Who are this year’s nominees for the title Female engineer of the year?
02 Dec 2024
We are presenting the ten nominees for the flattering title of Female engineer in 2024, that will be awarded to the first among equal in mid-January on a festive event in Cankarjev dom. This will be the seventh time in a row that we will awarded a female engineer, that with her work and personality will inspire younger generation of girls in choosing an engineering career path.
The selection of the female engineer of the year takes place under the auspices of the project We will be engineers, with which we want to inspire young people for engineering and science professions. The event is co-organized by the IRT3000 Magazine together with Mediade in collaboration with partners. “We co-organize this event from the very beginning, because we want to point out that there is untapped potential for engineering profession among girls and because of this are losing both, industrial companies and the whole society,” emphasises Darko Švetak, Editor of IRT3000 Magazine.
The names of the ten nominees
Nominees for the female engineer 2024 are
- Brina Škoda, Head of user-experience department at Loftware,
- Emina Mešić, Engineer for production excellence in Head of commissioning new lines Henkel Maribor,
- Jasna Krmelj, iOS developer and Technical director at Gentler Stories,
- Jerneja Šušel, Researcher at SIJ Metal Ravne,
- Karmen Košutar, Senior independent professional associate at DRI investment management, in the function of secretary on the Second Track Divača–Koper project.
- Katja Škof Žavcer, Head of quality assurance department at Comtrade Gaming,
- Manca Kok Bevc, Head of quality at Incom,
- Rebeka Kropivšek Leskovar, Development engineer at Interblock Group,
- Staša Velcl, Independent technologist in the production of active ingredients at Krka,
- Urša Skerbiš Štok, Employed in the electrical systems development department at Pipistrel Vertical Solutions.
Point out the possibilities and go beyond stereotypes
This year, 41 applications were submitted to the contest for the Female engineer of the year, among which ten nominees were selected that broadly represent education, age, region, employer, area of work, current appearance and professional direction. The purpose of the selection is the broadest and most effective social promotion of female engineers. “Although the title Female engineer of 2024 will be awarded to only one nominee, the presentation of all nominees is extremely precious, because we show to young girls numerous possibilities, that engineering professions offer, added Švetak.
“In this year selection, dominate candidates from computer science and IT, follow by chemistry, mechanical engineering and electro engineering. An increasing number of female engineers are aware, that is very important to spend time for the promotion of this profession among young people. Despite the technological progress, there are still stereotypes in society, that we want to address and overcome also with this contest, evaluates Metka Škofic, Editor of project We will be engineers!
The votes for the successor of Ljupka Vrteva, the current female engineer of the year, will be contributed by members of four equivalent voting groups: nominees for the female engineer of the year, media representative, students and professors of high schools and representative from the organizer and partners. The winner will be known on 16th od January 2025 at the gala ceremony in Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana.
