SYNOPSIS

The engineering world is evolving, and so are the roles within it. This engaging panel session explores the experiences of women engineers as leaders, colleagues, and innovators, while addressing the crucial role of male allies in fostering inclusive and supportive work environments. How can we break stereotypes, build stronger collaborations, and create a future where talent—not gender—defines success? Join us as industry experts and trailblazers share insights, challenges, and actionable strategies to shape a more equitable engineering landscape.


BIODATA OF SPEAKERS

Moderator : Prof. Ir. Dr. Zuhaina Zakaria
Professor, College of Engineering, UiTM

Prof. Ir. Dr. Zuhaina Zakaria is the Dean of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies at UiTM, with over 30 years of experience in academia. She specializes in energy efficiency, power quality, load profiling, and power system analysis. An active member of IEEE and IET, she also served as the Honorary Secretary of IEM for session 2022/2023, 2023/2024. She has held key roles in the Board of Engineers Malaysia and the Engineering Technology Accreditation Council.

Panelist 1: Ir. Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin
President, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

Ir. Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Chiang is the current President of IEM (2024–2026). A Civil Engineer with a PhD from the University of Wollongong, he has experience in both industry and academia, having served at INTI International University and SEGi University. He plays a key role in drafting Malaysian Standards for concrete structure design and chairs the Technical Committee on Earthquake. He is also a member of the International Committee on Concrete Model Code for Asia.

Panelist 2: Ir. Ts. Irene Lock Sow Mei
Senior Process Engineer at Group Technical Solutions, PETRONAS

Ir. Ts. Irene Lock Sow Mei is a process engineer at Group Technical Solutions, PETRONAS, with 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. She specializes in water technology and treatment, overseeing the development and implementation of effective water management solutions. A graduate of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) in Chemical Engineering, she has received numerous accolades, including UTP’s Chancellor Gold Award and IEM’s Best Engineering Graduate Gold Award. Irene is a certified Professional Engineer (BEM), Chartered Engineer (Engineering Council UK), and Professional Technologist (MBOT). Her achievements include the IChemE Malaysia Young Industrialist Award 2019, Ten Outstanding Young Malaysian Award 2020, and international recognitions such as the ASIAN Downstream Summit Young Engineer Award 2024 and ASIAWATER Young Career Award 2024.

Panelist 3: Ir. Ts. Bibi Sabrena Sakandar Khan
Project Director, Malaysia Airports

Ir. Ts. Bibi Sabrena Sakandar Khan is the Project Director at Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn. Bhd., specializing in Civil Engineering. With a career at KLIA since 2006, she has progressively advanced through roles in maintenance, engineering business intelligence, operations, and project management. She holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP)®, and an ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer. Currently, she leads the KLIA Asset Replacement Plan for the Automated People Mover and is also spearheading the strategic framework for the Baggage Handling System replacement. Driven by a passion for continuous learning, she is pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at UNITAR.

Panelist 4: Ir. Eur Ing. Ts. Dr. Harvin Kaur Gurchran Singh
Assistant Professor, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation

Dr. Harvin Kaur is a Professional Engineer specializing in flow assurance, rheology, and emulsion challenges in the oil and gas industry. With a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UTP and seven years of industry experience, she brings expertise in process optimization and operational excellence. A Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, she integrates data-driven decision-making into engineering education and industrial applications. An active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), she bridges academia with industry to foster innovation and sustainability in engineering.