Adrian Pais

Name: Adrian Pais.

Nationality: New Zealand (born in Zambia).

Job title: Research Scientist

Organization: LinkNet Zambia

Industry: Telecommunications access

Work description: Provision of telecommunications and the Internet to rural Zambia.

Personal interests: Christianity, digital divide, telecommunications, travel, variety of sports, social responsibility, IEEE.

Current IEEE volunteer position:  GOLD representative on Publication Services and Products Board (PSPB) and GOLDRush editor.

How has IEEE nurture you as a person? How has IEEE prepared you for your workplace? What do you like most about volunteering with IEEE? What wouldn't be possible for you, if you hadn't volunteer for IEEE? What do you find unique about IEEE? Why did you continue volunteering? Does volunteering help you to achieve your aspirations? 

(To answer all the following questions, at least partially!)

I started volunteering for the IEEE in 2002 when an academic at The University of Auckland approached me and asked if I could ‘reactivate’ the student branch, which had been inactive for a number of years. In taking on this challenge, I saw two major tasks: firstly, to establish an ‘IEEE culture’ within the university and secondly, to build the necessary foundation for the student branch to grow from strength to strength each year so that it would never become inactive again. I recognised that for these things to happen there had to be a committee of dedicated volunteer students who were intent on making a difference in university (and beyond), based on a shared enthusiasm for the ideals and values of the IEEE.

I began by promoting the IEEE to students on campus and soon formed a student branch executive committee of twelve volunteers. In just one year, our student branch held several events, established a constitution, developed a branch management manual and implemented a documentation process. As a result of these efforts, our branch became the fastest growing of any student branch in Region 10 in 2002 and 2003. Today, the student branch has an entirely new generation of student volunteers and continues to grow; most recently a ‘Women in Engineering’ group (affiliated with the student branch) was formed and the committee has been expanded to include student representatives from all disciplines related to the IEEE. I believe that an ‘IEEE culture’ is so well established in the university that people have now forgotten what life was like without the IEEE student branch!

Following my term as Chairman of the IEEE University of Auckland student branch in 2002 and 2003, I became mentor of the branch in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, I took on a role as the Professional Activities Committee for Engineers (PACE) Chairman in the IEEE New Zealand North Section, which involved organising professional development opportunities for IEEE members at large.

This year (2007), I am honoured and blessed to be the representative for GOLD on the Publication Services and Products Board (PSPB). I am also the editor of GOLDRush, the quarterly newsletter of IEEE GOLD for young professionals.

This year, my objectives as the PSPB representative for GOLD are: (i) to grow GOLDRush into a newsletter publication of the highest quality and relevance for young engineers and (ii) to promote the work of GOLD and our members in media throughout the IEEE and beyond. If you share my vision for making these things happen and are willing to give your valuable time to the IEEE, then please contact me and we’ll discuss how you could be involved. In particular, I am looking for volunteer reporters from around the world who are dedicated to writing reports for GOLDRush. I am also looking for people who are interested in helping to promote GOLD and our members both within the IEEE and throughout the world. It would be great if you could join me on this wonderful journey!

All in all, the IEEE has been, and continues to be a remarkable medium through which I have been able to improve my personal skills (e.g. leadership and communication), while helping to move our profession forward. Through the IEEE I have met many wonderful people, many of whom will be friends for the rest of my life. Indeed, the IEEE has helped me so much in my development and presented so many opportunities to me that no matter how much I do in return, it will never be enough!

One (Two or Three) IEEE friend/s who left an inspiring impression on you.  Darrel Chong, who organized the first ever student branch congress for Region 10 in 2002 and continues to serve within the IEEE.

Alif Wahid, Chair of The University of Auckland IEEE Student branch following my term – he was instrumental in the student branch’s long-term success and continuity.