Industry Profile: Maria Aguirre
Maria Aguirre is a former member of the Valve editorial advisory board.

Maria Aguirre is a former member of the Valve editorial advisory board. She is both a mechanical and environmental engineer. We spoke with her to find out what brought her to the flow control industry, and see what she has in mind for her future.
Maria said she wanted to become a mechanical engineer for as long as she can remember. “I embarked on my journey in the valve industry at a young age, engaging in summer jobs for my father, who owns an engineering and construction company specializing in drinking water systems, and he operates a distribution company for pumps, valves, and automation.”
Political unrest in her home country of Venezuela convinced her to pursue her environmental engineering degree in Canada, focusing on the water pollution and treatments.
After she completed her degree, the political situation in Venezuela had not improved so she chose to permanently reside in Canada. “That was when I began my career in the engineering field and, over the years, transitioned into the valve and automation sector.
Maria is also pursuing a mini-MBA at McGill University in Montreal, a longstanding goal of her. “Work and time constraints had previously led to me postponing this degree, but I wanted to do this to acquire more business strategy skills and be able to expand my networking in the business world.”
Maria was invited to the Valve editorial advisory board nearly three years ago, and cycled off earlier this year. When asked what prompted her to join she says: “I saw this as an opportunity not only to share some of the knowledge I have in the industry but, more importantly, to grow and learn from the long-established members of the board.”
At Cowan, Maria and the team were conducting research and testing to design a hybrid energy, self-sufficient electro-hydraulic actuator for automating valves in remote locations. She wrote an article about this technology that ran in our Spring 2023 issue.
To stay updated on the industry, Maria said: “I actively engage in professional activities, drawing from practical experience, and committing to continuous learning. I make a conscious effort to stay active in developing my professional skills, which certainly contributes to keeping myself as informed as possible about industry and business changes.
We asked Maria what she sees as the industry’s biggest challenge today. “The fast-growing global competition poses challenges in maintaining product competitiveness. While there has been improvement in global supply chain challenges over the past year, dependence on it has proven to be a significant hurdle in recent years. Another substantial challenge, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, is the search for and retention of qualified employees.”
She says she is also excited at the level of effort globally toward curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and she sees significant opportunities to develop zero-emissions valve controllers. “The increasing connectivity and integration of IoT devices in our industries are also creating substantial opportunities for improved efficiency and data-driven decision-making,” she states.
Her advice to those new to the industry is to attend conferences, seminars and industry events to connect with others in the field and stay updated on the latest trends and technologies, and to subscribe to magazines like Valve.
The piece of personal advice that she was given by a friend who owns a very successful company was that perseverance and taking risks are the keys to growth and success, which she said she has found to be increasingly true. “I don’t let myself stay in a comfort zone, because every time we change and move away from our comfort zone is when we learn the most.
We asked Maria what she does in her life away from the office. “I'm currently in the process of becoming a member of a non-profit organization that is actively engaged in volunteer work globally, particularly in projects related to water supply and combating human trafficking.” She also swims to stay in shape, and finds joy in dancing, particularly salsa. She doesn't have kids but has two large dogs and love to travel. As for a secret talent she says cheekily: “I'm not sure if I'd label it a secret talent, but aside from my impressive salsa dancing skills I've been told I have a knack for building furniture, whether it's from IKEA or other manufacturers. I find this quite relaxing as well.”