A University of Warwick professor who is helping young engineers across the world respond to humanity’s biggest challenges, has won the ‘Distinguished Woman in Engineering’ award.

Hosted by the ‘International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists’ (INWES), the award celebrates Professor Georgia Kremmyda’s achievements in global capacity building (developing and building knowledge and skills internationally) and commitments to the representation of women in STEM.

Professor Kremmyda leads the ENHANCE project – a community-based engineering programme, training young engineers in Asia, in particular in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam, to tackle humanitarian challenges.

The project helps higher education institutions embed community-based engineering education into their graduate engineering programmes.

It aims to empower the next generation of engineers with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to address real-world challenges in collaboration with local communities, markets, and industries.

The goal is to promote collaboration, ethical and social responsibility, and transformative impact in engineering education – shaping the future of engineering by integrating academic learning with community engagement and fostering a generation of socially conscious engineers.

A Civil Engineer herself, Professor Kremmyda hopes the students will go on to have a positive impact – shaping the future and the world for the better. The project has already included more than 300 modules worldwide – and 6,000 students annually.

Alongside her research, Professor Kremmyda is also instrumental in championing the representation of women in engineering. She leads the planning, organisation and delivery of conferences for INWES – bringing together talented women in STEM from across Europe, Middle East, Asia and Pacific, Africa and North and South America.

INWES is a not-for-profit global network of organizations of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), representing over 250,000 women from 60 countries around the globe.

INWES is an official non-government organisation partner of UNESCO, holding consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and observer status to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). INWES supports the work of UN Women and the Commission for the Status of Women.

On winning the award, Professor Kremmyda said: “I am honoured to receive the INWES Distinguished Woman in Engineering award. This recognition reflects my commitment to setting a path for aspiring women engineers and embodying the transformative spirit that shapes our global landscape.

“At the same time, it highlights the impact of powerful organisations like INWES in creating a revolution for women in science and engineering, as we collectively shape a future defined by progress, inclusivity, and extraordinary accomplishment.”

Professor John Murphy, Head of Warwick’s School of Engineering, said: “Professor Kremmyda is a true leader in Engineering education as evidenced by this major international award and her recent National Teaching Fellowship.

“At Warwick, she has pioneered new programmes in Humanitarian Engineering and has been instrumental in the launch of two Engineering Degree Apprenticeships. As Head of Teaching and Deputy Head of Department, the impact of her work on the experience of Engineering students has been substantial.

“The benefits of her work are felt by all, but she has worked particularly hard to dismantle barriers to participation, tackling persistent issues such as the underrepresentation of women, disabled people, those from ethnic minorities and socially disadvantaged groups in STEM”.

President of INWES Jung Sun Kim added: “Professor Kremmyda is an example of excellent achievement in engineering in terms of research, education and advocacy for women in STEM. Her leadership and trailblazing contributions in Civil Engineering and overall STEM are inspirational”.




Notes to Editors
INWES was established to strengthen the capacity of individuals, organizations, and corporations to influence policies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) worldwide, and to encourage the education, recruitment, retention, support, and advancement of professional women and students through an international network of organisations and experts.

The goal of INWES is to build a better future worldwide through the full and effective participation of women and girls in all aspects of STEM.

Find out more about INWES here: https://www.inwes.org/

The ENHANCE project was funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices; Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education (598502-EPP-1-2018-1-UK-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP (2018-2582/001-001).

More here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/enhance/Link opens in a new window

University of Warwick press office contact:

Annie Slinn
Communications Officer | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick Email: annie.slinn@warwick.ac.uk

5 September 2023