The DEWIS Award once again received a wide range of inspiring applications from across the university. Nominees came from seven faculties, as well as the HR, Communication and ESA services. They represented a variety of roles and positions, including lecturers and professional staff. Their initiatives demonstrated robust leadership and collaboration in promoting inclusion, gender equality and social safety in academic and professional settings.
The DEWIS Award recognises TU Delft staff members who go above and beyond to strengthen diversity, equity, inclusion and social safety. This year’s winners, Parisa Ghanoni Bostanabad and Jovana Jovanova, have shown that personal dedication can result in significant and enduring change, both in day-to-day interactions and at an institutional level.
Parisa Ghanoni Bostanabad - DEWIS Early Career Employee Award
Parisa Ghanoni Bostanabad is a PhD candidate in the Flow Physics and Technology Department at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. Despite being at an early stage in her career, Parisa has demonstrated exceptional leadership in promoting inclusion, social safety and community.
Over the past two years, she has initiated numerous activities to support women and other underrepresented colleagues. She created safe, informal spaces where colleagues could share experiences and build connections, such as coffee and lunch gatherings. She also offered practical support to new colleagues, helping them to settle in and providing emotional support.
Parisa raised awareness of the challenges faced by minority groups by engaging in conversations with senior staff and providing valuable insights that supported broader cultural change within the department. She also developed her own diversity and inclusion skills by participating in DEWIS social safety events and workshops, applying these insights directly to her daily work.
As someone who identifies with multiple minority groups, Parisa addressed diversity across gender, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Her initiatives, which ranged from cultural presentations and shared dinners to inclusive social and sporting activities, helped to create a welcoming and connected atmosphere. Thanks to her empathy, perseverance and practical actions, Parisa has become a powerful role model within the university community.
Jovana Jovanova - DEWIS Advanced Career Employee Award
Jovana Jovanova is an Associate Professor in the Maritime and Transport Technology Department at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. She is widely recognised for her sustained and impactful efforts to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and social safety, often through work that takes place behind the scenes but has a significant impact.
At organisational level, Jovana serves as the department’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Ambassador and is actively involved in several faculty-wide initiatives within Mechanical Engineering. As a member of the Coalition of the Willing, she contributes to raising awareness, sharing best practices and driving concrete actions towards creating a more inclusive academic environment. Jovana also co-chairs the department’s social safety working group, helping to identify challenges and develop actionable improvement plans.
Jovana is known within her department for her careful and effective approach to addressing social safety and inclusion issues, which she achieves by working with students, colleagues, management and HR. While much of this work must necessarily remain confidential, it has resulted in tangible outcomes, including changes to institutional practices relating to gender diversity, enhanced support for PhD candidates, and the creation of peer networks and safe spaces for open dialogue.
Jovana-s commitment to long-term systemic change, her willingness to challenge entrenched systems and her belief that diversity of thought is essential for excellent research make her a driving force for positive change at TU Delft.
Impact
Parisa Ghanoni Bostanabad and Jovana Jovanova demonstrate that inclusion is achieved through everyday acts of care, as well as sustained efforts to change systems. Their work strengthens TU Delft as a place where people feel seen, supported and empowered to thrive. The 2025 DEWIS Award proudly celebrates their achievements and the example they set for the wider university community.
