Below are the candidates for 2024 IEEE Technical Activities Vice President-Elect.

The sequence of candidates was determined by lottery and indicates no preference.

  • Maciej J. Ogorzalek (Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)
  • Dalma Novak (Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)
  • Rakesh Kumar (Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

View position description

Balloting for the 2023 IEEE Annual Election ended at 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC) on 2 October 2023. The unofficial election results will be announced on 6 October 2023.

Maciej J. Ogorzalek

Headshot of Maciej J. Ogorzalek

MACIEJ J. OGORZALEK
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

Honorary Chair Professor
Department of Information Technologies
Institute of Applied Computer Science
Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science
Jagiellonian University
                              Krakow, Poland
                              http://www.doit.fais.uj.edu.pl/maciej-ogorzalek

Meet Maciej by watching a brief video.

MACIEJ J. OGORZALEK is Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technologies, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland.

Author of over 400 papers published in journals and conference proceedings, and the book Chaos and Complexity in Nonlinear Electronic Circuits (World Scientific).

He held visiting positions at UC Berkeley, National Microelectronics Center, Sevilla, Spain and The Goethe University Frankfurt/Germany. 2006-2009 he held the Chair of Bio-signals and Systems, Hong Kong Polytechnic University under the Distinguished Scholars Scheme. In 2018 guest professor at Waseda University. In spring 2019 distinguished guest professor at Kyoto University, Japan and visiting professor at the Integrated Systems Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne.

He has served as Associate Editor for several international scientific journals. Plenary or Keynote speaker at over 60 major international conferences and workshops. Elected Member of Academia Europaea, Full Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Engineering in Poland.

 

Statement

  1. I will lead TAB and its units to attack emerging problems: our planet conditions require disruptive solutions. Environmental changes and resource shortages will have disturbing effects on our lives. New ways of operation, new technologies, products and actions such as air-and water-pollution mitigation, advanced electronic waste management are on the top of my agenda.
  2. The experience of many restrictions over last years have very significant impact on all IEEE operations. Remote participation limits important direct contacts but gives also special opportunities for enlarging the audiences, encouraging involvement of under-represented communities, closing the gender gap and also changing the perspective of engineering and STEM subjects. We have to enhance, improve and encourage telepresence experience in view of the climate change.
  3. TAB has to provide excellent service on every scale - from local chapters and groups of interest to global perspective. Chapter support is crucial. Significant improvements of horizontal and vertical communication between and within OUs will help to solve local problems.
  4. My Motto: Think globally - Act locally! 

I have in-depth experience in TAB operations. I will strive to bring new solutions for the above-mentioned challenges and implement them in a collegial spirit.

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(M’88-SM’93-F’97-LF’22)

COMMITTEES/BOARDS:

  • 2022-2023 Member, IEEE Conference Committee
  • 2022-2023 Member, TAB Ombudsman
  • 2021-2023 Member, New Initiatives Committee
  • 2020-2023 Member, IEEE 2050 Ad-Hoc
  • 2021-2023 Member, IEEE Fellow Committee
  • 2022-2023 Member, TCOES
  • 2020-2023 Member, IEEE TAB TC 2.0 Ad-Hoc
  • 2020-2023 Member, EAB Nominations and Appointments (N&A)
  • 2018-2020 Member, Education Activities Board
  • 2018-2020 Member, TAB Management Committee
  • 2019 Chair TAB Ad-Hoc on Mission and Vision
  • 2019-2020 Member, TAB N&A
  • 2018-2020 Member, Awards Board N&A
  • 2018-2019 Chairman, TAB Ad-Hoc on Global Society Interaction
  • 2016-2017 Division 1 Director/Delegate and Member, IEEE Board of Directors
  • 2011-2014 Member, IEEE Fellow Committee
  • 2013-2015 Vice-chair, IEEE Recognitions Council
  • 2012-2013 Chairman, Prize Paper/Scholarship Award Committee

SECTIONS/CHAPTERS:

  • Poland Section Chair, 2010-2013

SOCIETY:

  • Recipient of CASS Meritorious Service Award, 2012
  • CASS President, 2008
  • CASS Administrative VP, 2005-2006

CONFERENCES:

  • General Co-chair IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC21)
  • General Co-chair, ESSCIRC/ESSDERC 2019
  • Co-organizer CAS FEST 2012, Seoul, Korea
  • Committee Member of several IEEE sponsored conferences

OTHERS:

  • Editorial Board Proceedings of the IEEE, 2004-2009
  • Editor-in-Chief Circuits and Systems Magazine, 2004-2007
  • CASS Distinguished Lecturer, 2004-2005
  • IEEE-CAS Golden Jubilee Award and the CASS Guillemin-Cauer Award, 2002

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

  1. As President of CASS I introduced Young Professionals to the Society BoG. Created The Latin American Symposium on Circuits and Systems, successfully running for 15 years.
  2. As EiC for the Circuits and Systems Magazine I brought it to full development reaching IF= 3.54.
  3. As Chairman of the Poland Section I introduced the WIE affinity group, supported SYP Congress in our section. I supported first IEEE Milestones in Poland (ENIGMA and  “Czochralski”).
  4. Chaired the Ad-Hoc committee which formulated the current Technical Activities Mission and Vision Statement adopted by TAB.
  5. As member of the TC2.0 Ad-Hoc, FDC and NIC I worked towards improvements of current operations of TAB units and providing support to new initiatives and future projects.

Dalma Novak

Headshot of Dalma Novak

DALMA NOVAK
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

VP of Engineering
Octane Wireless
Hanover, Maryland, USA
www.octanewireless.com

Meet Dalma by watching a brief video.

Dalma Novak is VP of Engineering at Octane Wireless (formerly Pharad) where she develops high-performance RF-over-fiber technologies. Prior to co-founding Pharad in 2004, she spent 12 years as a Professor and Chair in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Melbourne. She was also a Technical Section Lead at Dorsál Networks and Corvis Corporation where she led cross-disciplinary R&D teams developing hardware for long-haul transmission systems. Her research interests include microwave photonics, wireless technologies, and optical communications. She has published more than 300 papers in these areas. In 2007 she was elected to the grade of IEEE Fellow for contributions to enabling technologies for the implementation of fiber-radio systems and received the IEEE Photonics Society Engineering Achievement Award in 2018. Dalma received the degrees of Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) with First Class Honors and PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1987 and 1992, respectively.

 

Statement

Diversity of thought is essential to innovation. The Societies and Councils that make up the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB) are inherently diverse in many dimensions, which is the foundation of successful innovation.  My goal as VP of Technical Activities would be to support the diversity of thought enabled by TAB technical communities by working to unite our various perspectives and efforts for the benefit of everyone.  I aim to leverage my multidisciplinary industrial and academic backgrounds to do the following:

  • Promote increased collaboration to identify creative solutions, that address current and emerging challenges, in key product areas such as publications and conferences;
  • Facilitate the sharing of experiences, best practices, new ideas, and emerging opportunities essential to moving forward and making progress;
  • Support the development of strategies to identify the next generation of volunteer leaders and increase the accessibility of volunteer opportunities; and
  • Create additional impact by exploring engagement and partnerships with emerging communities and organizations that share mutual interests.

It is imperative that we strengthen our joint commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ensuring that we attract, retain, and develop a more diverse membership and volunteer base enables us to build successful technical communities.

 

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’90-M’91-SM’01-F’07)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS and COMMITTEES:

  • Director, Division X, 2021-2022
  • Member, Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, 2022-2023 (Vice-Chair 2022)
  • Member, Employee Benefits and Compensation Committee, 2022-Present
  • Member, Strategy Alignment Committee, 2022-2023
  • Member, New Initiatives Committee, 2018-2021
  • Member, Fellow Committee, 2017-2020
  • Member, Public Visibility Committee, 2016-2017

TAB:

  • Chair, Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, 2021-2023
  • Member, Strategic Planning Committee, 2021-2023
  • Member, Committee on Technical Community Outreach, Engagement and Society Membership, 2022-2023
  • Member, Nominations and Appointments Committee, 2023-Present

AWARD COMMITTEES:

  • Member, IEEE Founders Medal Committee, 2023-Present
  • Member, IEEE Nishizawa Medal Committee, 2021-2023
  • Member, IEEE Photonics Award Committee, 2020-2023 (Chair 2022)

SOCIETIES:

  • Photonics Society:
    • President, 2014-2015
    • Secretary Treasurer, 2012-2013
    • Member, Board of Governors, 2011-2013
    • Chair, Industry Engagement Committee, 2017-2022
    • Chair, Awards Committee, 2019-2020
  • Microwave Theory and Technology Society:
    • Member, Awards Committee, 2019-2023
    • Member, Fellow Committee, 2011-2012

SECTIONS/CHAPTERS:

  • Chair, IEEE Australia Council, 1999-2000
  • Chair, IEEE LEOS/EDS Victorian Chapter, 1999-2001
  • Member, IEEE LEOS/EDS Australian Chapter Executive Committee, 1996-1998
  • Member, IEEE Victorian Section ExCom, 1993-2001 (Chair 1996-1999)

CONFERENCES:

  • IEEE Photonics Conference:
    • General Chair, 2012
    • Technical Program Chair, 2010
    • Member, Technical Program Committee (TPC), 2000-2009
  • IEEE/Optica Optical Fiber Communications Conference:
    • Member, Steering Committee, 2018-2023
    • Member, TPC, 2005-2007, 2010-2012
  • IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS):
    • IMS2024 TPC Co-Chair
    • Member, TPRC, 2003-2012, 2017
    • Member, Steering Committee, 2011, 2018
  • IEEE International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics:
    • General Co-Chair, 1999
    • Member, TPC, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 (Co-Chair 2015, 2017)
    • Member, Steering Committee, 1996-2002, 2004-2012 (Chair 2000)

PUBLICATIONS:

  • Member, Editorial Board, IEEE Access, 2023-Present
  • Member, Editorial Board, Proceedings of the IEEE, 2021-2023
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2002-2007, 2018-2023
  • Associate Editor, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2009-2019

AWARDS:

  • IEEE Photonics Society Engineering Achievement Award, 2018
  • IEEE Photonics Society Distinguished Service Award, 2018

 

Rakesh Kumar

Headshot of Rakesh Kumar

RAKESH KUMAR
(Nominated by IEEE Technical Activities)

President & CEO
Technology Connexions Inc.
Poway, California, USA
www.rakesh4vpta.com

Meet Rakesh by watching a brief video.

Rakesh has a distinguished semiconductor industry career, is an entrepreneur, and an educator. He founded two start-ups and made many technical and leadership contributions at Cadence, Unisys, and Motorola where he developed leading semiconductor technologies.  As VP and  GM at Cadence he built a successful Silicon Technology services business championing the integration of silicon, design and EDA in chip and system design.  At Unisys and Cadence, he coordinated the implementation model that enabled the Fabless industry revolution and authored McGraw Hill’s “Fabless Semiconductor Implementation”.  He is an IEEE Life Fellow, was inducted into the Technical Activities Hall of Honor.  His many IEEE contributions include Chairing the IEEE/TA Data AdHoc & Roadmaps Committees, DataPort Chair, Industry Engagement committee member, SSCS Past-President, TA Chair for 3 Sections Congresses.  He teaches Entrepreneurship at UC San Diego. 

He received the EE Ph.D. and M.S. from Univ. Rochester, BTech. from IITDelhi, and Executive “MBA” from UCSD.

 

Statement

Having gained much experience in leading four activities within IEEE TA, and having participated in three recent Region meetings  I have gained a good understanding of the areas I will focus on.  First, we need to incentivize the development of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary, real-world solutions. These will draw in members that are not currently Society members.  Next, focusing on topics and areas of interest to young professionals, such as climate solutions and career development, we will become more relevant to that community. This approach will go a long way in potentially reducing the YP dropout rate after graduation. Lastly, we need to find ways to implement projects at a much faster rate.  Technology solutions are being implemented in the industry at a very rapid rate.  Unless we tackle this problem we may experience obsolescence. 

IEEE/TA has an excellent reputation and brand for being the premier research publication/conference venue.  We need to build on this reputation and either expand or build a new brand focused on solutions relevant more broadly and to the industry.  It will be my pleasure to advance these priorities if I’m elected. We also need to grow our Members globally and continue to improve our records on Diversity.  


IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’70-M’74-SM’91-F’08-LF’13)

Kumar has served in a wide-range of leadership roles.  His efforts led to enhancements within TA. He initiated/implemented plans for SSCS Chapters expansion worldwide, increased cooperation and  globalization across various OUs.  He was inducted into the TAB Hall of Honor.  He fosters cross-functional cooperation and innovation using his technical know-how and leadership skills.

Recent Leadership Roles:

  • IEEE Data-based Business Strategy AdHoc Chair
  • IEEE Technology Roadmaps Committee Chair
  • DataPort Chair
  • CHIPS Volunteer Advisory Board Co-Chair
  • IEEE Industry Engagement Committee
  • SSCS Strategy Adviser and Magazine Board Chair
  • IEEE Sections Congress – 2020 Advisory panel, 2017, 2014, 2011 TA Chair
  • Boards of Governors – SSCS, SSIT, HKN
  • MGA VoLT Instructor

Technical Activities Leadership:

  • TMC 2015-17
  • Strategic Planning 2014-16
  • Vice-Chair Entrepreneurship 2015-16
  • Chair Society Turnaround Committee (SSIT) 2012-14
  • MGA Geographic Unit Operations Support Committee, TAB Representative 2011
  • Ethics and Conflict Resolution 2010
  • TAB FinCom 2009-10

SSCS Leadership:

  • Society Directions Committee Advisor 2021-present
  • President 2012-13; Vice-President 2010-11; Treasurer 2005-09; CICC Representative to SSCS AdCom 2000-04; Nominations Chair 2014-15; Chair, Magazine Advisory Board, 2014-present
  • As SSCS President/President-Elect, promoted global presence outreach
    • Facilitated formation of 12 new Chapters (15% growth in two years)
    • Led programs that transformed declining Society membership trend to positive annual growth (~2.5%) in two years
    • Promoted volunteer recognition - Fellow nominations increased by 80%
    • Enhanced educational activities - >15 tutorials/short courses available online, 7 Distinguished Lecturer “Tours” in Regions 8-10 (participated in 3)
    • Launched successful SSCS Webinar program
    • SSCS and EDS Distinguished Lectures
    • Supported GOLD/YP and WIE activities
    • Championed/promoted member value
  • Spear-headed approval and launched IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine focused on historical, educational and newsworthy content (2005-06). Tutorials Editor for five years
  • Used Leadership skills that drove the formulation/approval of cross-functional publications:
    • IEEE RFIC Virtual Journal – Fostered cooperation between SSC/CAS/MTT/ED/AP Societies
    • JXCDC – IEEE Journal on Exploratory Computational Solid-State Computational Devices and Circuits (sponsors SSCS/Magnetics/NanoTechC/CAS/Computer; technical co-sponsors EDS/C Superconductivity/CEDA)