IPCE Conference Awards

Five prestigious internationally recognized honors are given at the biennial International Pipeline Conference. These awards are very well recognized amongst the Pipeliner community. Individuals who have obtained these honors have demonstrated significant contributions to the pipeline industry.

Each winner is carefully selected by a nomination committee who thoroughly reviews each application. Selection of the winners is a usually a highly competitive process, typically leading to a very challenging decision for the final winner among high caliber candidates. The winners will be honored throughout the conference including an invitation to an exclusive ASME Dinner, a letter and memento. The Distinguished Lecturer has been awarded since 2012, the Lifetime Achievement Honor since 2016 and the Young Pipeline Professional Honor since 2018.

We encourage you to review the honor details below and solicit nominations (even self) for the awards. If you are unsure or would like some guidance, please email Kim Miceli at micelik@asme.org. If you have a name suggestion for a particular award, feel free to send a note to Kim Miceli.

Global Pipeline Award

A project, product, device, system, service, approach or other can receive the award.

The GPA recognizes the pipeline technology innovation process in all phases; from the research laboratory through field applications; from technology incubators to development of markets for new products; from government agencies to private companies; and from individual projects to the consolidation of research and development results.

The PSD intends that the Award: promotes progress and international cooperation in the field of Pipeline Systems engineering; supports achievements in pipeline engineering education; encourages the timely exchange of information among researchers and engineers; promotes technical activities, including conferences, in the field of Pipeline Technology; promotes safety and the public welfare; promotes global environment preservation; and promotes public recognition of the pipeline industry.

GPA Application

GPA Guidelines

To apply for any of the IPCE Awards below please visit: https://airtable.com/appYK1e5bbsgiGmOx/pagkYKtYjuFhPWzcS/form 

Distinguished Lecturer

Objective

To recognize the technical contributions of individuals that have stood the test of time.

Criteria

• A person or group that has demonstrated through their work and actions that the safety and economy of pipeline systems has been advanced. This demonstration could include a combination of long service, mentoring, research, applying research, and/or the development of new technologies or processes.
• The goal of the Distinguished Lecture Series is to present papers published over the past several decades that have provided a foundation for modern pipeline technology.
• Significant weight will be given to how the potential honoree’s work evolved through their own work and also by serving as the foundation for other work.
• This honor will consider published work and presentations, with significant weight given to contributions to the International Pipeline Conference.
• The individual to be honored will be selected from the nominations based on a considered assessment of the merits (relative comparison) of their work and actions.

Nominations

• REFERENCES: Candidates must include two supporting references.

Award and Honors

The successful nominee will receive a letter from the current IPC Chair and Vice Chair that recognizes their contribution to the pipeline industry, and they will also receive a plaque. Honorees may also be profiled in various industry publications.

The honoree is to be invited to the Pipeline Systems Division dinner and recognized at the event.

This honor is to be given officially as part of the ceremonies on Wednesday of the conference.

The honoree has the option to provide a lecture on their work and how it has evolved over time as a special session on Wednesday afternoon of the conference. The honoree’s decision shall be provided to the Organizing Committee for planning purposes as soon as practical.

Previous Awardees

• 2024 – Dr. Tom Bubenik
• 2022 – Dr. Kamal K. Botros
• 2020 – Dr. John Kiefner
• 2018 – Dr. Yong-Yi Wang
• 2016 – David Horsely
• 2014 – Dr. Mo Mohitpour
• 2012 – Bill Maxey

Lifetime Achievement Honor

Objective

The Lifetime Achievement Honor was created to recognize long-time contributors to the pipeline industry. The key criterion is a person or group that has demonstrated through their work and actions that the safety and economy of pipeline systems has been advanced. This demonstration could include a combination of long service, mentoring, industry leadership, or the development of new technologies or processes.

The inspiration for the award was to recognize long-time contributors to the pipeline industry such as the 2016 winner Mr. Henry Yamauchi. Mr. Yamauchi continuously provided mentoring and guidance to young pipeline professionals and peers, and contributed to pipeline standards development and the advancement of pipeline technologies and practices. Henry recently retired at the age of 90 after starting his career in the oil and gas industry in 1947, which included almost 60 years of employment at Westcoast Energy (acquired by Duke Energy, later known as Spectra Energy, and later Enbridge).

Criteria

• A person or group that has demonstrated through their work and actions that the safety and economy of pipeline systems has been advanced. This demonstration could include a combination of long service, mentoring, development of new technologies, or processes.
• This award will consider published work and presentations; however, these will not be the primary consideration in making the award.
• The individual to be honored will be selected from the nominations based on a considered assessment of the merits (relative comparison) of their work and actions.

Nominations

• REFERENCES: Candidates must include two supporting references.

Award and Honors

The successful nominee will receive a letter from the current IPC Chair and Vice Chair that recognizes their contribution to the pipeline industry, and they will also receive a plaque. Honorees may also be profiled in various industry publications.

The honoree is to be invited to the Pipeline Systems Division dinner and recognized at the event.

This honor is to be given officially as part of the closing ceremonies on Friday of the conference.

Previous Awardees

• 2024 – Dr. Joe Zhou
• 2022 – Pat Vieth
• 2020 – John Tiratsoo and Dick Williamson
• 2018 – Phil Hopkins
• 2016 – Henry Yamauchi

Young Pipeline Professional Honor

Objective

This honor recognizes young pipeline professionals who have made a significant contribution to the energy pipeline industry by addressing challenges related to social, safety, integrity, operational excellence, or engineering issues. These future leaders have demonstrated an ability and willingness to influence the future of the energy pipeline industry in the 21st century.

Criteria

• The honor is limited to pipeline professionals who are 35 or under before the first day (Monday) of the conference.
• Must have a minimum of three years of experience in the pipeline industry.
• Student co-op placements and internships are not to be included in the three years.
• PhD-level research specific to pipelines may count toward the three years and may be weighted differently than industry experience.
• Applicants must work at a pipeline company, pipeline-related service provider, regulator, or other pipeline industry organization.
• University professorships may also count, but research and/or lecture topics must be related to pipelines.
• Made a substantial contribution toward the betterment of the pipeline industry (e.g., development or application of a new technology, significant involvement in an industry organization, or leadership of a significant initiative for company improvement).
• Leveraged experience and knowledge to create opportunities for and enhance the development of other young pipeline professionals.
• Led the promotion of the value and trustworthiness of the pipeline industry in a public manner (e.g., innovative technical presentations, other presentations, social media, etc.).
• Demonstrated an ability and willingness toward continuous improvement for themselves, their company, and the industry as a whole.

Nominations / Applications

• REFERENCES: Candidates must include two written references:
• One reference from an existing employer or client (max 500 words) highlighting exceptional leadership abilities and contributions to the industry.
• One peer reference (max 500 words) highlighting current or previous work or volunteer experience.
• PERSONAL STATEMENT: A personal statement (max 500 words) describing career aspirations related to the energy pipeline industry.
• CURRENT RESUME

Award and Honors

The successful nominee will receive a letter from the current IPC Chair and Vice Chair that recognizes their contribution to the pipeline industry, and they will also receive a memento. Honorees may also be profiled in various industry publications.

The honoree is to be invited to the Pipeline Systems Division dinner and recognized at the event.

This honor is to be given officially as part of the closing ceremonies on Friday of the conference.

Previous Honorees

• 2024 – Dr. Jialin Sun
• 2022 – Tyler Tunic
• 2020 – Dr. Kshama Roy
• 2018 – Sarah Vandaiyar

Business Innovation Excellence Honor

Objective

This honor recognizes pipeline professionals who have grown and developed businesses through innovation—translating research into action—and who are responsible, over their lifetime, for helping create the modern 21st-century energy pipeline industry. These individuals have identified and developed research opportunities, transformed research into viable and successful business ventures, and demonstrated that technical research and development can translate into business success.

The inspiration for the award was to recognize long-time contributors to the pipeline industry with a history of both business innovation excellence and strong industry contribution. Dick Williamson received the Lifetime Achievement Honor in 2020, though it was later argued in 2022 that his life’s work with T.D. Williamson aligned more closely with the spirit of the Business Innovation Excellence Honor. A comparison with Daryl Ronsky led to the decision to establish this new award. Both candidates have demonstrated a long history of philanthropic contributions and business innovation excellence within the pipeline industry.

Criteria

• A person or group that has demonstrated through their work and actions that the safety and economy of pipeline systems has been advanced, primarily through a life’s work of developing research opportunities and converting them into successful business ventures.
• A key factor is the consistent demonstration of converting research into outstanding business success.
• Other factors may include long service, mentoring, and development of new technologies or processes.
• Published work and presentations may be considered but will not be the primary basis for the award.
• The individual to be honored will be selected from the nominations based on a considered assessment of the merits (relative comparison) of their work and actions.

Nominations / Applications

• REFERENCES: Candidates must include two supporting references.

Award and Honors

The successful nominee will receive a letter from the current IPC Chair and Vice Chair that recognizes their contribution to the pipeline industry, and they will also receive a memento. Honorees may also be profiled in various industry publications.

The honoree is to be invited to the Pipeline Systems Division dinner and recognized at the event.

This honor is to be given officially as part of the closing ceremonies on Friday of the conference.

Previous Honorees

• 2024 – Shawn Laughlin
• 2022 – Daryl Ronsky