Prof. Iwendi of IEEE

Growing Beyond Campus: What IEEE Membership Unlocks After Graduation explores the value of IEEE membership beyond university, highlighting opportunities for continued professional growth and engagement. The session discusses how members can get involved at the chapter and section levels, access mentorship and networking pathways, and build connections with professionals across the industry. It also provided an industry perspective on emerging trends and where the engineering field is heading, helping students understand how IEEE can support their careers beyond graduation.

Biography:

Professor Celestine Iwendi is an IEEE Brand Ambassador, TEDx Speaker, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, and Head of the Centre of Intelligence of Things, CIoTh, at the University of Greater Manchester, Bolton, United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in Electronics Engineering and has more than 25 years of technical, academic, research, and professional experience across artificial intelligence, machine learning, wireless sensor networks, Internet of Things, intelligent systems, cybersecurity, data driven innovation, and applied digital transformation.

He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the United Kingdom, and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. His technical expertise includes the development of testing procedures, electronic systems support, safety compliance, AI enabled system design, intelligent infrastructure, and applied research translation across industry, healthcare, education, and society.

Professor Iwendi has received prestigious recognition from the Royal Academy of Engineering under the Exceptional Talent Scheme for his contributions to artificial intelligence and medical applications. He has also been listed in Elsevier’s World’s Top 2 Percent Influential Scientists for five consecutive years, reflecting the global reach, quality, and citation impact of his research. His scholarly work spans 13 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with 92.6 percent of his publications internationally co-authored and 60.7 percent ranking among the top 25 percent most cited globally.

He is a Visiting Professor at seven universities worldwide and has built a strong record of international academic collaboration, postgraduate supervision, research leadership, curriculum innovation, and institutional partnership. As Head of CIoTh, he leads interdisciplinary work in
artificial intelligence, IoT, big data, robotics, medical AI, cybersecurity, smart systems, and responsible innovation.

Within IEEE, Professor Iwendi has made significant contributions to volunteer leadership, governance, student engagement, and global professional development. He served as Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Worldwide Election Committee in 2024, is the IEEE University of Greater Manchester Student Branch Counsellor, and is a former Board Member of the IEEE Sweden Section. He is also an IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer and has contributed to the development of student branches, professional communities, and
international technical engagement across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Professor Iwendi has recently been nominated as a candidate for the Board of Governors of the IEEE Computer Society worldwide, a major recognition of his leadership, service, and commitment to the advancement of computing globally. Through this nomination, he seeks to
further strengthen student participation, support young professionals, expand IEEE Computer Society visibility in underrepresented regions, and promote responsible technology for humanity.

He is an Ambassador in the prestigious Manchester Conference Ambassador Programme and was named a 2024 Highly Ranked Scholar, Prior Five Years, in All Fields of Scholarly Endeavour by ScholarGPS, placing him among the top 0.05 percent of 30 million scholars worldwide. He is also the recipient of the 2025 Herbert Simon Award for outstanding contributions in Information Technology and Decision Making. Beyond his academic and professional achievements, Professor Iwendi is also a committed philanthropist who supports African widows, reflecting his lifelong dedication to service, compassion, community empowerment, and social impact.