Leadership and Diversity at Work: Fostering an Inclusive and Empowering Environment
This session will discuss important topics like gender discrimination, caring responsibilities, and neurodiversity, along with IEEE’s initiatives to support inclusion. The goal is to raise awareness of challenges individuals face in the workplace and daily life, build stronger relationships, and encourage inclusive practices. Please note that this session does not provide formal training on these sensitive subjects. If you would like to ask the panel a question, please use this form: click
The audience will also be invited to ask questions at the event.
Format: This panel discussion will feature a lively mix of expert insights and audience engagement. A moderated interview will set the stage for a thought-provoking conversation, followed by interactive Q&A session, ensuring a high level of audience participation, and fostering a sense of community among attendees.
Target Audience: This event is open to all researchers and employees who are eager to deepen their understanding of diversity and inclusion, including managers, team leaders, and employees at all levels who play a role in shaping the workplace culture.
Panelists: The panel will feature a diverse group of speakers, including industry leaders, diversity and inclusion experts, and experienced professionals who have demonstrated success in promoting diversity and inclusive leadership.
Ilknur Colak is a distinguished academic and industry expert in Electrical Engineering, holding a PhD from Istanbul Technical University. With over two decades of experience, she has worked at prominent international research centers and industry leaders such as CERN, ABB, Ansaldo Energia, MR, and TUBITAK. Currently, Colak serves as CTO at Schneider Electric's Power System and Services Division. Her extensive publication record includes numerous articles, tutorials, and patents in the field of Power Electronics. When not pursuing her professional endeavors, Colak is an accomplished semi-professional photographer and high-altitude mountaineer. Her photographs have been featured in international exhibitions, and she has achieved the remarkable feat of climbing the highest mountains on six continents, including Antarctica and North America (Alaska), making her one of the select few to have accomplished this achievement.
Jelena Ninić
An Associate Professor in Digital Engineering at the University of
Birmingham. She obtained her PhD in Computational Modelling in 2015
at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. Her research combines advanced
simulations with AI technologies to address resilience challenges in
infrastructure. She currently serves as President of the UKACM.
Brad Lehman is President of the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS). He previously was VP of Products since 2019 – 2022 and Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (TPEL) from 2013-2018. Brad is currently a Professor at Northeastern University (NU), Boston. Brad has been a dedicated leader in engineering diversity: At NU he co-founded and directs the “S-POWER” educational and mentoring program. In the past 6 years, S-POWER has provided scholarships to more than 200 under-represented minority and women students interested in clean energy fields. Brad was the recipient of the IEEE PELS: 2019 Harry A. Owen, Jr. Distinguished Service Award , 2015 IEEE Modeling and Control Award and 2016 IEEE Standards Medallion. He has been listed in the book 300 Best Professors, Princeton Review, 2012. Prior to his career as a professor, he served as the Head Coach of the nationally ranked varsity Georgia Tech swimming and diving team.
Ku Ku Ahamad
Network Development Engineer at the National Energy System Operator (NESO), responsible for Strategic Energy Planning for Offshore Windfarms in GB. Previously, she was a Research Fellow at WMG, University of Warwick (2018–2023). She holds a Dipl.-Ing. in Electrical Engineering from Fachhochschule Hannover, Germany (2007), and a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Power Electronics) from the University of Manchester (2017).
James Richards
A Professor of Employment Relations at the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University. A key role James holds is Director of Engagement, which also includes REF Impact Case Study Champion. His research interests include neurodiversity, disability, trade union organising, in-work poverty, leaveism, and sustainable and socially responsible forms of human resource management.
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