IET Paul Fletcher Award Winner 2021
IET Paul Fletcher Award Winner 2021 - Eng.(Mrs) Thilini Wasundara
The IET Achievement Medals recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of science, engineering, or technology and have significantly contributed to the IET. The awards are categorized into early career, established career, or volunteer roles, with specific awards such as the IET Volunteer Medal and the Paul Fletcher Medal. The Paul Fletcher Medal is awarded to an early career IET volunteer for outstanding achievement in contributing to the IET. Eng. Thilini Wasundara was honored with this medal in 2021 for her remarkable volunteer contributions to the IET.
Academic and Professional Background
Thilini graduated in 2018 from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. The following year, she joined Minel Lanka Pvt Ltd as an Electrical Engineer and currently serves as the Business Development Manager.
Involvement with the IET
Thilini's journey with the IET began in 2015 when she attended an undergraduate session organized by IET On Campus at her university. She joined the IET shortly after as a student member and quickly developed a passion for volunteering.
In 2016, inspired by her involvement as an IET On Campus student member, Thilini took on the role of Vice Chair. She became her university’s IET On Campus Chair in 2017.
Young Professionals Section
After graduating, Thilini joined the Young Professionals (YP) section of the IET Sri Lanka Local Network. Her active undergraduate involvement helped her make an immediate impact, leading to her appointment as Assistant Secretary in 2019. Thilini supported the YP team in organizing numerous IET events, including the annual YP Technical Conference and the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards, which she co-chaired. Her contributions earned her recognition as the IET YP Sri Lanka Outstanding Executive Committee Member of the Year.
In 2020, Thilini became Honorary Secretary, excelling in maintaining records and organizing online webinars during the pandemic. She also served as an IET YP Ambassador and joined the IET Volunteer Communications Working Party, an experience she found enriching for her professional development.
Leadership and Achievements
In 2021, Thilini was appointed Sri Lanka’s YP Chair, a role she considers a significant achievement. Despite increased demands, she maintained her local On-Campus links and guided the undergraduate organizers of a successful inter-university virtual hackathon during Covid. She also aimed to establish On-Campus groups at two more Sri Lankan universities.
Thilini chaired Sri Lanka’s 2021 IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards programme, overcoming the challenge of conducting all activities online due to Covid. Her dedication and teamwork led to her and her team's recognition with the 2021 IET Volunteer Core Values Award for Teamwork.
Notable Initiatives
Thilini helped organize the IET@150 celebratory event, a sustainability-themed competition called ‘150 & Beyond’, focusing on innovative solutions for waste management in Sri Lanka. The event, funded by the IET@150 Global Engagement Fund, attracted significant interest from YPs worldwide, generating 20 waste-management ideas.
As Sri Lanka’s YP Chair, Thilini also represents South Asia on the IET YP Committee. She embodies the IET's core values of Integrity, Excellence, and Teamwork.
Personal Reflection and Future Goals
Thilini loves networking with fellow IET volunteers and staff members globally. Balancing her volunteer activities with her professional commitments is challenging, but she receives strong support from her employer, colleagues, and YP team members. Always seeking new challenges, Thilini has recently taken on two additional volunteer roles.
Winning the 2021 IET Paul Fletcher Award was an enormous and delightful surprise for Thilini, reflecting her unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions to the IET community.
Reference -
IET UK Article
https://www.theiet.org/involved/volunteering-for-the-iet/meet-our-volunteers/thilini-wasundara
These awards always encourage volunteers to contribute differently to make changes. Further it shapes the career and personal growth of the individual. This is how 2021 winner shared her experience about the medal https://www.theiet.org/impact-society/awards-prizes-and-scholarships/achievement-awards/achievement-medals/case-studies-where-are-they-now
List of past year winners - https://www.theiet.org/media/10771/winners-of-the-iet-early-career-medal.pdf
