Mini Thomas: Empowering Women in the Power Industry
- this article highlights the extensive volunteer work and career of Mini S.
- * Empowering Women in STEM: Thomas actively participates in a six-month program training 100 women from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in technical skills...
- Thomas as a dedicated IEEE volunteer who is passionate about technical education, mentorship, and advancing the careers of women in the power and energy industry, particularly in South...
Summary of the Article: IEEE volunteer spotlight - Mini S. Thomas
this article highlights the extensive volunteer work and career of Mini S. Thomas, an IEEE member for 35 years, and her dedication to empowering women in the power and energy sector in South Asia.
Key takeaways:
* Empowering Women in STEM: Thomas actively participates in a six-month program training 100 women from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in technical skills (transmission, distribution, renewable energy) and leadership. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, drawing from her own experience.
* Career Growth & Leadership: Thomas credits a leadership training program at Jawaharlal Nehru University (sponsored by the University Grants Commission of India) with boosting her confidence to pursue higher-level positions. She understands the challenges women face – career breaks for family, work-life balance, lack of support – and aims to help them overcome these obstacles.
* Long-Standing IEEE Involvement: She joined IEEE as a student in 1990 and remains a member to stay current with emerging technologies, particularly SCADA systems. IEEE resources where instrumental in her learning about SCADA.
* Collaboration & Authorship: Through IEEE, she connected with John McDonald and co-authored the book Power System SCADA and Smart Grids.
* Student branch Revitalization: Thomas has been heavily involved in supporting IEEE student branches at Delhi Technological University and Jamia Millia Islamia, organizing events and serving as a counselor for 14 years.
* Regional Leadership: She has served as chair of IEEE Region 10.
In essence, the article portrays Mini S. Thomas as a dedicated IEEE volunteer who is passionate about technical education, mentorship, and advancing the careers of women in the power and energy industry, particularly in South Asia.