NAATBatt International has announced the recipients of its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Awards, recognising three leading figures whose work has significantly advanced battery technology across industry, academia and public service.
The 2026 honourees are Dr Zhengming (John) Zhang, Dr Anna Stefanopoulou, and Dr Halle Cheeseman.
- Dr Zhengming (John) Zhang, of Celgard/Polypore (Asahi Kaisei Group), will be honoured for his industry contributions to understanding and ensuring battery safety in high‑energy lithium‑ion batteries.
- Dr Anna Stefanopoulou, director of the Energy Institute and William Clay Ford Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Michigan, will be recognised for her outstanding academic contributions to the study of advanced battery technology.
- Dr Halle Cheeseman, program director at ARPA‑E within the U.S. Department of Energy, will be acknowledged for public‑sector work supporting advanced battery technology and strengthening public understanding of its importance to the economy and human society.
All three will receive their awards at NAATBatt International’s annual dinner on Wednesday 11 February 2026. The event forms part of NAATBatt 2026, the organisation’s 17th annual meeting and conference, taking place from 9–12 February 2026 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson, Arizona.
NAATBatt encourages the industry to celebrate the lifetime accomplishments of Drs Zhang, Stefanopoulou and Cheeseman and to support the wider mission of advancing battery technology. Attendees are invited to join colleagues in Tucson next month to take part in the celebration.
