Dr. Lidija Tomić, an air traffic engineer and assistant at the Aviation Academy, has been awarded the title of “Engineer of the Year” for 2024 in Serbia. This accolade is part of an initiative by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Siemens Serbia, and the “Engineer of the Year” association, which aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in engineering.
At the ceremony, Mihailo Vesović, Director of Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the crucial role of engineering in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. He noted Serbia’s higher-than-average participation of women in science and engineering compared to global standards. “We must keep up with global developments, and this is possible only with a strong domestic engineering workforce,” Vesović stated.
Medeja Lončar, General Director of Siemens for Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia, stressed the importance of closing the “dream gap” for young girls, encouraging them to realize their full potential. She pointed out that stereotypes and a lack of role models are major obstacles.
Ana Petrović, last year’s “Engineer of the Year” and General Director of Global Substation Solutions, emphasized the need for women’s perspectives in engineering to foster creativity and innovative problem-solving. The initiative is also backed by companies like Comtrade, A1, and NLB Komercijalna Banka, recognizing the essential role of engineering in economic development.
Foto: Inženjerka godine/ Zoran Petrović