Advisory Committee - Returning Mothers Conference

International Advisory Committee

Bozenna Pasik-Duncan

University of Kansas | Advisor

Bozenna Pasik-Duncan

University of Kansas | Advisor

Bozenna Pasik-Duncan is a Professor of Mathematics, a Courtesy Professor of both EECS and AE, and an ITTC Investigator at the University of Kansas. Her research interests are primarily in stochastic systems and stochastic adaptive control, system identification and estimation, and control education as a field that spans science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Dr. Pasik-Duncan is actively involved with IEEE CSS and currently serves as Deputy Chair of the IEEE CSS Technical Committee on Control Education. She has been the CSS Vice-President of Member Activities, the IEEE CSS Liaison to IEEE WIE, an Associate Editor and Associate Editor at Large of the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Chair of the Standing Committees on Assistance of Engineers at Risk and International Affairs, and Founder and First Chair of the WiC Group. Dr. Pasik-Duncan is also associated with the IFAC as Chair of the IFAC Technical Committee on Control Education and currently serves on the IFAC Technical Board and IFAC Awards Committee. She is the Program Director of the SIAM Activity Group on Control and Systems Theory and was formerly involved with SIAM in several other capacities. Dr. Pasik-Duncan is an IFAC Fellow, an IEEE Fellow, Distinguished Member of the CSS, and a recipient of the IEEE Third Millennium Medal. She has received many awards, including the Kemper Award, H.O.P.E Award, L. Hay Award, Steeples Service to Kansas Award and is a member of the KU Women's Hall of Fame. She served on the Friends of the Lied Center Board and currently serves on the SMA Academic Program Advisory Board. She is Founder and Faculty Advisor to the AWM Student Chapter at KU, Founder and Coordinator of the MAM / Outreach Program, and faculty advisor for the NSF GK-12 Program at KU.

Email:[email protected]

Simay Akar

CCO and Co-Founder, Innoses

Simay Akar

CCO and Co-Founder, Innoses

About Simay CCO &Co-Founder of INNOSES IEEE Volunteer & Senior Member Candidate for IEEE Women in Engineering Committee Chair-Elect 2022 (Nominated by IEEE WIE) Simay Akar is an entrepreneur with reputable corporate industrial background and experience in the energy industry. She specialized in photovoltaic manufacturing, battery storage for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies and the clean energy market development. Akar is currently the Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder at Innoses. Her past roles include Sales & Marketing Director of EkoRE – Eko Renewable Energy and Marketing & Business Development Director of GoodWe Turkey, Head of Overseas Marketing at Talesun Solar Akar has worked in China and Turkey and mostly focused on international commercial activities and has been employed by CSUN Eurasia, Schneider Electric, Arcelik (BEKO), and Lucida Solar. In addition to her professional acclimates, she is an IEEE Senior member, acknowledged volunteer since 2007. Simay is a graduate of Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey and she participated Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Program at Stanford University.

Email:[email protected]

Leila De Floriani

Professor at the University of Maryland and President of IEEE Computer Society

Leila De Floriani

Professor at the University of Maryland and President of IEEE Computer Society

Leila De Floriani is a professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. She has previously been a professor at the University of Genova (Italy), and she has also held positions at the University of Nebraska, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Italian National Research Council. De Floriani is the 2020 President of the IEEE Computer Society. She has been a member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Computer Society (CS) since 2017. She is a Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the International Association for Pattern Recognition, a Fellow of the Eurographics Association, and a Pioneer of the Solid Modeling Association. She is an IEEE Computer Society Golden Core Member and a member of the IEEE Honor Society IEEE-HKN. She has been the editor-in-chief of the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG) from 2015-2018, and served as an associate editor for IEEE TVCG from 2004-2008. De Floriani is currently an associate editor of ACM Transactions on Spatial Algorithms and Systems, GeoInformatica, and Graphical Models. She has served on the program committees of over 150 leading international conferences, including several IEEE conferences, and has contributed to many conferences in a leadership capacity. De Floriani has authored over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications in data visualization, geospatial data representation and processing, computer graphics, geometric modeling, shape analysis and understanding, garnering several best paper awards and invitations as a keynote speaker. Her research has been funded by numerous national and international agencies, including the European Commission and the National Science Foundation.

Mr. Gunjan Gautam

Operations Officer, South Asia Energy Unit, World Bank Group

Mr. Gunjan Gautam

Operations Officer, South Asia Energy Unit, World Bank Group

Gunjan Gautam is Operations Officer at the World Bank’s South Asia Energy Unit. He co-leads South Asia Gender and Energy Facility (SAGE) at the World Bank. SAGE has been supporting South Asia Women in Power Sector Professional Network (WePOWER) and functions as the interim-secretariat of the network. Gunjan has B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and M.Sc. in Public Policy with energy policy concentration.

Jenifer Castillo

Territory Manager of the Caribbean, Parker Hannifin Corp.

Jenifer Castillo

Territory Manager of the Caribbean, Parker Hannifin Corp.

Mechatronics Engineer, MBA –International Business. Currently works for Parker Hannifin Corp. Fortune 250 company, where she is the Territory Manager of the Caribbean. IEEE Senior member, being part of IEEE as member and volunteer for 16 years. WIE Global Committee Chair 2021, WIE Committee Member at Large (2019-2020), Region 9 Secretary, and Puerto Rico and Caribbean (PR&C) Section Technical Activities Chair. Previously, Region 9 Industry Engagement AdHoc Committee Chair, and the Puerto Rico and Caribbean (PR&C) Section Chair (2018 – 2019) among other positions. Recognized with the IEEE MGA Achievement Award 2020, “For sustained and outstanding achievements in promoting Students, YP, and WIE membership development in Latin America and the Caribbean”, and the Oscar C. Fernández, IEEE Region 9 recognition to the outstanding volunteer in LatinAmerica.

Indian Advisory Committee

Foram Rajdev

Asst Prof, Marwadi Education

Foram Rajdev

Asst Prof, Marwadi Education

Prof. Foram Rajdev is serving as Chair - Women In Engineering and Chair - Young Professionals for IEEE Gujarat Section since last 3 years. Currently, she is also committee Member at WIE IEEE Region 10 for 2021-2022. Professionally Prof. Foram is a Mathematics Professor working for Marwadi University at Rajkot – Gujarat since last 12 years. Her research work is on Mathematical Modelling. To help the society, she is also taking care of Young Indians Thalir Rajkot chapter as a Chair and helping the School Children for their academic and social growth. Prof. Foram has worked on a number of IEEE Projects for upliftment of the Students and hence the Society; and she believes that this has helped her stay connected with the world, learn what works for her and where she can improve, and can keep track of her goals.

Email:[email protected]

Priya Mahajan

Professor, EED, DTU

Priya Mahajan

Professor, EED, DTU

Dr. Priya Mahajan is working as professor in EED, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering),one of the premier institutes of India. She has been in the academics and research field for more than 20 years. As a faculty, she is involved in many administrative assignments and is/was the member of many institutional level committees. She is working in the area of railway electric traction and renewable energy and has published many research papers in various international journals and conferences. Her area of interest includes electrical traction systems, electrical power systems, and renewable energy systems. She is a senior member of IEEE and presently member of IEEE-WIE, IEEE PES and IEEE-ITS. She is involved in organizing various activities under IEEE and served as the organizer/ organizing member of many IEEE conferences and chaired the conference sessions. She was the finance chair for the first IEEE WIP conference organised in Delhi, India in March,2017. Presently, she is serving as Chairperson, WIE-AG, Delhi Section and Secretary, IEEE- PES Delhi Chapter.

Anandi Giridharan

Principal Research Scientist

Anandi Giridharan

Principal Research Scientist

Anandi Giridharan has been with the Department of ECE, Indian Institute of Science, since 1990, where she is currently a Principal Research Scientist. She is active volunteer of IEEE Bangalore Section. She is IEEE Senior Member She is Branch Counsellor, IEEE-IISc Student Branch Faculty Advisor, IEEE IISc Women in Science & Engineering Student Branch. Current Chair, WiE AG, IEEE Bangalore Section. She was former Chair, IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, Bangalore chapter. She is also part of IETE & IEEE IISc HKN Chapter. Her research interests include Ubiquitous Computing, Communication Protocol Design, Validation, Testing & Edge Computing.

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Sweta Tripathi

Associate Professor

Dr. Sweta Tripathi

Associate Professor

Dr. Sweta Tripathi is working as an Associate Professor & Head, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Kanpur Institute of Technology, Kanpur. She is a senior administrator and passionate educationist with more than 10 years of experience in various prestigious institutions She has received her Ph.D. Degree from IIT Roorkee in the area of medical signal and image processing and M. Tech in Electronic and Instrumentation Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala. She has published several papers in respective international journals and conferences. She owns two patents under her name and has authored one best seller book on “Digital IIR filters with Labview”. She has organised various national/international conferences and FDPs. Dr Sweta is the member of IEEE-WIE, IEEE-CIS, life member of IAENG , IETE. Her current research interests are: Image Processing, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, AI, Embedded Systems etc. She enjoys mentoring and speaking at technical conferences, summits, and workshops. Presently, she is serving as Chairperson, WIE-AG, Uttar Pradesh Section and Chair, IEEE-KIT Student Branch.

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Varsha Turkar

Professor and Head

Dr. Varsha Turkar

Professor and Head

Professor and Head of ETC department at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Goa. 24 years of teaching and industry experience. 14 years of research experience in Microwave Remote Sensing. IEEE Senior Member. Chairperson, IEEE WIE Bombay Section. Life member of ISRS and CSI. She has presented/published around 63 papers in reputed international conferences and journals. Out of 63 papers, 30 papers are indexed in Scopus and 27 in Web of Science. She has received a travel grant of Rs. 1 lack 16 thousand from IEEE GRSS to present her paper at IGARSS 2019, held at JAPAN in July 2019. She has also presented her research work in various international conferences at European Space Agency, Rome, Canada, and Thailand. She has received a 26 lakhs rupees research grant from Space Application Centre, ISRO. She has guided more than 50 PG Projects and under her guidance one student has completed her PhD work. She has organized many workshops, STTPs, FDPs, National and International Conferences. She has worked as a resource person for many STTPs and expert talks. She has also worked as a session chair for various conferences. She is a reviewer for various reputed international journals like IEEE, Springer etc. Her research interest areas are Image processing, GIS, PolSAR Classification and Machine learning.

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Y. Padma Sai

Professor, Head ECE, VNR.

Dr. Y. Padma Sai

Professor, Head ECE, VNR.

Dr. Y. Padma Sai obtained her B.Tech. Degree from Nagarjuna University, Guntur, M.E in Systems and Signal Processing and Ph.D in Bio-medical Signal processing from Osmania University, Hyderabad. She started her career as Quality Control Engineer and served for 5 years in M/S. Suchitra Electronics Pvt. Ltd. Hyderabad, from Feb 1991 to May 1996. Later worked as a Lecturer in the Department of ECE in Deccan College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad from January 1998 to October 1998. Then worked in the same capacity in the Department of ECE, VNRVJIET from July 1999 to 10th November 2000. She was then promoted as an Associate Professor in the same department of ECE, at VNRVJIET from 20th August. Later elevated as professor and taken charge of Head of the department from 1st Sep.2012 to 9th Aug.2021 and also assigned additional responsibilities as Dean Students Progression from 1st April 2016 to till date. She is a Senior member of IEEE, Life member of ISTE, ISOI, ASCI and Fellow of IETE, IEI, Vice-Chairman for WIE Affinity Group IEEE Hyderabad Section 2019, Member Short term training program committee IETE Hyderabad(2012-2014), Member women Empowerment in engineering committee IETE(2014-2015), Execute Member ISTE AP Section from 2012-2014 and Secretary cum treasurer ISTETS Section from 2015 to 2019. She has presented and published 90 research papers in National and International Conferences/Journals. She is presently guiding 6 research scholars. Her areas of research interest are Bio-Medical, Signal and Image Processing to create societal impact. To add feather to her cap she also received grants of worth 90 lakhs from various funding agencies like DST, DIT, UGC and AICTE and under her guidance her research scholars submitted various proposals and got grants. Received Best Teacher award from ISTE AP & TS Section , Short listed for Research Award (2012-14) by UGC and one of the recommended candidate for Research award for the academic year 2014-16 by UGC, New Delhi. She was appreciated by The United Inventors Association (UIA) of the USA for her Innovative Excellence. She has received Silver Medal and Bronze Medal for the project Cough and Wheeze Analyzer at Indian Innovators Association, AP & Innovation Society and International Innovation Fair Association held at Vishakhapatnam and China Association of Inventions respectively. She was nominated as Coordinator Academics(2 years2010-12), Member of Institute Academic from 2008 to till date, Member BoS(2 years 2010-12), Member Academic Council from 2010 to till date ,Chairman BoS from 2012 to till date in VNRVJIET and as Research Committee member, BME, college of Engg. Osmania University. BoS Member, JNTUH from 2019.She involved actively in TEQIP and Autonomous works and made best efforts to achieve Accreditations like NBA, NAAC for VNRVJIET. Co-founder of Salcit Technologies Pvt Ltd at VJ Hub . Published two patents and one patent granted by Indian Patent office, filed one US & One Canada Patent. Received Certificate of appreciation by Tutors Pride/Ideal Teaching awards programme-2018. Awarded Gold Medal by Korea International Women Invention Exposition(KIWIE- 2019) as women entrepreneur of SALCIT TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED. Received “Uthama Acharya Puraskar” National Award for impact creators in Engineering Education in commemoration 150th of Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi by Indian Servers at VR Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada. Received Best WIE Affinity Group award for IEEE WIE Hyderabad section as Vice-chair on 19-01-2020 from Hyderabad Section As a Chair WIE AG received R10 Women in Engineering Outstanding Section Affinity Group Award: IEEE Hyderabad Section WIE Affinity Group in recognition and appreciation of valuable services and contributions. Received Branch Councilor award from IEEE Hyderabad Section during AGM on 24th January, 2021 Presently she is acting as Chairman for WIE Affinity Group IEEE Hyderabad Section 2021.

Email: [email protected]