Born: 1938, Philippines (assumed)
Died: Unknown
Country most active: Philippines
Also known as: NA
The following was written by Nina Baker and is excerpted from the book From Alchemy to Transport Phenomena: A Global History of Women in Chemical Engineering.
Zenaida Gonzales Gordon (1938-) gained her BSc Chemical Engineering, University Santo Tomas, Manila, in 1959, and MSc Chemical Engineering, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 1961. Her first job was as an assistant production manager for Inhelder Laboratories, Manila. In 1962 she became senior chemical engineer at the vast San Miguel Corporation, and rose to become its president in 1980, in 1983 moving to become president of various companies (Fantastic Garments Philippines, Marque Mills Manufacturing Company, Rustan Marketing Corporation) and from 1990 President of her own Gordon Enterprises. From 1985 she also took on some public roles (Development Authority, INdustry Development Council, Networking committee Department Trade Industry, Customs-Industry Consultative Council etc). She represented her nation’s female engineers at the 2nd ICWES conference in 1967 and was later active in various Philippine women’s organisations usually at the vice-chair or chair level. Her own, sometimes failed, attempts to set up manufacturing companies led her to insights into what worked or did not and she was often a speaker at the global level on development for women entrepreneurs.