Simay Akar is an entrepreneur with reputable corporate industrial background and experience in the energy industry. She specialized in photovoltaic manufacturing, battery storage for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, and the clean energy market development.
Akar is currently the Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder at Innoses.
Her past roles include Sales & Marketing Director of EkoRE – Eko Renewable Energy and Head of Overseas Marketing at Talesun Solar
Akar has worked in China and Turkey and mostly focused on international commercial activities and has been employed by CSUN Eurasia, Schneider Electric, Arcelik (BEKO), and Lucida Solar.
In addition to her professional acclimates, she is an IEEE Senior member, an acknowledged volunteer since 2007. Simay is a graduate of Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey and she participated Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Program at Stanford University.
Simay is Certified Soft Skills Trainer since 2008. Additionally, She is METU Alumni Association Energy Commission Member, Turkish Women in Renewables North America Liaison & Sailing Team Member, and KYSKD (Female Sailors Sports Club Association) member. She is a Licensed Sailor Athlete at the Turkish Sailing Federation and also Swimmer. She participates in open seas swimming races, marathons, and sailing cups across the world.
IEEE has important role in her life.
She is also IEEE VOLT Graduate, IEEE Educational Activities TISP Champion, She has been serving several volunteer membership and leadership positions in different areas including mainly global committees of IEEE Humanitarian Technology Activities ( IEEE SIGHT -Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology and HAC), IEEE Power& Energy Society (Women in Power, Young Professionals, Solar and Wind Committee), IEEE Women in Engineering, IEEE Young Professionals, IEEE Social Implications of Technology Society (SSIT), IEEE Student Activities, IEEE Entrepreneurship Committee and other positions on Regional Boards of IEEE Region 8 (Europe Middle East and Africa) &10 (Asia Pacific).
She received several awards from IEEE and other corporations including:
•EMobility+ 40 under 40 2023, Winner
•WINE (Women in New Energy) Entrepreneur of The Year 2022 Award
•GCPIT Global Women in Leadership Awards Winner 2022
•IEEE MGA Diversity & Inclusion Award 2022
•IEEE PES Robert P. Noberini Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Professionalism Award 2022
•IEEE Region 8 Women in Engineering Section Affinity Group of the Year Award 2021
•IEEE WIE Inspiring Member of The Year 2020 (Honorable Mention)
•IEEE Young Professionals Hall of the Fame Award 2018 (PES YP Team)
•IEEE MGA Young Professionals Achievement Award 2017
•IEEE MGA Achievement Award 2014 (as IEEE Day Team Lead)
•IEEE Day Leadership Award 2013
•CSUN Outstanding Staff Award 2014