Vint Cerf
Chief Evangelist
VintCerf
VP and Chief Internet Evangelist
Vinton G. Cerf is vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. He is the co-designer of the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet. He has served in executive positions at ICANN, the Internet Society, MCI, the Corporation for National Research Initiatives and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. A former Stanford Professor and former member of the US National Science Board, he is also the past President of the Association for Computing Machinery, Emeritus Chairman of the Marconi Society and serves in advisory capacities at NIST, DOE, NSF, US Navy, JPL and NRO. He earned his B.S. in mathematics at Stanford and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science at UCLA. He is a member of both the US National Academies of Science and Engineering, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and the Worshipful Company of Stationers. Cerf is a recipient of numerous awards for his work, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, US National Medal of Technology, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, the Prince of Asturias Award, the Japan Prize, the Charles Stark Draper award, the ACM Turing Award, the Marconi Prize and Marconi Lifetime Achievement Award, the IEEE Medal of Honor, the Legion d’Honneur, the VinFutures Grand Prize and the Franklin Medal. He is a Foreign Member of the British Royal Society and Swedish Academy of Engineering and holds 32 honorary degrees.
Rakesh Kumar
Chair of IEEE Data Strategy
IEEE/TCX Inc.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar
Chair, IEEE DataPort, President
Technology Connexions, Inc.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar is a semiconductor industry veteran, an entrepreneur, an educator and an IEEE Life Fellow. He has had numerous leadership roles at IEEE including Chair of IEEE Roadmaps, Chair of IEEE DataPort and AskIEEE, and President of the Solid-State Circuits Society. During 40+ years in the semiconductor industry he has been VP&GM at Cadence Design, and has held various technical and management positions at Unisys and Motorola. Dr. Kumar has authored the book “Fabless Semiconductor Implementation”, published by McGraw Hill.
Kathleen A. Kramer
President & CEO
IEEE
Kathleen A. Kramer
President & CEO
IEEE
2025 IEEE President & CEO Kathleen A. Kramer is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of San Diego in California. She worked to develop new engineering programs as a founding member of the faculty and eventually became the chair of electrical engineering, then serving as Director of Engineering (2004-2013), providing academic leadership for all of the university’s engineering programs. Her teaching interests are in the areas of signal processing, mechatronics and robotics, and communication systems. She has also been a member of technical staff at several companies, including ViaSat, Hewlett Packard, and Bell Communications Research. She is a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) and is a past vice president of the society. She is a Fellow of ABET, and a leader in the development of criteria for cyber security, mechatronics, and robotics. Kathleen served on the IEEE Board of Directors as IEEE Secretary and chair of Governance and IEEE Region 6 (Western USA) Director. She was also chair of the 2023 IEEE Ad Hoc Committee on Innovating Funding Models. She received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering magna cum laude with a second major in physics from Loyola Marymount University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Tom Coughlin
President
Coughlin Associates and IEEE Past President
Tom Coughlin
President
Coughlin Associates and IEEE Past President
Tom Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates is a digital storage analyst and business/ technology consultant. He has over 40 years in the data storage industry with engineering and senior management positions. Coughlin Associates consults, publishes books and market and technology reports and puts on digital storage and memory-oriented events. He is a regular contributor for forbes.com and M&E organization websites. He is an IEEE Fellow, 2025 IEEE Past President, Past-President IEEE-USA, Past Director IEEE Region 6 and Past Chair Santa Clara Valley IEEE Section, and is also active with SNIA and SMPTE. For more information on Tom Coughlin go to www.tomcoughlin.com.
Heather Monigan
Senior Director, CSS Partnerships
ARM
Heather Monigan
Senior Director, CSS Partnerships
ARM
Heather Monigan has been in the semiconductor industry for over 24 years and has recently joined ARM as a Senior Director of Partnerships in the Automotive LoB focusing on bringing together key stakeholders to make Arm’s Compute Subsystems a reality. Prior to join Arm, she founded her own company after taking early retirement at Intel. She served as Intel’s Engineering Director of IP Strategy & Management. She is known for her candid passion. She regularly shares her lessons learned from her years of technical leadership to solve complex challenges with audiences. She currently serves as Chair of the IEEE Phoenix Section and is the Phoenix Section’s International Development Lead for Engineers Without Borders. Heather also serves on the Grand Canyon University President’s STEM Advisory Board and the GCU Engineering Advisory Council. She is an adjunct engineering professor for Grand Canyon University. Ms. Monigan holds an MBA and BSCE.
Matthew Sahara
Electrical Department
Burns & McDonnell
Matthew Sahara
Electrical Department
Burns & McDonnell
Matt Sahara is an Electrical Engineer-in-Training at Burns & McDonnell and works out of the the Pacific Office in downtown Honolulu, Hawai'i. Concurrently, he is also a part-time master's student, researching anomaly detection methods for power systems. Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Matt earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering at UH Mānoa in 2020. He started his full-time career with Burns & Mac after two internships–one based in Honolulu, and another based in Kansas City. Matt designs medium and low voltage electrical systems for facilities throughout the Pacific. His notable design experiences include hangars, piers, and federal operations facilities. In his free time, Matt enjoys playing with his dogs and riding his motorcycle around the island.
Falguni Mehrotra
Product Manager
Expedia Group
Falguni Mehrotra
Product Manager
Expedia Group
Product Manager at Expedia, Public Speaker and a Mom. My passion is crafting innovative travel experiences. With a rich 9-year background, I adeptly identify market demands, pivot towards emerging opportunities, and prioritize to deliver products that stand out for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. My strategic approach has amped up business performance by 25%, garnering me recognition through the "Great Value Impact" award early in my product management career. My expertise spans sectors like healthcare, e-commerce, real estate, travel, and education. Beyond my role, I actively disseminate my product management wisdom at conferences and through mentorship, contributing to the growth of others in the field.
Don Lee
Senior Solution Architect
Bentley Systems, Inc.
Don Lee
Senior Solution Architect
Bentley Systems, Inc.
Senior engineering applications professional with strong technical and applied expertise. Experienced internal and external consultant with deep knowledge in the areas of AEC software management, information standards design and development.
Judy Amanor-Boadu
Technical Lead
Intel Corporation
Judy Amanor-Boadu
Technical Lead
Intel Corporation
Judy Amanor-Boadu, PhD is currently a technical lead at Intel Corporation. She leads a team to provide solutions focused on power delivery modeling, measurement-correlation strategies, and characterization of next generation Intel Xeon CPU processors for data-center products. Dr. Amanor-Boadu holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and has research interests in areas of power delivery modeling, characterization, and measurement. She is currently a member at large on the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement society ((IMS) Administrative Committee and runs their mentorship program.
Barry Tilton
IEEE USA President-Elect
IEEE-USA
Barry Tilton
IEEE USA President-Elect
IEEE-USA
Barry Tilton is the IEEE-USA President-Elect. In his professional career, he currently serves as the Technology Evangelist and Senior Director of Engineering at Maxar Intelligence. He has over 39 years’ experience as an Electrical Engineer in the aerospace field and is both a Licensed P.E. and Certified Project Management Professional. He is a 20-year veteran of the US Air Force, where he had over 1000 flight hours as a test director, and worked as a Chief Engineer, and Chief Scientist, and Program Director for the US Defense and State Departments as well as several international efforts with countries on five Continents. Barry earned his BSEE from USC and his MSEE from Northrop. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, Eta Kappa Nu and the AIAA, a life member of the USGIF and a Fellow of the American Geographical Society. He is currently the Vice President of Industry Relations for IEEE/AESS. . His current work includes expanding the applications of advanced mapping data technologies.
Lynda Grober
Director
IEEE HR Learning and Development
Lynda Grober
Director
IEEE HR Learning and Development
Lynda Grober holds a B.S., Computer Science from Saint Peter’s University. Lynda’s certifications include, Everything DiSC, Hogan Leadership Coach, InsideOut Coaching, DDI Leadership, Talent Smart Emotional Intelligence, Langevin Certified Director and Certified Instructional Designer & Developer.
Mansi Tripathi
Tech Program Manager
Meta
Mansi Tripathi
Technical Program Manager
Meta
Mansi Tripathi is a Technical Program Manager at Meta, where she leads AI Developer Experience and privacy initiatives, supporting over thousands of developers. Her work includes creating privacy frameworks and guiding 200+ teams on regulatory compliance. Previously at Microsoft, Mansi brings a solid background in software engineering and program management. She holds a Master’s in Computer Science from USC and a Bachelor’s from Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology. An active IEEE leader, she’s spoken at industry events like the CMD-IT/ACM Tapia Conference, sharing insights on career growth and the shift from engineering to program management.
John McDonald
Founder & CEO
JDM Associates, LLC
John McDonald
Founder & CEO
JDM Associates, LLC
John D. McDonald, P.E., is Founder & CEO of JDM Associates, LLC. John has 50 years of experience in the electric utility transmission and distribution industry. John received his B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. (Power Engineering) degrees from Purdue University, and an M.B.A. (Finance) degree from the University of California-Berkeley. John is a Life Fellow of IEEE (member for 53 years), member of IEEE-HKN (inducted 53 years ago) and Tau Beta Pi (inducted 51 years ago), member of the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, and was awarded the IEEE Millennium Medal, the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering Award, the IEEE PES Substations Committee Distinguished Service Award, the IEEE PES Meritorious Service Award, the 2024 CIGRE US National Committee (USNC) Philip Sporn Award, the 2016 CIGRE Distinguished Member Award, the 2016 CIGRE USNC Attwood Associate Award, the 2021 CIGRE Honorary Member Award, the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity Career Achievement Award. John is Past President of the IEEE PES, the VP for Technical Activities for the USNC of CIGRE, the Past Chair of the IEEE PES Substations Committee, the IEEE Division VII Past Director, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. John was on the Board of Governors of the IEEE-SA (Standards Association), is an IEEE Foundation Director and Vice President of Development, and is a Founding Board Member of the SECC. John received the 2009 Purdue University Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award and the 2023 Purdue University Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award. John teaches Smart Grid courses at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Smart Grid courses for various IEEE PES local chapters as an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer (since 1999). John has published one hundred fifty papers and articles, has co-authored five books and has one US patent.
Amber Orr
Director of Engineering and Energy Svcs
Ion, LLC
Amber Orr
Director of Engineering and Energy Svcs
Ion, LLC
Amber E Orr is a Professional Engineer practicing in the State of Washington, USA. She is a Senior Member of IEEE, is on the Executive Board for Region 6 and served on the Executive committee for the Spokane Section from 2005 until 2020. She received the Special Directors Award for Excellence in Performance in 2019 and was the only recipient in the Western Hemisphere of the IEEE MGA Leadership Award in 2018. She serves on several committees in addition to her Board positions. She has a history of working in both the Industrial and Power & Energy sectors. She is also an Electrical Forensic Engineer. She is currently the Chief Engineer representing several blockchain and HPC organizations developing new large infrastructure and renewables throughout the United States and is actively working with IEEE-USA in a volunteer role with the Careers and Member Services in a VP role.
Pedro Wightman
Committee Member
EPICS in IEEE
Pedro Wightman
EPICS in IEEE Committee Member
EPICS in IEEE Committee
B.Sc. in Systems Engineering from the Universidad del Norte (2004). Doctor in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of South Florida (2010). Associate professor at the School of Engineering, Science and Technology of the Universidad del Rosario. Senior member of IEEE and member of the EPICS in IEEE Committee. His research lines are location-based services, especially focused on location data privacy, blockchain and medical information systems, communication infrastructure for the internet of things and industry 4.0.
Charan Addala
Production Engineer
Meta
Charan Addala
Production Engineer
Meta
I have been at Meta for over 4 years working as a production engineer. Previously i worked at Cisco and Microsoft as a software engineer on networking stack. I am curious about solving problems at the intersection of software systems and business. i love playing badminton, soccer during my free time
Scott Tamashiro
IEEE Rising Stars Conference Chair
Raytheon (RTX)
Scott Tamashiro
IEEE Rising Stars Conference Chair
Raytheon (RTX)
Determined to make sure attendees gain leadership skills (the lion), find new beginnings with colleagues (the bird), and gain essential networking skills (the hand).
Dr. Kate Mercado
Head of Platform Engineering
Forward
Dr. Kate Mercado
Head of Platform Engineering
Forward
Dr. Kate Mercado is an engineering leader at Forward, a startup based in San Francisco that is transforming the delivery of primary care using pervasive and wearable sensors to inform machine intelligence about your health. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles on advanced materials for sensing and high performance computing. She is a Senior Member of IEEE and has served as the IEEE Region 6 student activities coordinator.
Goutam Chattopadhyay
President
IEEE MTT Society
Goutam Chattopadhyay
President
IEEE MTT Society
Goutam Chattopadhyay is a Senior Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology and a Visiting Professor at Caltech in Pasadena, USA. He has previously held the position of BEL Distinguished Visiting Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and served as an Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, India. He earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Caltech in 2000. Chattopadhyay is a Fellow of both IEEE (USA) and IETE (India), serves as a Track Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, is an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, and is the 2025 President of IEEE MTT-S. His research interests include microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz receiver systems and radars, as well as the development of space instruments for the search for life beyond Earth. He has published over 375 papers in international journals and conferences and holds more than twenty patents. He has received over 35 NASA Technical Achievement and New Technology Invention Awards. In 2024, he was honored with the Armstrong Medal from the Radio Company of America (RCA) and received the NASA-JPL People Leadership Award in 2023. He was named IEEE Region-6 Engineer of the Year in 2018 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), India, in 2017. Additionally, he has won the Best Journal Paper Award from IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology in both 2020 and 2013, the Best Paper Award for Antenna Design and Applications at the European Antennas and Propagation Conference (EuCAP) in 2017, and the IETE Prof. S. N. Mitra Memorial Award in 2014, as well as the IETE Biman Bihari Sen Memorial Award in 2022.
Joanne Wong
Partner
REDDS Capital
Joanne Wong
Partner
REDDS Capital
Joanne is the Chair of IEEE Entrepreneurship (2022 to 2024), Connecting tech entrepreneurs to an engineering-driven global Innovation network. IEEE Entrepreneurship is developing and providing startup resources for academic researchers and tech entrepreneurs. Joanne is the 2025 Chair, Hard Tech Venture Summit , bringing together the ecosystem around Hard Tech - investors, startups, manufacturers, government, industry, etc She was Member at Large (2021) and was Vice Chair, Industry & Investor Activities (2020) of IEEE Entrepreneurship. She was Secretary, IEEE TEMS Executive Committee and Board of Governors (2019 to 2021). Joanne is General Partner of REDDS Capital, a Californian based VC firm investing in global early-stage IT startups. She has worked with IBM, HP, SAP, and Cisco in multiple technical, market development, and strategic investments positions. Joanne was the Executive Director of a healthcare charity start-up, providing free green access to high performance computational resources for biomedical researchers. She was a co-founder of a startup that provided educators the use of 3D simulation for learning. She was also a startup co-founder that provided researchers a multi-modal research data management platform for longitudinal clinical studies. She is a mentor/advisor for multiple startups and not for profits. Joanne has served on several boards including the Government of Canada ICT sector council setting research and advising ICT policy for the country.
Sunandan Barman
Production Engineer
Meta
Sunandan Barman
Production Engineer
Meta
Sunandan has been working as a tech lead at Meta since 2017, guiding a team of six engineers to enhance the performance and scalability of the ML data platform for App Ads, ultimately impacting Meta’s primary revenue sources. He is a highly experienced backend developer with more than a decade of expertise in crafting scalable and distributed systems capable of handling immense loads. He has delivered large-scale projects consistently is proficient in setting direction for cross-functional teams on multi-year hyper-growth paths.
Christopher Sanderson
Consultant
iSigma Group Consulting
Christopher Sanderson, SMIEEE; SMASQ; IEEE-1547 CCA
Consultant
iSigma Group Consulting
Christopher graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology and a military Officer Commission in the United States Army Air Defense Artillery in 1995. His military service in the United States Army Reserves expands both the Enlisted ranks and Officer ranks. His military accommodations include numerous accommodations and honorable tours of duty. He has worked for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 corporations with a global presence in the electrical industry such as Schneider Electric, General Electric (GE), Siemens Energy & Automation (SIEMENS), ABB (Asea Brown Boveri), and Doosan GridTech.
During his time at Doosan GridTech, he had responsibilities for managing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Bids & Proposal team operations group including Request For Quote (RFQ), initial Engineering Concept solution, and Proposed Offerings. At all times managing clients' requirements with integrity, and building profitable quality solutions for US operations. Which included addressing technical and commercial risks relating to bids with Sales, Marketing, Legal, and review project risk of success with executive leadership team.
He has graduated from several Energy, Power & Distribution programs including Schneider Electric Field Sales Orientation, General Electric’s Technical Sales Program, and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Program.
Currently, Christopher is a volunteer leader with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), one of the world’s largest professional organizations with more than 425,000 members globally. IEEE develops the standards (rules) that governments, companies, and organizations like the National Electric Code (NEC) recommend and follow, currently that’s more than 1,600 active standards and working on new emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and Smart Grid Systems.
He is also a recipient of several award(s):
- 2022-2023 NSBE Golden Torch Award for Technologist of the Year
- 2021 IEEE-USA John Meredith Professional Service Award
- 2020 IEEE Region 5 Director’s Award for Outstanding Service
- 2018 IEEE R5 Jim Leonard Outstanding Member Award
He believes “we’re measured in what we’re able to give back in the time we have been given.”
Christopher and his wife Angela have two children, Kristina and Nicolas.
Andrei Gavrilov
Wireless Engineer-In-Training
City of Calgary
Andrei Gavrilov
Wireless Engineer-In-Training
City of Calgary
Andrei Gavrilov is a 2021 Dean's Honour List Graduate and APSC Rising Star from the University of British Columbia, Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, specializing in Computer and Mining Engineering and minoring in Commerce. Andrei is currently a Wireless Engineer-In-Training on the Wireless Communication Solutions Team at the City of Calgary. He has over five years of industry experience, including the fields of Wireless Engineering, Project Management and Data & Analytics. Andrei has experience in various organizations in the Public and Private sectors, holding roles such as Project Engineer, Business Continuity Student and Autonomous Haulage Systems Data Analyst. He is also an active IEEE member since 2019, previously serving in the IEEEXtreme Programming Competition as North America Regional Lead, and currently serving as Chair of the Southern Alberta Section Young Professionals Committee. He has conducted four research projects on the topics of machine learning, biometric facial recognition and parametric building design and holds three publications. Andrei hopes to educate and inspire participants through his unique presentation and engagement style.
Phil Bautista
Senior Consultant
Bull Creek Data
Phil Bautista - AA5EX
Senior Consultant
Bull Creek Data
Phil Bautista is a consultant with 20+ years’ experience specializing in requirements and process analysis, process improvement and implementation having consulted with federal public sector clients, state and local government agencies, private sector clients in healthcare, education, technology, commerce, finance as well as major consulting firms worldwide.
Joy Dow
Wealth Management Advisor
Northwestern Mutual
Joy Dow
Wealth Management Advisor
Northwestern Mutual
Joy Dow, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) who runs a boutique wealth management and financial planning practice in San Diego, that serves clients nationwide. She and her team specialize in working with tech professionals and those with any form of equity compensation to decode the complexity of taxation and how to best optimize their wealth. They help their clients to slow down to look ahead so that she and her team can give them time back to focus on the things that they love. Since she started with the firm, she has consistently been ranked in the top 10% of advisors. She attributes her professional growth to continual learning, effectively listening and communicating, and recommending the right strategies for her clients at the appropriate time.When she's not working she enjoys exploring San Diego's food scene, traveling, and attending Padres baseball games.
Max Petlick
Student
University of Florida
Max Petlick
Student
University of Florida
Max Petlick is from Jacksonville, Florida and is a 4th year Electrical Engineering student at the University of Florida. He has been a member of the IEEE for 4 years and is now the President of the UF IEEE Student Section. Max has a strong interest in the intersection between the power industry and microtechnology which has been developed this through internships with Power and Semiconductor companies in his college career. He will be graduating in the Spring of 2025 and is currently deciding between various offers for where he will start his professional career. Outside of engineering, Max loves the outdoors, especially hiking, all kinds of sports, and going to the beach.
Saaveethya Sivakumar
Chair
IEEE Young Professionals
Saaveethya Sivakumar
Chair
IEEE Young Professionals
Saaveethya is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Curtin University Malaysia, specializing in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Software Engineering, Gamification, Signal Processing, Image Processing, Gait Analysis, Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, and Education. She also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Computing (Software Engineering) and the Head of Training and Development in the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University Malaysia. Saaveethya completed her Ph.D. at Monash University and her B.Eng. in Electronic and Communication Engineering at Curtin University. She is a dedicated volunteer with 12 years of experience with IEEE. Saaveethya is the incoming Chair for the IEEE Young Professionals Committee in 2025. She has served as Vice Chair of IEEE Young Professionals since 2023 and previously as Chair of the IEEE Region 10 (Asia Pacific) Young Professionals Committee from 2021 to 2023. She was also the Regional Student Representative for IEEE Region 10 from 2019 - 2020. Saaveethya is passionate about advancing science and technology through promoting a culture of industry-integrated, project-driven, and inclusive learning environments.
Joe DosSantos
VP of Enterprise Analytics
Workday
Joe DosSantos
VP, Enterprise Data and Analytics
Workday
Joe is the VP of Enterprise Data and Analytics at Workday, leading a journey to accelerate enterprise insight development through innovative technology and processes. Prior to Workday, Joe was the Chief Data Officer at Qlik, the VP of Enterprise Information Management at TD Bank, and spent over 20 years in consulting with Accenture and EMC.
Russ Harrison
Managing Director
IEEE-USA
Russ Harrison
Managing Director
IEEE-USA
Russ Harrison lead's IEEE's office in Washington, DC and is Managing Director of IEEE-USA where he previously served as Director of Government Relations. Russ has spent 20 years representing IEEE in Washington. Over that time, he has been one of IEEE's most sought after public speakers, having addressed nearly 300 local, state, national, and international groups. Prior to joining IEEE, Russ was an Instructor of Public Speaking at Ball State University and represented the steel, trucking, and recycling businesses on Capitol Hill.
Binesh Kumar
Technical Lead
Atom Power Inc.
Binesh Kumar
Technical Lead
Atom Power Inc.
Binesh is an Engineering and Technology Innovation Leader currently working as a Technical lead at Atom Power, USA. He has over 10 years of experience in technology innovation and product development. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering. With a strong multidisciplinary engineering background, Binesh has played a pivotal role in the groundbreaking invention and commercialization of the world's first Solid State Circuit Breaker. He is an IOT and Embedded Systems specialist with a strong domain experience in Power technologies. He helps founders innovate and take ideas to market, and serves as mentor in several startup accelerator programs.
As a senior member of IEEE, Binesh holds various leadership positions within IEEE including Young Professionals coordinator for Region 3, Board of Governors member for Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS), Charlotte Section YP chair, and is a member of the HKN honor society. Connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about him.
Volaree Rendon
Director, Solution Engineering
Bentley Systems
Volaree Rendon
Director, Solution Engineering
Bentley Systems
As the Director of Solution Engineering with over 30 years of Transportation industry experience, Volaree Rendon leads a high-performing team responsible for delivering comprehensive, scalable engineering solutions tailored to the unique needs of the transportation industry. She collaborates with clients, industry leaders, and cross-functional teams to drive the adoption and implementation of Bentley Systems’ advanced infrastructure software, focusing on roads, bridges, rail, and transit projects. Volaree possesses a strong blend of technical expertise, industry knowledge, and leadership skills to guide customers through complex infrastructure challenges, ensuring they maximize the value of Bentley’s digital twin technology, design, and construction solutions.
Erik Heilman
Director of Government Affairs
IEEE-USA
Erik Heilman
Director of Government Affairs
IEEE-USA
Erik Heilman joined IEEE-USA in June 2023 as the Director of Government Relations, bringing over 20 years of expertise in U.S. federal government operations, policy advocacy, and business representation. His extensive experience spans both the legislative and executive branches of government, as well as strategic roles in corporate lobbying and public affairs. In his current role, Erik leads a team of legislative and policy professionals dedicated to shaping U.S. technology policy in ways that benefit IEEE members, the broader technology sector, and the American public. His leadership at IEEE-USA focuses on advancing key policy priorities, including innovation, infrastructure, and workforce development. Prior to joining IEEE-USA, Erik held senior positions at Fortune 500 corporations where he advocated for federal policy solutions on issues ranging from tax reform and international trade to energy and sustainability. Erik’s career in the public sector includes serving as Director of Government and Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs in the Executive Office of the President. He began his career on Capitol Hill, where he spent a decade advising U.S. Representatives and Senators on a wide range of legislative issues. Erik holds a Master of Science in Political Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He resides in Arlington, VA with his wife, Katie, and their three children.
John Day
Director, Member Products & Programs
IEEE
John Day
Director, Member Products & Programs
IEEE
Starting as a research assistant and trademark administrator in the electric utility industry, John launched his first internet product, a Galacticomm-based BBS, in 1994. He then moved into a role as a National Accounts Manager, where he managed sales, contract negotiations, and led the Information and Research Services division.
John's career took a significant turn when he joined a software consultancy, managing the development and roll-out of Lotus Notes-Domino applications and websites. In that role, he worked with prestigious clients such as Los Alamos National Laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, and Toyota, Inc.
In 1999, John joined IEEE as a Product Manager in the Standards division, overseeing IEEE Standards Online, VuSpec CDs, and the global standards portal network. Later, he transitioned to IEEE's Membership Division, where he spearheaded the launch of myIEEE, IEEE.tv, and IEEE's online membership directory. John's attention then turned to membership development, where he enhanced IEEE membership messaging, automated campaigns, updated reporting, and supporting IEEE’s membership development volunteers globally.
Currently, John provides strategic leadership for various programs, including the MGA Member Engagement & Lifecycle Committee, Students, Young Professionals, Women in Engineering, Life Members, IEEE Collabratec, IEEE Puzzlers, and the IEEE Volunteering Portal.
Alberto Tam Yong
Senior Electrical Engineer
Applied Medical
Alberto Tam Yong
Senior Electrical Engineer
Applied Medical
Alberto Tam Yong is a Senior Electrical Engineer at Applied Medical in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, innovating in the Technology and Development, Electrical, team to advance medical devices for minimally invasive surgery. He has experience in the design, prototype, and development of hardware electrical systems, and specializes in analog and digital circuit design. He leads and collaborates with engineers to address complex design challenges and implement engineering solutions. He received his BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Riverside, in 2016. As the 2015-2016 Chair of the IEEE Student Branch at the University of California, Riverside, he led a highly dynamic group of volunteers, engaged members with technical, social, and professional opportunities, and guided the organization to earn the IEEE Region 6 Outstanding Large Student Branch Award. As Co-Director of Citrus Hack 2016, he organized a 36-hour hackathon that gathered over 300 students to create, collaborate, and challenge each other. Mr. Tam Yong continues to volunteer for IEEE at the local Section, Regional, and global level. He has served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the IEEE Orange County Section, 2017-2019 Vice Chair of the IEEE Foothill Section, and has supported IEEE Region 6 conferences, such as the IEEE Rising Stars Conference and the IEEE Sustech 2021 Conference. Currently, Alberto Tam Yong is a Vice Chair of the IEEE Young Professionals Committee, Chair of the IEEE Region 6 Student Activities Committee, Past Chair of IEEE Region 6 Young Professionals Committee, Chair of the IEEE Orange County Section, an organizing committee member for the IEEE Rising Stars Conference, and a member of the IEEE in 2050 and Beyond AdHoc Committee.
Michael Andrews
Managing Partner
Andrews & Associates
Michael Andrews
Managing Partner
Andrews & Associates
Mr. Andrews is Managing Partner of Andrews & Associates (https://andrews-associates.com), a consulting firm specializing in new product creation, product and service innovation, business leadership and management development, operations and logistics, and Emergency Planning for business, schools, and government entities.
Carolyn Andrews
Founder
Inspired Leaders Now
Carolyn Andrews
Founder
Inspired Leaders Now
Carolyn is the founder of Inspired Leaders Now and is a certified business and executive coach. Her business experience ranges from Fortune 100 companies to organizations with fewer than 50 staff members. She is recognized as an outstanding business strategist and leader. Her true passion is working with business owners to help them develop leadership capacity, grow their business and achieve
Roxy Stimpson
Advisor
Darlacian, LLC.
Roxy Stimpson
Advisor
Darlacian, LLC.
Roxy is a seasoned engineering leader, innovator, investor, and entrepreneur with nearly thirty years of experience in the technology sector. She delves into compelling questions surrounding human and environmental health, with a particular focus on enhancing liver function through integrative nutrition and a balanced lifestyle. Roxy is dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals to become effective communicators and leaders. Additionally, she advocates for using technology and personal connections to drive positive change in the world.
David Kunkee
Principal Engineer/Scientist
The Aerospace Corporation
David Kunkee
Principal Engineer/Scientist
The Aerospace Corporation
David B. Kunkee received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, in 1995. He joined The Aerospace Corporation in 1995 and is currently a Principal Engineer/Scientist within the Sensor Systems Subdivision. From 2010 to 2014 he was a member of the Environmental Satellite Systems Division as part of the Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS) and Weather System Follow-on (WSF) program offices. From 2006 to 2010 he was a member of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office (IPO), and led the Aerospace Microwave Sensors and Data Products Department within the NPOESS IPO. From 2002 to 2005 he was the Associate Director of the Radar and Signal Systems Department at Aerospace. Dr. Kunkee’s research interests include passive and active microwave remote sensing of the Earth, space-based microwave sensor development, spectrum management, and radio communications. Dr. Kunkee is the 2023-4 Past-President of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS). He was General Co-Chair of the 2017 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) and served as Co-Chair of the Technical Program Committee for IGARSS 2010 and 2023. From 2007 to 2009 he was Editor-in-Chief of the GRSS Newsletter. Dr. Kunkee is currently Chair of the U.S. National Committee (USNC) of the International Union of Radio Science, Commission F. He has also served on the National Academies’ Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) including its Committee on Scientific Use of the Radio Spectrum.
Pía Torres
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
IEEE Industry Applications Society
Pía Torres
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
IEEE Industry Applications Society
Electronics Engineer from Tucumán, Argentina. Project Management, Digital Transformation and Innovation Specialist & Consultant for several industries: oil & gas, nuclear, food & beverage, energy, IT, etc. Sr. Project Manager in Globant. Professor in Di Tella University, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Social entrepreneur. - "Roboteam" STEM Outreach initiative Co-Founder and Program Manager - "Growtec" Technology for Sustainable Development Co-Founder United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Promotor, Diversity and Inclusion Champion and STEM Education Ambassador. IEEE Volunteer since 2001. IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) & Senior Member. IEEE Industry Applications Society Board Member: Diversity & Inclusion Chair. IEEE Humanitarian Activities Board Member. Tech for Good Chair. IEEE Diversity & Inclusion Committee Member. Awards: 2020 JCI Argentina Outstanding Young Person for Humanitarian & Volunteering Services, IEEE Young Professionals Hall of Fame Award and IEEE Women in Engineering Inspiring Member of the Year Award.
Fabia Farlin Athena
Energy Fellow
Stanford University
Fabia Farlin Athena
Energy Fellow
Stanford University
Fabia Farlin Athena is an Energy Fellow at Stanford University, advised by Prof. H.-S. Philip Wong and Prof. Alberto Salleo, working on high bandwidth oxide semiconductor gaincell memories. She completed her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech, advised by Prof. Eric M. Vogel. Her PhD research focused on adaptive oxide memristors for brain-inspired AI. She completed her BS in Materials Science and Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Her research has been recognized with the Georgia Tech ECE PhD Fellowship, Cadence Diversity in Technology Scholarship, EECS Rising Stars, Colonel Oscar P. Cleaver Award for the most outstanding PhD proposal in Georgia Tech ECE, MRS Graduate Student Award, IBM PhD Fellowship, Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship, and she was recently listed in Forbes 30 under 30 North America 2025.
Tony Hua-Wong
Associate Electrical Engineer
Seattle City Light
Tony Hua-Wong
Associate Electrical Engineer
Seattle City Light
Tony Hua-Wong is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, community leader, and electrical engineer based in Seattle. He applies his innovative skills at Seattle City Light as a Distribution Engineer and as a DIY enthusiast. As a business scaling strategist, Tony drives growth in his family's business, while his resourceful problem-solving abilities contribute to Seattle's Chinatown public safety initiatives. Tony's leadership extends to IEEE, where he serves as Region 6 Awards Chair, Conference Chair for Region 6 Young Professionals, and Seattle YP Chair. In 2025, he will also assume the role of Seattle Section PES Vice-Chair. Passionate about helping students and young professionals, Tony strives to be the mentor he needed, guiding and inspiring the next generation of leaders in technology and engineering. Driven by a growth mindset, Tony constantly seeks opportunities for learning and self-improvement. His passions encompass food, fitness, health, and sports, reflecting a holistic approach to life. Tony's unique blend of technical acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to personal and community growth positions him as a rising star in technology and leadership, inspiring those around him. "The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker
Nazneen Ahmed
Graduate Student
George Washington University
Nazneen Ahmed
Graduate Student
George Washington University
Nazneen Ahmed is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at George Washington University, specializing in power system resilience, smart grids, and optimization. With a bachelor's degree in Electrical Power and Energy from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and an MBA in Finance from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), she combines technical expertise with strategic problem-solving. Nazneen serves as the IEEE PES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ambassador and the IEEE IAS Student Branch Chapter's Area Chair for Regions 1 to 6. To efficiently serve her role, she has organized workshops, seminars, and industry trips and volunteered at international conferences. An active volunteer with IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE), she promotes diversity and inclusion in STEM. Nazneen’s work bridges technical innovation and collaborative leadership to drive impactful solutions in energy systems.
Mayamin Hamid Raha
PhD Candidate
University of Nevada, Reno
Mayamin Hamid Raha
PhD Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
University of Nevada, Reno
Mayamin Hamid Raha' is a skilled professional with expertise in developing high-fidelity digital twins and geo-synchronized systems. They focus on real-time rendering, integrating AI-driven models, and creating immersive platforms to address complex resource allocation challenges
TBD
Computer Scientist
Federal Bureau of Investigation