Monthly Archives: March 2023

Our Members

 in Detailed Information

 

Samarth Deo

Chair – Sweden Section

Head of MACH Control & Protection, Hitachi Energy Sweden

Samarth Deo works at Hitachi Energy in Sweden as the Head of MACH Control and Protection design organization. He began his career as an R&D Software Engineer at ABB AB in 2014. He has held multiple management and leadership positions since 2018, and in his current role leading teams in Sweden, Poland, and India. His teams are responsible for developing a high-performance control platform integrating hardware, embedded software, and FPGA systems—delivering mission-critical solutions for HVDC and renewable grid applications. He has also held multiple leadership roles in IEEE, including Chair of the EPICS in IEEE committee and IEEE Sweden Section in the past. He is appointed as the Chair of the Humanitarian Activities Committee within Region 8 for 2025.

 

 

Theodoros Chatzinikolaou

Past-Chair – Greece Section

Chair, IEEE R8 SAC
Researcher & PhD(c), DUTH

Theodoros is a researcher and PhD Candidate in the ECE Dept of the Democritus University of Thrace, where he has received his Engineering Diploma with Integrated Master. His research interests focus on future and emerging computing systems and cutting-edge technologies with a focus on memristive circuits. As an active volunteer, he is currently serving the IEEE Region 8 as Vice-Chair, Student Activities, SAC Chair and HTAC Past-Chair. He has served various IEEE units, including MGA SAC, Region 8, and his local Student Branch. He has received the IEEE MGA Young Professionals Achievement Award, the IEEE CASS Pre-Doctoral Grant, and the IEEE MGA Larry K. Wilson Regional Student Activities Award, among others.

 

 

George Papadimitriou

Member -Switzerland Section

IT Product Owner Cloud Network & Security, Hilti Switzerland

Georgios (George) Papadimitriou studied at the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at the National Technical University of Athens. Currently, he is working for HILTI, Global IT in Switzerland as an Enterprise Network Engineer. Previously he worked for Nokia Research & Development at their Technology Center in Athens, Greece. Since 2012, he volunteered as the Chair of the National Technical University of Athens IEEE Student Branch, the IEEE Greece Section’s Student Representative and the Region 8 Projects and Initiatives Coordinator fostering student collaboration and leading fruitful projects across the Region. In 2018 he was appointed to his second role in the Student Activities Committee as the Regional Student Representative and as a member of the Region 8 Strategic Planning Committee.

 

 

Lucija Brezočnik

Slovenia Section

Vice-chair, IEEE Slovenia Section
Teaching Assistant, UM FERI, University of Maribor, Slovenia 

Lucija Brezočnik received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Maribor, Slovenia. She is a teaching assistant and Ph.D. candidate. She works on several projects in the industry and is the author of a few journal papers, more than 20 conference papers, one book chapter, and is a reviewer for more than 40 recognised peer-reviewed journals. Her research interests include machine learning, computational intelligence, data science, swarm intelligence, software engineering, and agile software development. For her work, she received several international and local awards and grants for her research activities. She is also the current IEEE Slovenia Vice-Chair and past IEEE WiE Slovenia chair.

 

 

Nour Sbaoulji

Member – Tunisia Section

Vice-Chair – IEEE Tunisia Section SIGHT Group
Software Engineer & Data Analyst

 

 

 

 

 

Omar Salameh

Member – Jordan Section

Product Application Engineer, Schneider Electric UK

Omar has been an active IEEE member since 2016, he has held several leadership roles, including Chair of major IEEE congresses and founder of his branch’s SIGHT Group. He joined the IEEE Region 8  HTAC in 2023 and became a full member in 2024. He also contributes to climate advocacy through YOUNGO and UNFCCC youth initiatives.

He holds a BSc in Electrical Power Engineering from Al-Balqa Applied University and an MSc in Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Systems from the University of Leeds. Passionate about energy transition, he is committed to enabling technologies that support net-zero goals.

Professionally, Omar is an electrical engineer with 7 years of experience in power systems and generation, currently working at Schneider Electric UK as a Product Application Engineer. He focuses on designing MV switchgear and supporting the digitalisation of distribution networks to drive sustainability.

 

 

Abdulla Al-Kaff

Corresponding Member – Spain Section

Associate Professor, UC3M – CBDO, Seevia

 

 

 

 

 

Ahmed Ayman

Corresponding Member – Egypt Section

Software Engineering Lead, PodMedia Network

 

 

 

 

 

Fayrouz Fattoum

Corresponding Member – France Section

Project Manager, Oil & Gas

 

 

 

 

 

Kai Goodall

Corresponding Member – South Africa Section

Committee Member, EPICS in IEEE
AI Researcher at University of Cape Town

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Resala A.Al Adraj

Corresponding Member – Bahrain Section

Assistant Professor
IEEE Computer Society Chapter Chair
IEEE Educational Activity Officer
IEEE EPICS Ambassador

 

Dr. Resala A. Al Adraj is an Assistant Professor and seasoned academic with over 20 years of experience in the field of computer science. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Warwick (UK), a Master’s degree in Technology Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

She served in the College of Information Technology at the University of Bahrain, where she specialised in e-business, human-computer interaction (HCI), and entrepreneurship. Dr. Al Adraj has taught a wide range of courses, mentored student innovation teams, and delivered numerous workshops on digital transformation, interface design, and startup development.

A dedicated IEEE volunteer, Dr. Al Adraj currently serves as Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Chapter in Bahrain, Educational Activity Officer (IEAO), and Corresponding Member of the IEEE Bahrain Section. She is also an IEEE EPICS Ambassador, where she promotes engineering service-learning projects that integrate technical knowledge with community impact.

Her work reflects a strong commitment to empowering students, advancing technical education, and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration across the Gulf region and beyond..

 

 

Ex-officio from the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board

 

 

Past Committee Members

2023-24 Committee Members
  • Chair: Theodoros Pananagiotis Chatzinikolaou (Greece)
  • Past-Chair: Abdulateef Aliyu (Nigeria)
  • Members:
    • George Papadimitriou (Switzerland)
    • Lucija Brezočnik (Slovenia)
    • Omar Salameh (Jordan)
    • Lavender Ndunya (Kenya)
  • Corresponding members:
    • Miriam Cunningham (UK & Ireland)
    • Neemat Abdelrahim (Sudan)
    • Nour Sbaoulji (Tunisia)
    • Jan Verveckken (Benelux)
  • Ex-officio from IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board:
    • Lwanga Herbert (Uganda)
    • Simay Akar (Turkey)
    • Magdalena Salazar-Palma (Spain)
    • Mohamed Essaaidi (Morocco)
    • Maxwell Addison (Ghana)
2021-22 Committee Members
  • Chair: Abdulateef Aliyu (Nigeria)
  • Past-Chair: John Funso Adebayo (Nigeria)
  • Members:
    • Lavender Ndunya (Kenya)
    • Fairouz Fattoum (Tunisia) (SAC Liaison)
  • Corresponding members:
    • Manuel Ballesteros (Spain)
    • Heba Qadoomi (Jordan)
    • Miriam Cunningham (UK & Ireland)
    • Walid Bin Habib (Germany)
  • Ex-officio from IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee:
    • Simay Akar (Turkey)
    • Lwanga Herbert (Uganda)

IEEE Africon 2023

 in News

IEEE AFRICON 2023 is co-sponsored by IEEE Region 8 and the IEEE Kenya Section and is the flagship conference for the African continent.

 

It will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on 20th – 22nd September 2023 under the theme:

 

“Advancing Technology in Africa Towards Presence on the Global Stage”.

 

Website: https://2023.ieee-africon.org/

 

IEEE Education Week

 in News

IEEE Education Week, taking place 2-8 April 2023, is a celebration of the many ways that IEEE Volunteers and Members make an impact on education at every level around the globe. The Education Week website, at https://educationweek.ieee.org/, offers links to live and virtual events, educational resources, and special offers. During the week, IEEE Members will have the opportunity to earn participation points and a digital badge while experiencing the many educational offerings IEEE makes available, from continuing education, to university offerings for faculty and students, to STEM educational initiatives. IEEE President Saifur Rahman will also present a special virtual event to help kick off the week on Monday, 3 April 2023.

 

Make sure that your Region’s educational offerings and events are featured

 

All IEEE-affiliated groups, including Regions, are invited to submit content to be featured on the Education Week website. Simply visit the website and click Submit on the top menu to get started. You can also submit events using IEEE vTools.Events.

IEEE COMCAS 2023

 in News

We are delighted to inform you that IEEE COMCAS 2023 is now open for manuscript submission.

 

Please find HERE the IEEE COMCAS 2023 Call For Papers.

 

Below you may find our conference website and social media channels. We invite you to follow for constant updates and more ongoing information about IEEE COMCAS. Please feel free to share them amongst your communities as well.

1. Conference Website: your dedicated link HERE

2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ieee.comcas/

3. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18143029/

4. Twitter: https://twitter.com/IEEECOMCAS

 

Call for Nominations: 2025-2026 Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect

 in Elections

The IEEE Region 8 Nominations & Appointments (N&A) Committee is soliciting nominations for the following leadership positions:

  • IEEE Region 8 2025-2026 Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect (six year commitment)

Information on the responsibilities, required skills and expected commitment is available at the Region Director position description and the IEEE Board of Directors member position description.

 

Submit nominations by filling up the IEEE R8 Nomination Form at https://ieee.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/825/home, by 31 May 2023. The slate of candidates will be selected by the Region 8 Committee during the meeting in August 2023. The IEEE Region 8 2025-2026 Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect will be elected by the voting members of Region 8 in the 2024 IEEE Annual Election from the slate approved by the R8 Committee.

 

In 2025-2026 this individual will:

  • be invited to attend the IEEE Board of Directors and the IEEE MGA Board meetings (as part of the preparation and education for the later service)
  • serve (as a voting member) on the IEEE Region 8 Committee and IEEE Region 8 Operating Committee
  • erve as member on the IEEE Region 8 Nominations & Appointments Committee

Additional duties may be expected and will vary.

 

In 2027-2028 this individual will serve on the:

  • IEEE Assembly (as delegate/representative of IEEE Region 8 members)
  • IEEE Board of Directors
  • IEEE MGA Board
  • IEEE Region 8 Committee (as chair)
  • IEEE Region 8 Operating Committee (as chair)
  • IEEE Region 8 Nominations & Appointments Committee.

Additional duties may be expected and will vary.

 

In 2029-2030 this individual will serve on the:

  • IEEE Region 8 Committee
  • IEEE Region 8 Operating Committee
  • IEEE Region 8 Nominations & Appointments Committee (as chair)
  • IEEE Region 8 Strategic Planning Committee (as chair or as a regular member)
  • IEEE Region 8 Awards & Recognition Committee (as chair or as a regular member).

Additional duties may be expected and will vary.

 

For all further details, including petition processes, please refer to the IEEE Region 8 Bylaws and the IEEE Region 8 Operations Manual, in particular section R8-3.1.2 ‘Director-Elect’ in the Bylaws, and section R8M-4.2 ‘Region 8 Director-Elect,’ and R8M-5 ‘Elections and appointments procedures’ in the Operations Manual.