Engineer Woman Award 2026 - HANNOVER MESSE (currently running until April 24, 2026)
Event at HANNOVER MESSE: The Engineer Woman Award 2026 goes to aerospace engineer Annemarie Lohse
The award ceremony took place on April 23, 2026, as part of the FEMWORX career congress at HANNOVER MESSE (DEUTSCH)
HANOVER. The capital of Lower Saxony is currently hosting the world's leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry. At the Hannover Messe trade fair today, the Engineer Woman Award 2026 was presented to aerospace engineer Annemarie Lohse. The award recipient is Annemarie Lohse, Major Spacecraft Delivery Lead, responsible for key subsystems of the European Service Module (ESM) for NASA's Orion spacecraft. The ESM (External Space Management System) is a crucial element for future crewed lunar missions, responsible for supplying the crew with oxygen and water, regulating temperature, and providing structural and energy-related functions for the spacecraft. In her role, Annemarie Lohse bears end-to-end responsibility for the Thermal Control, Consumables Storage, and Structural components. This means she is responsible for key components of the life support systems for four astronauts under the extreme conditions of space. Simultaneously, she manages complex interfaces within an international project environment and coordinates collaboration between industry partners and space agencies such as NASA and ESA.
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| Zeppelin der Süddeutschen Zeitung - Pressefotoarchiv: Helga Waess |
“Annemarie Lohse combines technical depth with the ability to implement highly complex systems safely and reliably in an international environment,” says Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG. “She is a prime example of experienced female engineers whose work significantly shapes the technological development of their industry.”
The laudatory speech was given by Dr. Kathrin Rüschenschmidt, Director Projects and Services DACH | Control Systems & Software at Emerson.
Annemarie Lohse holds a Master's degree in Space Systems and previously worked on the Ariane 6 program, among other projects.
Her professional focus is on RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety), enabling her to meet the highest safety requirements in human spaceflight.
Her career path from reliability expert to technical responsibility for key subsystems of a manned spacecraft underscores her exceptional breadth and depth of expertise.
In addition to her technical role, she also assumes leadership responsibilities in multinational teams and is committed to fostering an open communication culture. It specifically promotes the exchange between operational units and management, thereby contributing to the stability and efficiency of complex project structures.
The sponsors of FEMWORX 2026 are (in alphabetical order):
- Amprion GmbH,
- Clarios Germany,
- Dirk Rossmann GmbH,
- Finanz Informatik GmbH & Co. KG,
- NTT DATA Business Solutions AG,
- PowerCo SE,
- and SalesForce GmbH.
About the Engineer Woman Award
FEMWORX at HANNOVER MESSE puts women from across the STEM spectrum in the spotlight – from emerging talents to experienced leaders.
The Engineer Woman Award is an integral part of this career congress and is specifically aimed at women under 30 who have already distinguished themselves early on through exceptional achievements and innovative projects.
In addition, the Engineer Woman Award recognizes experienced women in STEM professions who significantly shape the technological development of their industry with their expertise. Together, the awards highlight outstanding achievements and strengthen the role of women as drivers of technological innovation.
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| Rathaus Hannover - die Kuppel ist mit dem Fahrstuhl erreichbar, Foto: H. Waess (Archiv) |
About FEMWORX: The FEMWORX career congress will take place on April 23 and 24, 2026, as part of HANNOVER MESSE.
Under the motto "Grow Together. Rise Higher," the platform brings together women throughout their careers – from entry-level positions to leadership roles. Participants can expect a combination of expert insights, practical training, and numerous opportunities for exchange and networking. FEMWORX is thus the leading platform for visibility, guidance, and empowerment of women in industry.
About HANNOVER MESSE
Hanover City Hall - the dome is accessible by elevator, Photo: H. Waess (Archive)Currently featured in the Arts & Culture Blog:
FEMWORX at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds:
Female engineers and industry experts meet with 12th-grade students and provide information about STEM careers – for informed study and career choices in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology. = Ingenieurinnen und Expertinnen aus der Praxis treffen Schülerinnen der 12. Klasse und informieren über MINT-Berufe - für eine bewusste Studien- und Berufsentscheidungen in Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik
HANNOVER MESSE - April 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(ENGLISH, PORTUGUÊS, FRANÇAIS, DEUTSCH)
HANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry.
Around 3,000 exhibiting companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries, and energy sectors present solutions for a competitive and sustainable industry. The main exhibition areas are Automation & Digitalization, Energy & Industrial Infrastructure, and Research & Technology Transfer. Artificial intelligence is a recurring theme throughout all exhibition areas. A diverse conference program complements the exhibition.
HANNOVER MESSE - last day:
- April 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
