Official Launch Event of IBPSA Women’s Network

We are excited to officially announce the launch of the IBPSA Women’s Network, a global initiative designed to support, connect, and elevate women in the building performance simulation (BPS) community. This marks a significant step forward in promoting equity and representation within IBPSA and across the broader industry. The network’s mission is to foster an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, drives collaboration, and supports the professional development of women working in or entering the BPS field. Our vision is to create lasting structural change that benefits not only women, but the entire simulation community.

To celebrate the establishment of the network, we are hosting a launch event that will introduce the network’s purpose, structure, and opportunities for involvement. The event will open with a warm welcome from a local IBPSA representative, acknowledging the importance of this initiative and those who have contributed to making it possible. Following this, a virtual address by Rob McLeod (IBPSA-World ED&I Committee Chair) and Esther Borkowski (Network Leader) will provide an official introduction to the IBPSA Women’s Network, outlining why it was created, what it aims to achieve, and how it will operate—including leadership, membership, and future activities.

A key highlight of the session will be a panel discussion featuring women professionals in building performance simulation, who will share their experiences, insights, and ideas for fostering a more inclusive industry. Topics will include success stories, challenges faced by women in the field, the value of mentorship and support networks, and how we can all contribute to a more equitable professional environment. The discussion will include both on-site and potentially virtual panelists, followed by an audience Q&A.

Panel Speakers:

• Danielle Monfet is a professor at ÉTS-Montréal and co-director of the Laboratory of Thermal and Building Science (LTSB), currently served as secretary of IBPSA World.
• Veronica Soebarto is a Professor at The University of Adelaide, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, served as an IBPSA At Large Director from 2016 to 2021.
• Grace Foo is the Director of Operation and Global Initiatives of DeltaQ.
• Veronika Richter completed her PhD at RWTH Aachen University, focusing on IFC-based thermal comfort analysis combining building energy performance simulation and computational fluid dynamics.
• Martina Ferrando completed her PhD at Politecnico di Milano. She is currently a research fellow at the Department of Energy and teaches Applied Physics at Politecnico di Milano.
• Parastoo Mohebi is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at HKUST. Her research focuses on the optimal design and control of building energy systems under uncertainties.

Moderator:

• Noni Nuriani is a principal consultant at Kani Quest Pty Ltd, PhD Candidate at UNSW, board member of IBPSA Australasia

We invite all IBPSA members and industry professionals—regardless of gender—to attend this important event and take part in a broader dialogue around diversity, equality, and opportunity in building performance simulation. Your participation will help us shape a more inclusive and forward-looking future for our field.