Jamuna Saiganesh, IEA SIS SME (Instrument/Electrical/Analytical Safety Instrumented Systems Subject Matter Expert) at Dow Chemicals India Private Ltd.

With over 35 years of experience in instrumentation across diverse industries like power plants, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals, what inspired you to specialise in Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS)?

Safety is the top priority in any project or task. Based on my extensive experience in the chemical, petrochemical, and power sectors, I firmly believe that a project is deemed a failure if safety is compromised, regardless of whether it is completed within time and budget constraints.

As an SME (Subject Matter Expert) at Dow Chemicals, what principles guide your approach to mentoring and sharing knowledge with your peers and trainees?

Innovation occurs only when knowledge is shared, and ideas are exchanged. Coaching and mentoring offer mutual benefits for both the mentor and the student, with each session enhancing knowledge and perspective.

Your role as a certified instructor for SIS-related courses has contributed significantly to knowledge dissemination. Could you share a memorable experience from one of your training sessions?

Certain classroom courses require instructors to monitor participants' work during training. During the Covid-19 pandemic, this became impossible, leading to a high demand for training to ensure work continued uninterrupted.

Our team quickly adapted the training material for virtual delivery, incorporating remote participant engagement. Initially, facilitating the first remote class was challenging, as it was difficult to elicit responses from students, often feeling like speaking to empty rooms. Gradually, we mastered the art of engaging remote students by continuously encouraging them to participate actively. This adaptation significantly benefited the organisation by ensuring timely completion of work.

As a result of the pandemic, we now have two sets of training materials: one for classroom delivery and another for virtual delivery.

You’ve been part of the Global Automated Valves team. What challenges have you faced in implementing advanced automation in global projects, and how have you overcome them?

The selection of control valves is crucial for optimising a plant's operation and performance. To assist instrument engineers in selecting the appropriate control valves for their projects, we offer several support methods:

• Regular training and coaching
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) review of control valve selections
• Addressing queries and concerns of the instrument team during project design and detailed engineering, and
• Assisting plants in addressing performance and reliability issues related to automated valves.

Having expertise in engineering for critical industries like oil and gas and refining, which project or innovation are you most proud of, and why?

Every industry has its unique specifics, which makes engineering exciting. Building a plant that meets its unique needs and requirements makes each project fascinating. Working with cross-cultural teams globally has been one of my most cherished experiences, allowing me to collaborate with some of the best professionals.

As a mentor, you’ve influenced countless professionals. What strategies do you use to ensure that your knowledge transfer is impactful and lasting?

Passion for training and mentoring, coupled with clear and straightforward communication, is essential to make complex topics accessible to all participants. Trainers should encourage classroom engagement and active discussions, addressing topics comprehensively to benefit the entire class.

With such a long and distinguished career in engineering, what is your vision for the future of safety systems in industrial automation?

Safety has always been and will continue to be the top priority in any industry. The future of safety systems in industrial automation will be more challenging as intelligent devices and control systems become more open. With advancements in AI on the industry platform, we must maintain a steady focus and commit to continuous learning to enhance our safety systems and address the ever-increasing challenges.

What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to build a career in instrumentation and control systems?

Focus on the fundamentals. Learning occurs in microsteps as you work on various projects, with occasional leaps. So hold on tight!

And ‘Keep it simple!’ should be the guiding principle of safety systems for effective protection.

What is your opinion on the role of Industrial Automation magazine in showcasing industry trends and empowering women in technology and automation?

This magazine has been extraordinary in capturing the recent and expanding horizons of the industry and automation segments. Led by fascinating individuals, it unites the industry and experts through its publication and the annual Automation Expo held in multiple cities. Additionally, it serves as a branding and networking platform for women in the industry, and the efforts in this direction are commendable. I appreciate the invaluable service this organisation provides to our instrumentation fraternity.

What are the three words that best describe how it feels to be a finalist in the Women in Tech 2025 competition?

Most rewarding moment!

Jamuna Saiganesh has more than 35 years of experience in various sectors such as Chemical, Petrochemical, Power, Pharmaceutical and Oil & Gas in Instrument Design and Detailed Engineering. During the last 10 years in Functional Safety as an Instrument SIS SME. She is also a member of the global Automated Valves Technical Support team at Dow.