Chairman’s Award

This award is not given lightly nor is it presented every year each and every year.  It is intended to recognize leaders whose ardent belief in diversity and inclusion and their positive impact on society are measured not at a local or corporate level, but globally and across society.

In his role as Vice President of Employee Relations and Diversity & Inclusion across Human Resources, Mr. Fred Whipple leads workforce development for Shell in the us.  He is responsible for Shell overall employee relations and diversity efforts including the supplier diversity and equal employment opportunity functions and volunteer programs.   In addition, Fred has oversight of the Company’s support to education and stem programs.

Great minds in STEM first met Fred in 2016, during our GMiS conference.  He spoke concisely yet strongly that he was committed to supporting our mission.  It was also clear that he had chosen staff members who shared the same passion and were devoted to his vision. 

In 2017, he sponsored GMiS to conduct the “science of sports”  during Super Bowl week in Houston.  Several hundred elementary school kids descended on Texas southern university to learn the science of a 3-point field goal and how the game can be captured in slow motion.  Fred’s leadership and vision inspired every child that day to think about what stem means.

In 2019, he brought  3-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Helio Castroneves and his Formula 1 race car to the GMiS conference in Orlando.  Helio described to the students how science, technology, math and engineering come together to make his car safely hit speeds of more than 200 mph.  He answered all of the questions and he stayed until the last person received his treasured autograph.  To me, that was indicative of the commitment that Helio and Fred demonstrate to support the mission we all believe in.  It is indicative of the impact that Fred is having at Shell Oil Company and it is a glimpse at how he makes our world a better place. 

Fred has been involved with diversity and inclusion since the mid-90’s and he led the equal employment opportunity function for Shell.  He has served on the boards of the national minority supplier diversity council, the southern methodist university cox school of business latino leadership initiative, the equal employment advisory council and the Independent Petroleum Association of America’s education advisory board. 

This man is a mover and shaker.   He is a champion of diversity and opportunity and Great Minds in STEMis honored to be associated with Fred and the Shell Oil Company.