In order to get more women to choose engineering as a career choice, we as employers need to also take responsibility by doing much more to close the gender gap in the energy sector ” said Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Bahrain’s Oil Minister, the patron of Mepec’s Lewas initiative.

The awards recognise women in science and engineering, women supporters, and organisations which actively support and champion the growth of women in workplaces by constantly mentoring, retaining them through inclusive hiring and development practices, as well as developing and implementing innovative diversity and inclusion programmes.

The 2017 edition, celebrated women who demonstrated innovation, leadership and talent, in both the academic and business fields of the industry.

The winners were selected from 200 entries. “The outstanding quality of all 21 shortlisted nominations demonstrated a high calibre of talented women who will encourage more women to break through the glass ceiling that will be nominated for the next edition of Lewas.  Mepec and the Lewas initiative has now become an established platform to celebrate incredible achievements from women who are an inspiration for tomorrows generation of leaders,” said Raunaq Jamal, project director, Lewas.

Lewas will continue its programme of empowerment of women engineers with the dedicated Women’s Symposium, which takes place today (October 11) at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The symposium will gather women academics, engineers and technical experts who will share their challenges and engage in an open dialogue to address issues on gender gap, corporate excellence and women empowerment.

The event is supported by the National Oil and Gas Authority, Bahraini Women’s Day and takes place in partnership with Saudi Aramco, Sabic and Shell Global Solutions.

The full list of Lewas 2017 winners and runners up is as follows:

•    Rising Star - Winner: Esra Alhosani, instrumentation and control engineer, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operation (ADCO), UAE; Runners Up: Abrar Alabbad, geologist, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia; Haya Al Jasim, instrument engineer, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), Bahrain.

•    Leading with Excellence - Winner: Fatima Sharif, warehouse supervisor, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), Bahrain; Runners Up: Rana Qudaih, project manager, Borouge, UAE; Mariam Alhendi, senior mechanical engineer, Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited (Gasco), UAE.

•    Woman of Achievement - Winner: Dr Meena Marafi, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait; Runners Up: Najat Sharif, Human Resources Manager, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), Bahrain; Merhane Kamel, Senior Static Equipment Specialist, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operation (ADCO), UAE

•    Academic of Distinction - Winner: Dr. Valerie Eveloy, associate professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute (PI), UAE. Runners Up: Sumaya Ali Al-Maadeed, head of computer science department, Qatar University, Qatar; Dr Lourdes Vega, joint chair professor, The Petroleum Institute (PI), UAE

•    Academic Achievement - Winner: Safiya Khalil, student, The Petroleum Institute (PI), UAE; Runners Up: Asmaa Mohamed, chemical engineer, Qatar University, Qatar; Asfaneh Daneshvar, chemical engineer, Qatar University, Qatar

•    Corporate Champion - Winner: Dr Abdullah Ali Al-Meshari, manager, Expec Advanced Research Center & CEO, Saudi Aramco Upstream Technology Company, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia. Runners Up: Mubarak Al-Mutairi, manager, technical services, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Kuwait; Adnan Mohamed, leadership development section head, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), UAE.

•    Corporate Excellence - Winner: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Saudi Arabia. Runners Up: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), UAE; Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia. – TradeArabia News Service