In 2008, IBM Master Inventor Irene Hernandez Roberts was honored with the Technologist of the Year award.

During her trailblazing career, she earned over fifty IBM software patents before retiring as a program director for the Software Group, with a focus on Independent Software Vendors and Developer Relations.

In that position, she led a global team of 150 information technology (IT) architects and specialists working across 40 IBM Innovation Centers.

The IT team collaborated closely with vendors to help them integrate IBM products and technologies into their business solutions.

Hernandez Roberts traveled to Turkey, India, China, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico to influence the local community on innovative market planning, programs, processes, and tooling.

She was also responsible for IBM’s Virtual Innovation Center—the entry point for technical resources that help partners develop and enable applications.

Hernandez Roberts provided mentoring within IBM and mentored high school students through the company's Cascade Mentoring program.

She also integrated the IBM Academic Initiative program through the Computing Alliance for Hispanic Serving Institutions and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

Hernandez Roberts is a member of the advisory committee for Latinas in Computing and a lifetime member of the Society of Professional Engineers (SHPE). She received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1981.