Dr. Ria Liza C. Canlas

Dr. Ria Liza C. Canlas talked about the career path of women as Civil Engineers and Technopreneurs.

Biography:

Dr. Ria Liza C. Canlas, by profession is a Registered Civil Engineer, Accredited Materials Engineer 1 and Certified Patent Agent.  She obtained her degrees in Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology, Master of Engineering Management major in Construction Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and Doctor of Technology at the Technological University of the Philippines. Also graduated with a Graduate Diploma Course on Innovation and Creative Entrepreneurship (ICE) at Thames International.

Dr. Ria is an award-winning scientist-inventor-engineer-academician-patent professional-entrepreneur-science communicator tagged as the Feminine Genius ASEAN Designer and Woman in Science. Her 30 years of experience has paved the way to be considered as one of the country’s faces of innovation and brave tech-startup founders.

She was awarded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with a prestigious grant to conduct data-driven research on mapping of emerging industries for Philippine R&D competitiveness in relation to our ASEAN neighbors. Her project led to R&D cooperation among the top universities in ASEAN.  The said project led in the creation of the ASEANA system, aimed to produce integrated data that can predict emerging industry landscapes utilizing big data, and artificial intelligence (AI). With about 2million current data, the system is accessible to anyone conducting research for literature and business review.  

In civil engineering and material science, she is a lead advocate for green construction through design innovation. Despite its highly technical nature, she makes sure to engage the community in reaching the goal of creating disruptive solutions to address the housing gap and promote green product manufacturing. Her guiding motto for this endeavor is: “every Filipino deserves dignity by providing them with decent homes.”

Dr. Ria is CEO/Founder- Inventor of Po Lite Technology Inc. that commercializes “Po-Lite”, a sterling example of how scientific research guided by design thinking principles and combined with the art can create useful materials in the human settlement sector. Her product, which was seeded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been lauded as a socially impactful as it utilizes indigenous raw materials. Her inventions made her win national awards such as the Gold and Gran Prix "Malasakit" Awardee of the Good Design Award 2019 given by the Design Center Philippines (DCP) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Grand Winner in the Professional Category of the Alfredo M. Yao Intellectual Property Award (AMY IP AWARD) 2020 by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Second Place for the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) in the National Capital Region under the Likha Award 2021 for Outstanding Government-Funded Creative Research given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DOST-NCR; and Top 500 Promising Global Technologies by Slingshot Singapore.

Also, Most Outstanding Alumni in the field of Research and Development conferred by the Mapua CE-EnSE Alumni Association in 2017; Outstanding Values Award (NU Oval Award) in National University CORE Value of INNOVATION 2021; and received the San Pedro Calungsod Alumni Service Award in Engineering Practice, from the Espiritu Santo Parochial School Manila in 2022.

Her products will be introduced in the international market, being a Co-Founder of AI CORE, a Silicon Valley based tech start-up leveraging on AI, blockchain technology and construction technology for a greener and cleaner future.

She has mentored several professionals and students. In the University, she came up with various programs to hasten the idea-to-market process. She values the role of commercialization of patents and inventions, engagement and support of the startup communities, and protection of Filipino intellectual property to help our economy. Dr. Canlas believes in enhancing and furthering the concept of Filipinovation and the “Science for Change” by uniting various sectors: academia – government – civil society – industry – media. She has the heart of service for the scientific community, the higher education sector, the marginalized communities, and more importantly, the environment.

She is member of various professional and civic groups to such as: Founder of the Southeast Asia Emerging Industries Consortium; Founder-President of Finite Element Institute of the Philippines (FEIP); Vice President of the Researchers, Inventors, Scientists & Engineers of the Philippines (RISE); National Auditor of Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW). She is member of Association of PAQE (Patent) Professionals (APP); Lifetime Member of Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE); Member of the American Concrete Institute Philippines (ACIP); International member of the Project Management Institute (PMI); Member of the Filipino Inventors Federation (FILINFED); Member of the Rotary Club Manila Premier (RCMP); and, Board of Director of the Mapua CE-ENSE Alumni Association.

She is the Director of the Center for Innovation of National University – Philippines. Also the Intellectual Property Expert of a multi-national firm, Spruson and Ferguson (Asia) Ltd.

And now appointed by the President of the Philippines as Executive Member of the National Innovation Council (NIC) Representative of the Scientific Community. She took Oath to the Office of Hon. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. last June 30, 2023.   Dr. Canlas joined the NIC that is chaired by the President of the Philippines, Vice Chaired by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), with 16 Cabinet Officials and 7 Executive Members, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11293 otherwise known as the “Philippine Innovation Act.”

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Dr. May Rose Imperial

Dr. May Rose Imperial talked about the career path of women as Electronics Engineers and Academician. She also highlighted her engagement in the Philippine Technological Council.

Biography:

Dr. May Rose C. Imperial, a distinguished Professional Electronics Engineer with esteemed accreditations including ASEAN Engineer, ACPE, and Honorary Fellow of AFEO, is an accomplished leader in the field of engineering. With a wealth of experience gained through her tenure as Chairperson of the Engineering Accreditation Commission and Women Engineers Network and at the Philippine Technological Council, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing engineering standards and promoting gender equality in the profession. Currently affiliated with D.E.L.F.T. Training and Consultancy, Dr. Imperial continues to inspire and empower future generations of engineers through her expertise and leadership.

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Dr. Jocelyn Villaverde

Dr. Jocelyn Villaverde talked about the career path of women as Computer Engineers and Academician. She also highlighted her research expertise and experiences.

Biography:

Dr. Jocelyn Villaverde is a distinguished academician and researcher, serving as a Professor at Mapua University within the esteemed School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering. With a profound expertise in Engineering, she earned her PhD from Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan, solidifying her standing as a scholar of international repute.

Dr. Villaverde's contributions extend beyond the classroom, as evidenced by her pivotal roles within the IEEE community. She serves as the Chair of IEEE Consumer Technology Society (CTSoC) Philippine Section, spearheading initiatives to advance the field of on a national scale. Additionally, she holds the position of Treasurer within the IEEE Philippine Section, demonstrating her commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within the professional community.

Her research endeavors have significantly enriched the academic landscape, with a notable H-index of 13 and over 100 papers indexed in Scopus. Dr. Villaverde's scholarly pursuits span a wide array of disciplines, with a primary focus on Digital IC Design, Machine Learning, and Embedded Systems. Through her pioneering work, she continues to push the boundaries of knowledge and pave the way for transformative advancements in technology.

Dr. Villaverde's dedication to academic excellence, coupled with her visionary leadership in professional organizations, exemplifies her profound impact on the fields of engineering and technology. Her unwavering commitment to innovation and scholarship serves as an inspiration to colleagues and students alike, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in the realm of computer engineering.

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