edfas.org ELECTRONIC DEVICE FAILURE ANALYSIS | VOLUME 28 NO. 1 36 With welcoming applause, the panelists stepped onto the stage. Questions for the panelists were hidden behind a Jeopardy-style grid of categories. The categories reflected the trailblazing theme of the session with titles like “Defining Moment” and “Skills for Success.” Audience members participated by first drawing a panelist’s name from a fishbowl, then selecting a category for that person to answer. This gave the participants a chance to get more insight from someone they already knew or discover a fresh perspective from a panelist they hadn’t met before. Audience participation made the event deeply personal, reinforcing WEFA’s mission: community, visibility, and advocacy. The panel celebrated the diverse journeys of women in FA, from Ingrid De Wolf’s academic path bridging KU Leuven and IMEC to Rose Ring’s shift from litigation to advanced microscopy. Each panelist’s story underscored that there is no single entry point into FA, and that curiosity and persistence often lead to unexpected opportunities. Beyond technical achievements, the conversation focused on overcoming barriers and leading with impact. Lesly Endrinal and Moyal shared experiences pushing boundaries and driving innovation, while Li and Cecile Bonifacio reflected on mentors who opened doors for them and the importance of paying it forward. Valerie Brogden highlighted collaboration and inclusive leadership as essential when guiding technical teams. The panelists emphasized that collaboration is just as essential as technical skill. They also stressed their commitment to uplifting everyone in FA, not just women but the broader community alike. The session concluded with a gift from Renee Parente to each panelist and planner, a waxed amaryllis bulb, which thrives entirely on its own and needs no soil or water to blossom. Symbolizing inner strength, resilience, and the courage to grow in new directions, the amaryllis was a fitting representation of the trailblazing panelists who continue to shape the field. The same sentiment was passed to all attendees, as they left feeling inspired and included in the WEFA community. NOTEWORTHY NEWS IPFA 2026 The 33rd International Symposium on the Physical and Failure Analysis of Integrated Circuits (IPFA) will be held July 13-16 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The event will focus on cutting-edge research in failure analysis, reliability, and specialized technology within integrated circuits. Topics include advanced fault isolation techniques, physical and package-level failure analysis, transistor reliability, ESD and latch-up mechanisms, and the integration of AI for failure detection and reliability assessments. The symposium is technically sponsored by the IEEE Electron Devices Society. For more information, visit the IPFA website at ipfaieee.org/2026.
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