Prof. Saifur Rahman

Biography:

Professor Saifur Rahman is the founding director of the Advanced Research Institute at Virginia Tech, USA where he is the Joseph R. Loring professor of electrical and computer engineering. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and an IEEE Millennium Medal winner. He was the 2023 IEEE President & CEO. He was the President of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) for 2018 and 2019. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the IEEE Electrification Magazine and the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. He has published over 160 journal papers and has made over seven hundred conferences and invited presentations. He is a distinguished lecturer for the IEEE Power & Energy Society and has lectured on renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart grid, energy internet, blockchain, IoT sensor integration, etc. in over 30 countries. He served as the chair of the US National Science Foundation Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering from 2010 to 2013. He has led several research projects for Duke Energy, Tokyo Electric Power Company, the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Energy and the State of Virginia. He has a PhD in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech.

Address:Oregon, United States

Dr. Winnie Ye

Biography:

Dr. Winnie Ye is a Fellow of Optica and a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), currently a Full Professor in the Department of Electronics at Carleton University. She was also a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Nano-scale IC Design for Reliable Opto-Electronics and Sensors from 2009 to 2021. Her expertise lies in silicon photonics, with diverse applications in telecommunications, data communication, biophotonics, and renewable energy. Dr. Ye received her B.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering from Carleton University, followed by advanced studies in Photonics. Dr. Ye earned her M.A.Sc. and Ph.D degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto and Carleton University, respectively. After completing her doctoral studies, she joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University as a NSERC postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Ye returned to Carleton as a faculty member in 2009.

Dr. Ye’s outstanding contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious international and national awards, including the  2025 Optica’s Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award, 2021 IEEE MGA Leadership Award, and the 2020 Partners In Research’s National Technology and Engineering Ambassador Award, the 2018 IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Inspiring Member Award, the 2018 Engineering Medal for Research and Development from the Ontario Professional Engineers (PEO), and the PEO Ottawa Chapter’s 2018 Engineering Excellence Award. In September 2019, Dr. Ye was honored with the Provost’s Fellowship in Teaching Award, earning her the title of Carleton University’s Teaching Fellow. She also received Carleton University’s Graduate Mentoring Award in 2022. In addition, she has been recognized with MRI’s Early Researcher Award (ERA) in 2012, the Research Achievement Award from Carleton University in 2013, and the 2021 Research Achievement Award from Carleton’s Faculty of Engineering and Design.

In addition to her research and teaching achievements, Dr. Ye has actively contributed to her field by serving as the Chair of Optica’s Photonics and Opto-Electronics Technical Division from 2021 to 2023. She currently holds the Chair position of the IEEE Women in Engineering for 2025-2026 and serves an elected member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Photonics Society.

Address:Oregon, United States

Celia Shahnaz

Biography:

Celia Shahnaz, SMIEEE, Life Fellow IEB, received Ph.D. degree from Concordia University, Canada and is currently a professor at, Department of EEE, BUET, Bangladesh since 2015. She was the winner of Canadian Common Scholarship for pursuing her Ph.D study in Canada and recipient of Bangladesh Academy of Science Gold Medal for her contributions in science and technology. The World Academy of Science (TWAS) members have elected her as a Fellow of TWAS for the advancement of science in developing countries, effective 1 January 2023. Recently, her nomination has been approved and she has been inducted into IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu as a Professional Member into the Eta Chapter of the Board of Governors. She has been selected as 2025 IEEE Computer society Distinguished Visitor. She has been appointed as 2025-26 Chair, IEEE WIE Nominations and Appoints. She has been elected as 2022 IEEE WIE Committee Chair-Elect and she has served as the 2023-2024 IEEE WIE Committee Chair. She has been appointed as 2024-25, Division V Representative, IEEE TAB Award and Recognition Committee , 2024-25 Member, IEEE Fourier Award for Signal Processing Committee , 2024-25 IEEE Computer society Awards Chair, 2025 Member, IEEE CS Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2024 Member, IEEE CS Election Committee, 2020, 2022-23 Member, IEEE New Initiative Committee, 2021-24 Member, IEEE History Committee, Liaison between IEEE History Committee and IEEE WIE, 2023 Corresponding member, IEEE BOD Ad-Hoc: Coordinating IEEE’s Response to Multimedia-Based Digital Reality Technologies, 2023 Member, the future of the IEEE WIE ILC Adhoc. She has served as 2021-22 Chair, IEEE SPS Women in Signal Processing, 2021-22 Liaison between IEEE SPS and IEEE WIE, 2021-22 Member, IEEE Educational Activities Board Faculty Resource Committee, 2022 Member, IEEE WIE Strategic planning Committee, 2021 Chair, IEEE WIE History Subcommittee, 2020-21 Member, IEEE WIE Senior Member Elevation Drive and 2019-2022 Member, IEEE WIE WePower Subcommittee. She has served as an Editorial board member, IET Signal Processing From 2018 to date. She is the immediate past Chair, IEEE Bangladesh Section, Co-founder & Chair, IEEE EMBS, IAS, RAS, SSIT Bangladesh Chapters, Co-founder & Vice-Chair, IEEE SPS Bangladesh Chapter, Founder and Advisor, WIE AG, and founder and Chair of SIGHT group FLASH, IEEE Bangladesh Section. She is the recipient of the 2021 IEEE MGA Achievement Award, 2021 Inspiring Women in Academia Award from Bangladesh brand forum, 2019 R10 Humanitarian Activities Outstanding Volunteer Award, 2016 MGA Leadership Award 2015 WIE Inspiring Member Award, 2013 R10 WIE Professional Volunteer Award. She has more than 24 years of experience (24 years as an IEEE volunteer) in leading impactful Technical, Professional, Educational, Industrial, Women Empowerment, Humanitarian Technology, Power and Energy-related Projects at national/international levels.

Address:Oregon, United States

John D. McDonald, P.E

Biography:

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 54 years), member of IEEE-HKN (inducted 54 years ago) and Tau Beta Pi (inducted 52 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, is a Governor At-Large on the IEEE-HKN Board of Governors 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.

Address:Oregon, United States

Jill Gostin

Biography:

Jill Gostin retired in 2025 as a Principal Research Scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and the Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test Lead in her Division. Her work focused on sensor systems and software. Her publications, service and technical awards, large program management, and leadership of groups including industry, government, and academia have contributed to her career success. She has also served IEEE extensively, including as 2023 IEEE Vice President, Member and Geographic Activities, chairing the MGA Board. She served three years on the IEEE Board of Directors, and in multiple IEEE roles including Board roles in two Societies and one technical Council. She has served or led multiple units and committees across IEEE, including Local to Global roles. In 2016, Georgia Women in Technology selected her as Woman of the Year, which recognizes technology executives for accomplishments as business leaders, technology visionaries, and impact-makers in their community.

Address:Oregon, United States

David Koehler

Biography:

David received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Indiana University and obtained an M.B.A. He has worked in the power and energy industry for almost thirty years.  David has provided numerous technical presentations and published technical articles within the power industry.  He is a proud IEEE WIE member..

Address:Oregon, United States