IEEE Annual Election - Region 7 (Canada)

Michael Lamoureux is currently serving as Secretary of Region 7 (Canada) and is an independent consultant, technology analyst (who most recently served as Spend Matters Consulting Lead Analyst for six years), and advisor who is primarily focused on Strategic Procurement Technologies and other advanced technology applications for the supply chain. An expert in algorithms, analytics, optimization, machine learning and AI applications, he focusses on the evaluation of industrial applications for buying companies.

Before he was Spend Matters Consulting Lead Analyst, he ran Sourcing Innovation, one of only two blogs that covered the Sourcing and Procurement Fin-Tech sub-space since 2006. He has served as Chief Architect, Chief Research Scientist, and CTO in various IT start-ups and small companies in addition to his regular technology advising through ToP KaTS Consulting, a company he founded in 1999. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and has also been a Lecturer and Assistant Professor.

Statement

Consistency and Sustainability.

A candidate is expected to present a grand vision, but let’s be realistic – a Director only has two years, Region 7 already has more offerings than most members realize, and the pandemic caused member loss and volunteer burnout. This is not the time to change focus every two years.

A strategic plan takes (at least) five years to reach fruition – if elected, I will continue the pursuit of the strategic plan created by the current Director (and Elect) which focusses on 1) volunteer upskilling, 2) more networking and collaboration opportunities, 3) volunteer promotion (and awards expansion or restructuring), 4) improvement of the IEEE Canada value message, and 5) technology for humanity in Canada.  The only addition I will make is 4b) supporting the IEEE Standards expansion in Canada and more support for PAGSE and policy. 

In addition, as Elect, I will work with the Director to push MGA to maintain easily-accessible and up-to-date volunteer training not just for key officer roles, but everyone who needs position-appropriate organization and project management and leadership skills.  

SELECT MAJOR IEEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Member and Geographic Activities (MGA):

• Helped lay the groundwork for the MGA committee series which started the year I was MGA IT Coordination and Oversight Committee (ITCO) Past Chair (where MGA Geographic Unit Operations Support Committee (GUOS), ITCO, and Member Development all met in the same location to allow for sharing of ideas and alignment of goals and needs, key for ensuring that Information Management was prepared for the new initiatives that GUOS / Member Development planned to launch)
• Helped (re)design multiple existing vTools, including expanded use of voting for motions
• Improved the vitality cross-section/meta-analysis process on GUOS (for section/region comparisons)

Region 7 (Canada):

• Worked with multiple directors to restructure committees and operations, including leading the by-law and operations manual rewrite process when necessary

CCECE 2015:

• One of the Region’s most profitable conferences of the 2010s with a 35% surplus as Finance Chair

CAS:

• First Canadian small section to win the MGA small section award when I was Section Chair

OTHER:

• Contributor to IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Initiative

ACTIVITIES

MGA:

• 2015-2016 MGA IT Coordination and Oversight Committee (ITCO)
• 2016-2018 MGA vTools Committee
• 2018-2018 MGA ITCO Chair
• 2019-2020 MGA ITCO Past Chair
• 2020-2021 MGA Geographic Unit Operations Support Committee (GUOS & GUOS Representative to ITCO)

REGION 7:

• 2012-2014 Chapters Chair
• 2013-2014 Vitality Coordinator
• 2012-2014 External Relations Group Chair
• 2017-2019 Professional Relations Chair
• 2019-2020 External Relations Group Chair
• 2021-2023 IEEE Canada Secretary

CONFERENCES:

• 2015 CCECE Finance Chair
• 2022 CCECE Finance Chair
• 2024 OCEANS Finance Chair

COMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY:

• 1998-2000 Canadian Atlantic Section ComSoc Chapter Chair

COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SOCIETY:

• 2013-2013 CIS Chapter Chair
• 2014-2014 CIS Vice Chair

CANADIAN ATLANTIC SECTION:

• 2007-2008 Vice Chair
• 2009-2010 Chair
• 2011-2011 Past Chair
• 2012-2012 Treasurer

Statement

IEEE Canada continues to face critical challenges. Over 29 years, I’ve been actively serving IEEE members with dedication and proven record of accomplishments. I held various leadership positions at all IEEE levels that allowed me to participate and fully understand IEEE’s structure and challenges. I will strive my best to:

• Ensure IEEE Canada’s long-term success, and help members thrive by providing more resources and services.
• Increase IEEE Canada’s prominence and visibility within industry/academia/government to enable professionals to advance technology for benefitting humanity.
• Increase technical activities’ responsiveness to the needs of rapidly changing industry.
• Improve publications, conferences and Standards as high-quality products to curate innovation, attract worldwide participation, increase membership, and improve revenue.
• Build profound interaction between IEEE Canada Board and its Areas, Sections, Chapters, Young Professionals, Women in Engineering, Student Branches, and IEEE Canadian Foundation. 
• Support diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Provide leadership to achieve IEEE's vision, mission, goals, strategies, plans, budgets, and reinforce IEEE global leadership.
• Raise IEEE BoD's and MGA’s attention to any matters regarding IEEE Canada activities/concerns, and recommendations by IEEE Canada Board.

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(M’95-SM’05)

Major Contributions:

• As IEEE Consumer Technology Society (CTSoc) President (2019-2022), moved CTSoc to new excellence level (establishing 15 new technical committees, publications, restructuring conferences, increasing budget from $0.5M deficit to $1M/year surplus, engaging industry/Standards, establishing new Society name, logo, field of interest, etc.)
• Brought IEEE Section Congress to Canada/Ottawa
• Restructured IEEE Canada conferences and publications
• Engaged IEEE Canada/IEEE with Tourism/Destination Canada
• Received, as Ottawa Section Chair: 2008 Exemplary Large Section Award for “Ottawa Section Leadership, Management and Administration”
• Chaired/organized 35+ international conferences including flagship ICC2012, ICC2021
• Accelerated, as ComSoc North America Director/BoG Member (2018-2019), activities of 93 chapters; keeping retention; increasing membership
• Received, as ComSoc/CTSoc/BTS Ottawa Chapter Chair, Chapter of Year Award: ComSoc 2010, 2019; CTSoc 2022; Chapter Achievement Award: ComSoc 2010, 2016, 2019
• One of the founders: IEEE Canada EPS/EPEC conference; IEEE Center for Leadership Excellence (CLE)

IEEE/Boards/Committees:

• 2019-2022 Technical Activities Board
• 2019-2022 Division IV Board
• 2022-present Executive, Public Safety Technology
• 2023-2024 Chair, Masaru Ibuka Consumer Technology Award Committee
• 2022-present Service Awards Committee
• 2022 Conference Publications Committee
• 2013-2016 R7 Representative, IEEE MCE
• 2015-2016 Gaining Global Perspectives Ad-Hoc
• 2015 Conference Finances and Financial Tools Ad-Hoc
• 2013-2014 Center for Leadership Excellence Committee
• 2009-2011 Member-at-Large, Information Management

CTSoc:

• 2019-2022 President
• 2019-2022, 2014-2018 Board of Governors Chair/Member
• 2018 President-Elect
• 2017-2018 Vice-President Education
• 2016-present Awards Member/Chair
• 2014-2017 DLs/Education Chair

ComSoc:

• 2022-present Distinguished Lecturer
• 2018-2019 Member, BoG
• 2018-2019 Director/Board Chair (North America)
• 2012, 2021, 2025 ICC Conference Executive Chair
• 2020-present Member Services Board
• 2012-2015 Industry Content
• 2008-2017 R7 Representative, NAR-Board

Region 7/IEEE Canada:

• 2013-present Director, IEEE Canadian Foundation
• 2017-2019 Chair, Publications and Communications
• 2007-2008, 2010-2019 Board
• 2015-2019 Executive Committee
• 2013-2016 Chair, Conference Advisory
• 2010-2012 Chair, IEEE Eastern-Canada: NB/NL/NS/ON/PE/QC

Ottawa Section:

• 2005-present Chair, Awards Committee
• 2008-present Chair, ComSoc/CTSoc/BTS Joint Chapter
• 2003-present Advisor, Algonquin College Student Branch
• 2007-2008 Chair, 2006 Vice-Chair
• Chapter Chair: 1996-2018 PES, 1995-2001 RS