Sara Ortiz Astiz, Financial and Strategy Director of CIC energiGUNE, the Basque research center of reference in electrochemical energy storage, thermal energy storage and conversion and hydrogen technologies, has been awarded the "Female Talent Award", granted by the Association of Professional and Business Women of Alava (AMPEA), in the category of "Executive". Established in 2000, the aim of these awards is to recognize the talent and professional excellence of women leaders in Alava, who are leaders in their careers, strategic vision, capacity for innovation and transformational leadership.
"Sara´s work at CIC energiGUNE has been fundamental since the start-up of the center, contributing to all the successes we have achieved in recent years, both in scientific and industrial terms. In addition, she has been a key figure in materializing our commitment to equal opportunities and conciliation among all members of our team," said Nuria Gisbert, CEO of CIC energiGUNE. "It is, without any doubt, a very well-deserved award; Sara is a reference for the entire organization," she said.
The "Executive" category, in which Sara Ortiz has been recognized, specifically rewards leadership capacity, the achievement of objectives and creativity in business management, as well as the development of good practices in management, with special emphasis on the promotion of equal opportunities and professional and personal conciliation. It is also intended as a public recognition of their career and professional trajectory, which combines factors of effort and professional involvement with high levels of management knowledge to generate resources, achievements and benefits.
Currently, and since 2016, Sara Ortiz Astiz is the Economic-Financial and Strategy Director of CIC energiGUNE. She joined the center in 2010 as Deputy to the Corporate Development Management, collaborating in the start-up phase of the center.
Within her responsibilities, Sara Ortiz has played a very important role in the process of development, expansion and consolidation of CIC energiGUNE since its inception, being a key player in achieving the recognition that the center currently has in terms of scientific excellence and cutting-edge and sustainable infrastructures and equipment.
All this has enabled the organization to obtain recognition such as the HRS4R certificate of research excellence awarded by the European Commission, as well as being named by the prestigious SCIMAGO ranking as the most important Research Foundation at European and Latin American level in any branch of knowledge. Hence, the award values the firm commitment to innovation and sustainability carried out by Sara Ortiz to achieve these achievements.
In addition, her role has also been highlighted in the development of the current ecosystem of companies generated from the scientific activity of CIC energiGUNE. Thus, she has been the promoter and leader of the launching and start-up processes of the two spin-offs of the center: Bcare in 2018 and Basquevolt in the past 2022. In both Sara Ortiz maintains a relevant role today, being part of the Board of Directors of Bcare as well as advisor to the Board of Directors of Basquevolt. The award granted by AMPEA has also recognized her work, highlighting her contribution to the social and economic wealth of Alava through the generation of an ecosystem of high value and impact for the territory.
Finally, the award has also highlighted her commitment to promoting equal opportunities and the reconciliation of personal and professional life, being part of the equality and inclusion and ethics committees of CIC energiGUNE. Likewise, her ability to adapt to all kinds of situations has also been recognized, as well as her commitment to the continuous updating of her knowledge.
This is the third time that CIC energiGUNE has received a "Female Talent Award" from AMPEA. In 2019, the director of the center, Nuria Gisbert, and in 2021, the scientific director in the Thermal Energy Storage Area, Elena Palomo, received the award in the "Women and Science" category.
