RICHLAND, Wash.-Scientists, engineers and other professionals from across the nation will gather at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on Aug. 2 to inspire, learn and network with fellow professionals. The 2024 Institute of Electricity and Electronics Engineer's Region 6 Women in Engineering International Leadership Summit returns to the PNNL campus for the first time since 2019.
This year's theme, "Charting Your Course: Empowering Today's Trailblazers to be Tomorrow's Change Makers," emphasizes the importance of mentorship for all professionals, not just engineers. The summit will feature speakers from private industry and research institutions, plus ample opportunities for professional networking.
During the summit, attendees will hear from keynote speakers Maria Pope, President and CEO of Portland General Electric and Honorable Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Chief Sustainability Officer, among others invited speakers.
"This event will be an opportunity for professionals from different backgrounds and different organizations to come together and share our experiences and expertise," said Alka Singh, an electrical engineer at PNNL and chair of both IEEE WIE's Richland Section and this year's summit.
Singh remembers all the people who mentored her as she made her way as an engineer fresh out of graduate school. Now, as a mentor herself, she has an important message to her mentees: "Today you're a mentee, but tomorrow you will be a mentor to somebody else."
At the 2019 summit, Singh was an intern at PNNL. She said she was "mesmerized by the event," adding, "there were more than 300 people there. I walked into a room full of confident women and men and learned so much about how to navigate the world of STEM."
Not only did the 2019 summit inspire Singh to seek full-time employment at PNNL, but it also inspired her to become a mentor for other women in STEM fields. Now, as the summit returns to PNNL, Singh stresses that the event is for everyone-not just women, not just researchers. "We want to encourage all people to strive for leadership in their fields and to inspire others to be leaders in STEM," Singh said.
The summit starts with a welcome reception the evening of Aug. 1 at Washington State University's Wine Science Center.
On Aug. 2, Karma Sawyer, Director of PNNL's Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division, will lead a panel on the importance of fostering inclusive spaces for students in STEM and inspiring others to become leaders themselves.
Cindy Powell, Chief Science & Technology Officer for Energy and Environment at PNNL, organized a panel that will explore how to embrace flexibility and innovation in pursuing all kinds of success.
Attendees will also hear from Catherine Petroff, chief of the United States Army Corps engineering division. Petroff will speak on how engineers who are participating in building and operating the nation's critical infrastructure-such as roads, bridges, hydropower dams, and buildings-can be good stewards of natural resources.
To register for the summit and learn more about the agenda, visit the event website.
