DENR Issues Special Order Authorizing Attendance of Women Engineers and Scientists to ICWES20 and PWESS

We are pleased to share that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued Special Order No. 2026-301, dated May 11, 2026, authorizing the attendance of DENR women engineers and scientists to the 20th International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES20), to be held side-by-side with the 10th Philippine Women Engineers and Scientists Summit (PWESS) on August 5–7, 2026 through an online learning platform.

The Order recognizes the event as part of the continuing capacity development of DENR personnel. It also provides that expenses related to attendance, including registration fees, may be charged against respective office funds, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Participants are reminded to comply with the submission of the required Individual Learning Report through the DENR-HRDS L&D portal within seven days after completion of the event.

We warmly thank the DENR for supporting the participation and professional development of women engineers and scientists in this milestone international gathering organized by the Philippine Technological Council – Women Engineers’ Network (PTC-WEN).

Source: DENR Special Order No. 2026-301, dated May 11, 2026. Official DENR website indicated in the document: https://www.denr.gov.ph

Dr. Sarah Peers

INWES President

As Head of Academic Skills at New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE) a new university in England with a new approach to engineering education, Sarah leads on the mathematics pedagogy and the so-called soft skills for NMITE’s degree programmes. She also drives NMITE’s Access and Participation Plan for diversity and inclusion, for gender, neurodiversity, social mobility.

Sarah’s degrees are largely mathematical followed by a mechanical engineering PhD in the application of AI and reliability tools to the maintenance of structures. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), a Fellow of the Institute of Innovation & Knowledge Exchange (IKE) and Advisor to the IKE’s STEM Foundation. She has expertise in skills strategy and policy development for innovation, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts) education, and she was integral to the development of Uruguay’s national “STEM Plan” for gender in schools.

Sarah has over 30 years of engineering education experience at multiple levels, tempered with consultancy for industry. She has championed gender equality in STEM since 1992 and has been active in INWES for 10 years. She believes in global collaboration to improve the lives of women and men.