Hannover. The Engineer Woman Award recognizes experienced engineers who significantly shape the industry with their technical expertise, innovation, and leadership while also strongly advocating for equality, women in STEM, or similar initiatives. The nominees for the Engineer Woman Award 2025 are (in alphabetical order):

Cécile Deprez is a dedicated researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Munich, specializing in satellite positioning and orbit determination. Since 2020, she has been developing algorithms and simulation environments while also managing projects. She is a co-founder and coordinator of initiatives such as DLR Women+ in Science & Technology and Pride@DLR. In addition to her research, she actively promotes the visibility and advancement of women in science through public lectures and her role as a coordinator at Women In Aerospace - Europe.

Hlulani Klingsiek Baloyi is a seasoned senior software engineer with over ten years of professional experience. She is passionate about promoting women and diversity in the tech industry. As the founder of the She Talks Tech podcast, she provides a platform to empower women in technology. She also serves as a Women Techmakers Ambassador and previously chaired Black Girls Code Johannesburg. Her activism extends to language advocacy and the digitization of African languages, as seen in her role as a product owner at Angula, which won the Best Educational Solution Award in 2023.

Marie-Josée Turgeon is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of experience in manufacturing, microelectronics, and process optimization. Holding a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and an MBA, she has significantly contributed to innovation in microelectronics as President and CEO of C2MI. Under her leadership, C2MI received numerous awards, including the Great Mention of the Performance Quebec Awards in 2021 and the Gold Award in 2022. Turgeon has successfully implemented lean manufacturing and process optimizations, leading to significant productivity improvements. She serves in various governance roles, including as chair of the Research Ethics Committee at Cégep de Granby and as a member of the Canadian Semiconductor Council.

The Young Engineer Woman Award honors young women who have distinguished themselves through exceptional achievements in STEM disciplines and serve as role models for future generations. The nominees for the Young Engineer Woman Award 2025 are (in alphabetical order):

Dr.-Ing. Sina-Maria Breuer is a process engineer with a passion for metallurgy, focusing on sustainable innovations in the steel industry. After studying materials engineering and earning her PhD at RWTH Aachen, she worked at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH and has been with SMS Group GmbH since 2023. As Project Quality Manager, she oversees the construction of a hydrogen-based direct reduction plant, a major step toward decarbonizing steel production. She also founded the "Young Academic Forum Metallurgy" to improve the industry's image and foster connections between students and industry professionals. Dr. Breuer is committed to a sustainable and green steel industry, actively contributing to the advancement of metallurgy.

Myriam Erath is a mechatronics engineer specializing in socioinformatics, distinguished by her innovative ideas and engagement in the tech world. Since 2016, she has voluntarily led the "Young Engineers" working group within the Association of German Engineers (VDI) and became a board member of the Emsland/Osnabrück district association in 2024. In the same year, she successfully founded two companies, Erath-CWO and CWO GmbH, which provide an AI-based solution for automating order processes in mechanical engineering. Her technology optimizes unstructured email orders and enables seamless integration into ERP systems, benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, she will publish a scientific paper in 2025 on developments in the IT industry. Myriam Erath combines technical expertise with socioinformatics approaches and is a driving force in the STEM field.

Xheneta Krasniqi is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft in Munich. With a degree in computer science and human-computer interaction from LMU Munich and participation in Oxford University's Women in Leadership Program (2024), she has established herself as a leading engineer in M365, apps, Copilot Cloud, and AI transformation. Since joining Microsoft at the age of 20, she has supported clients worldwide in implementing AI and cloud solutions across various industries. She has been recognized as one of the top 200 Cloud Solution Architects globally and inspires others through her projects and workshops.

The Engineer Woman Awards aim to enhance the visibility and recognition of women in technical professions. Companies are encouraged to celebrate the dedication and achievements of their female engineers and actively contribute to equal opportunities within the industry.

The winners of both categories will be announced during the FEMWORX Career Congress at HANNOVER MESSE. The event provides a platform for discussions on career paths, innovations, and the future of engineering, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion.

FEMWORX – Career congress for women in industry

The 22nd career congress will take place as part of HANNOVER MESSE. On Thursday, 3 April and Friday, 4 April 2025, participants can experience two days brimming with motivation and inspiring narratives at the top networking and discussion event for female leadership in the STEM field.

HANNOVER MESSE

HANNOVER MESSE is the world's premier trade fair for industry. Under the lead theme of "Industrial Transformation", exhibiting companies from the general engineering, electrical, digital and energy industries gather to showcase solutions for the production world and energy supply of today and tomorrow. The main exhibition areas in 2025 are Smart Manufacturing, Digital Ecosystems, Energy for Industry, Compressed Air & Vacuum Technology, Engineered Parts & Solutions, Future Hub, and International Trade & Investment. The exhibition program is complemented by a series of conferences featuring around 1,600 speakers. The next edition will take place from 31 March to 4 April 2025, with Canada as the Partner Country.