2020 Champion Award Winners

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2020 Champion Award Winners

CWEEL announces the 2020 Champion Award Winners. This award recognizes AEE Chapters and CWEEL Liaisons for their advocacy and contributions towards CWEEL’s growth.  

Four awards were given:

  • Maryanne McGowan, Ohio (Left)
  • Romina Cid Moris, Chile (Left Middle)
  • Suhair Al Mhairat, Jordan (Right Middle)
  • Farhana Akhter Chowdhury, Bangladesh (Right)

Maryanne McGowan has served on the AEE – Southwest Ohio Board of Directors for more than eight years. She was the first woman to be elected to the Board of Directors, serves as our CWEEL Chapter Liaison, and has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in our organization. She continuously promotes the support of CWEEL in both women centers, network activities, and scholarship. Aside from her public promotion of women in the energy arena, Maryanne also feeds the funnel in advancing students and young women into STEM careers. She is presently mentoring some female chemical engineering students at the University of Cincinnati and is talking with them about starting an AEE and CWEEL student chapter.

Additionally, Maryanne is a new mentor to the STEM Power program that is mentoring young disadvantaged high school students in AP classes in the Cincinnati Public School system to promote STEM career paths. These young women will benefit from Maryanne’s experience as she pays forward. Maryanne has gone beyond the support of women within AEE. She was a founder of a foundation called “Raise the Floor”. This organization has a mission of promotion of women in advanced manufacturing careers. It is a success in promoting female talent and career development in multiple manufacturers in the Northern Kentucky area. This foundation is now incorporated in the Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation, to ensure sustainability of the mission. Maryanne also serves on this Board of Directors. She is passionate about Workforce Development and speaks nationally on this topic.

Romina Cid Moris is the CWEEL chapter liaison, founder, and current President of the AEE Chile Chapter and is a member of the new officers selected this October 2020. Romina aided in leading the first free course of hydrogen by women. More than 200 people participated, from which there were national and international students. Romina is a certified engineer as European Energy Manager, with a diploma in public policies in sustainability and energy, and currently pursuing MBA in senior management. Romina has reliable networks of public and corporate relations, values honesty and fair treatment.

Eng. Suhair Al Mhairat, MSc, JPE, CEM®, REP™, CSDP®, is the CWEEL Liaison Officer of the Jordan AEE Chapter. Suhair has been a Board Member since the inception of the chapter and worked tirelessly for eight years. Suhair has a fantastic skill to balance her work, private life, and the passion for leading the energy sector awareness locally and regionally. She has done an amazing job consistently for the past ten years and was a true leader in the darkest hours, providing a real example of a women leader educating her fellow citizens in energy and environmental topics.

Engr. Ms. Farhana Akhter Chowdhury, a Graduate engineer in EEE, is now the Founder & Managing Director, Solar Tie Ltd., Bangladesh. She also works as Country Manager, Tenka Solar GmbH, Bangladesh & India. She has a professional experience of 10 years in Renewable Energy and Environment sector. Ms. Farhana is a Certified Energy Auditor and a Life Member of AEE. She received the award “Young Energy Professional of the Year-2014, Asian Sub-continent” at the 37th WEEC 2014. She also joined 40th WEEC 2017 and received “Legend in Energy- 2017” from AEE. Ms. Farhana became Bangladesh Liaison, CWEEL in September 2014 and is continuing her duties to date.