The Director of Information and Communication Technology Services, Mrs Miriam Chahuruva has been awarded the OUTSTANDING THOUGHT LEADER OF THE YEAR, PLATINUM AWARD, while Chairperson of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Eng. Rujeko Masike has also been awarded the OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE YEAR at the 2019 MEGAFEST WOMEN’S AWARDS, held on 26 July at the Cresta Lodge Msasa Hotel in Harare.
Held under the theme, “Think Fast, Think Smart, Think Disruptive, the awards are a celebration of womens’ excellence and advancement in Zimbabwe’s private and public sector.
The Guest of Honour at the event was entrepreneur and multiple award winner, Dr Smelly Dude.
Mrs Chahuruva was selected after demonstrating business excellence and the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, civic and social responsibility. She is an Information Technology Executive and Director, with more than 20 years’ experience in the higher and tertiary education and health insurance sectors. She is also an effective leader with demonstrated leadership qualities and expertise to manage strategic and visionary functions within organisations to create productive teams and support organizational growth objectives. Her specific areas of expertise include strategic planning, financial acumen, IT risk management, creative development, corporate governance, operations review, policy formulation and review.
Mrs Chahuruva leads a team that is customer focused, whose service delivery is underpinned by continuous improvement and seeks effective and efficient support services to enable smooth functioning of ICT’s for the institution. She holds Bachelors and Master of Science Degrees in Computer Science from the National University of Science and Technology, (NUST). She is passionate about STEM subjects and the education of girls in technical subjects. Mrs Chahuruva serves on various boards, including the Premier Services Medical Investments, (PSMI); is the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Universities ICT Directors Association; National Council member of the Computer Society of Zimbabwe, and is affiliated to the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe and the Association for Computing Machinery.
Eng. Rujeko Masike is a doctoral fellow in Robotics (Amity University India), and holds an M.Eng and B.Eng degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, both from the National University of Science and Technology, (NUST). She is a dedicated and results-driven engineer and researcher who pushes the boundaries of engineering and innovation to give real life solutions to local and international problems through research and design methods.
Eng. Masike is a member of the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers and Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ZIE/ECZ), as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. She is also a Council Member of the SHEQ Technical Sub Committee for the Standards Association of Zimbabwe.
In the furtherance of her work in research and innovation, Eng. Masike has been awarded grants and fellowships by international organisations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering UK.
Eng. Masike has published papers in the area of mechanical and automobile engineering, sustainable energy, and safety and health in the workplace.
She is currently pursuing studies and research in Robotics with emphasis on Industrial Automation. Eng. Masike has experience in the Manufacturing Industry and is working towards inspiring, motivating and training of Women in Engineering.
