2008 IEEE Annual Election - Region 8

MARKO DELIMAR
(Nominated by Region 8)

Professor
University of Zagreb
Zagreb, Croatia
www.markodelimar.org

Marko Delimar is an electrical engineer, educator and researcher. He holds BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering and a Diploma in Management. At present, Marko teaches at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, where he has been with the Department of Power Systems since 1997 and is exceptionally proud to have participated in the education of several thousand students. Marko has authored over 50 journal and conference papers and received several awards as a researcher, educator and volunteer. He is involved with several research projects, as well as industry and government contracted projects, including the development of National Energy Strategy. His professional interests include electric power and energy systems, simulation and modeling, intelligent systems and engineering education. Marko completed a part of his education in the USA as an exchange student. In his spare time, Marko enjoys outdoor sports/activities, especially skiing and wild-water canoeing. 

IEEE Activities – (S’94-M’02-SM’04) COMMITTEES/BOARDS: Member and Geographic Activities Board, MGA Students Committee, Vice Chair, 2008; Regional Activities Board, RAB Student Activities Committee, Student Professional Awareness Activities, Chair, 2007; Member, 2005-07 ; IEEE 125th Anniversary AdHoc Committee, Member, 2008;IEEE Alternative Membership Models AdHoc Committee, Member, 2008; IEEE History Committee, Member, 2007. REGION: Region 8, Vice Chair – Membership Activities, 2007-08; Region 8 Strategic Planning Committee, Member, 2007-08; Region 8, Vice Chair – Student Activities, 2005-06; Region 8 Operating Committee, Member, 2005-08; Region 8 Student Activities Committee, Chair, 2005-06; Member, 2004-08. SECTION: Croatia Section, Executive Committee, Member, 2004-08; Student Activities, Chair, 2004-08. STUDENT BRANCH: University of Zagreb Student Branch, Advisor, 2006-08; Counselor, 2004-08; Student Branch Chair, 1995-97. AFFINITY GROUP: Women in Engineering University of Zagreb Student Branch, Advisor, 2006-08. CONFERENCES: IEEE HISTELCON 2008, Program Committee Member, 2008; IEEE EUROCON 2007, International Advisory Board, Member, 2007; Power Systems and Power Electronics Co-Chair, 2007; IEEE MELECON 2004, Awards Committee, Chair, 2004.  AWARDS: IEEE Croatia Section, Distinguished Service Award, 2007; IEEE Regional Activities Board, Achievement Award, 2006. 

IEEE Accomplishments – I started volunteering for IEEE by founding the University of Zagreb Student Branch and serving as its first chair. Throughout my involvement, I have been very fortunate to serve on great teams that have helped develop some of the IEEE's most interesting activities. 

I am currently involved with the organization of the IEEE’s 125th Anniversary and with developing new IEEE membership models which could enable members to more closely personalize their membership experience. 

Realizing the importance of supporting our members’ careers, I have emphasized Professional Activities as an important topic and helped with the formation of the Region 8 Professional Activities Subcommittee. 

I have initiated several hugely successful Region 8 Membership Development projects, started Region 8 production of IEEE promotional items, and introduced the Region 8 Electronic Gazette. 

With great enthusiasm, I have organized and supported many IEEE contests, including the first two editions of IEEEXtreme – the 24-hour global programming competition, and helped with the publication of Student Paper Contest papers in technical conference proceedings and the Potentials magazine. 

I have started many joint GOLD/Student programs and organized the IEEE Region 8 Student Branch and GOLD Congress 2006, which brought together over 320 IEEE volunteers from all over the world.

Statement – IEEE must remain focused on being a premier membership organization, and serve all its members, globally, at the highest possible level. While IEEE faces significant challenges, I want to help keep IEEE a superb organization, which is worth being a member of.  As an IEEE volunteer since 1994, I strongly believe in team work. Region 8 is the geographically largest and by many means the greatest of all IEEE regions. Our diversity is our strength and our potential for growth is enormous. As the Region 8 Delegate/Director, I shall strive to: 

• Improve the efficiency in serving our members with better, new and localized services at an affordable membership 
• Develop specific programs for the growth and support to our members’ careers 
• Continue improving communications channels to and between our members 
• Increase support to sections, local chapters, student branches and affinity groups 
• Increase collaboration with educational institutions and industry 
• Increase effectiveness in representing Region 8 within IEEE, keeping in mind global interests of the IEEE as well as our Region’s specific issues 
• Increase volunteer involvement and satisfaction

Gerhard Hancke received the BSc, BEng and MEng from the University of Stellenbosch and the DEng from the University of Pretoria, where he is currently Program Coordinator for Computer Engineering. He is Head of the Research Group on Distributed Sensor Networks, a joint initiative of the Meraka Institute, CSIR, and the University of Pretoria. He has been involved in collaborative research programs internationally for many years and has produced 100+ journal and conference papers. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the "Ad Hoc Networks" journal and has wide-ranging experience in organizing major international conferences. 

Before joining academia he was a Senior Engineer at the Atomic Energy Board. During his academic career he has maintained a close association with industry, through contract research and by organizing/presenting seminars and training courses. He is a Professional Engineer and held offices in various national and international scientific and professional bodies. 

IEEE Activities – (M’88-SM’00) COMMITTEE/BOARD: Member and Geographic Activities Board, Vice-Chair – Member Development, 2008. REGION: Region 8, Vice-Chair - Membership Activities, 2001-02; Region 8 Conference Coordination Committee, Member, 1999-2008; Delegate of Region 8 Director for the southern group of Region 8 countries, 2008; Region 8, Various AdHoc Workgroups, Member, 1999-2005; MD Team Member (responsible for Africa), 1999-2005.  SECTION: South Africa Section, Chair, 1998-2000; Vice Chair, 1997; Secretary, 1995-96; Treasurer, 2004-07; Student Activity Committee, Chair, 2001-05.  CHAPTER: South Africa Joint Energy Chapter (PE, PEL, IA & IE), Member, 1998-2008.  STUDENT BRANCH: University of Pretoria Student Branch, Counselor, 2002-05.  SOCIETY: Industrial Electronics Society (IES), AdCom Member, 1999-2005; Senior AdCom Member, 2006-08; Secretary, 2006-08; IES, Technical Committee on Building Automation, Control and Management, Vice-Chair, 2005-07. CONFERENCES: IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE 2008), Track Chair, 2008; IEEE Industrial Electronics Conference (IECON 2008), Special Session Co-Chair, 2008; IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN 2007), Co-Chair, 2007; IEEE Region 8 AFRICON 2004, General Chair, 2004; IEEE Region 8 AFRICON 2002, General Chair, 2002; 3^rd IEEE International Conference on Control Theory and Applications 2001, Chair of IPC, 2001; IEEE Series of IECON, ISIE, ICIT, INES, IPC/TPC, Member, 1999-2008; IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE 1998), General Co-Chair, 1998.  REPRESENTATIVE: IES Representative on Steering Committee of the Transactions on Mobile Computing, 2005-07.  AWARD: Larry K. Wilson Award, 2007. 

IEEE Accomplishments – I have been involved with Region 8 activities for 12 years and my interest has always been the members and improving their IEEE experience. As Region 8 Vice-Chair for Membership Activities, I introduced training for volunteer leaders, because they are the local interface and bi-directional communications channel to the member.

A powerful tool for serving the community is Region 8 conferences. I have closely been involved (Chair or Advisor) with AFRICON since 1999 in Cape Town and in George (2002); Gaborone (2004) and Windhoek (2007). 

As IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Board Vice-Chair for Member Development I have been and still am intimately involved with the transition of RAB to MGA and the MGA’s Vision to “Ensure Quality Member Opportunities for Continuous Engagement”. 

I have extensive experience in the Technical Activities arena by participating in various capacities in conferences and publications. I have served in the Industrial Electronics Society for many years as AdCom Member and since 2006 as Senior AdCom Member and Secretary.

Some of the above were recognized in 2007 when I was awarded the RAB Larry K. Wilson Transnational Award “For inspiring membership development and services as a member of several regional and technical conferences worldwide”. 

Statement – My vision for Region 8 is simple: its activities should improve overall IEEE member experience. Region 8 leadership must keep in touch with and be responsive to the needs and concerns of members in all stages of the life-cycle. 

This vision is in line with a significant paradigm shift within the IEEE and which led to the transition from the Regional Activities Board to the Member and Geographic Activities Board, where the focus is on the member. 

If elected, I will restructure the Region 8 Committee and redefine its vision and mission and activities to reflect the above-mentioned concept, and will endeavor to find ways to effectively introduce this to section level.

We want the member to take co-ownership of the IEEE, more like a share-holder - as opposed to the concept of the IEEE being a service-provider and the member a client. 

Although there is room for membership development (by increasing numbers),we need to shift our focus to member development (by improving member experience) – only then will membership growth and retention be sustainable.