IEEE Annual Election: Region 10 Candidates (Asia and Pacific)

SAMEER S. M.
(Nominated by IEEE Region 10)

Professor
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering
National Institute of Technology
Calicut, India
http://www.drsameersm.com

Sameer S. M. received his B.Tech degree in ECE from University of Kerala, M.Tech in Telecommunication and Ph.D. in Wireless Communications from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. After various tenures in industries, he joined as a Lecturer in the Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering at NIT Calicut, India in 1998 where he is presently working as a Professor. He has supervised 8 PhD students, published 30 journal papers, 47 conference papers and holds one Indian patent and two US patents. He has received multiple best papers awards in reputed IEEE conferences. He has served as the Member of the Board of Governors, Head of the Department of ECE, Head of Centre for Career Development and Dean (Academic) at NIT Calicut. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Award of IEEE Region-10 in 2020. He is currently serving as the Chair of Region-10 Conference Quality & Management Committee.

Statement

My priorities as Region-10 Director shall be the following:

• Tailored Membership Value: Develop programs that cater to the specific needs of members at all levels including YP and WIE members from industry and academia. This would include job fairs, career development workshops, networking events, and mentorship programs.
• Flexible Memberships: Work with MGA to explore introducing new membership models like 4-year dues for undergraduate and doctoral students, 2-year dues for graduate students, and 3-year dues for YPs. This will make membership more accessible and retain talent.
• Strengthen Section-Chapter Collaboration: Facilitate joint activities at the local level between Sections, Councils, and Chapters. This will create more opportunities for technical collaboration and professional development for members.
• Regional Realignment and Leadership Roles: Provide more volunteering opportunities to members at all levels and Sections to significantly enhance the leadership pool, especially in the light of IEEE regional realignment effective from January 2028.
• Elevating Conference Standards: Collaborate with IEEE technical societies to enhance the standards of Region-10 flagship conferences. This will attract prominent researchers and showcase the region's expertise.

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(GSM’06-M’08-M’10-SM’13)

IEEE ACTIVITIES:

COMMITTEES/BOARDS:

• MGA Nominee to IEEE Conference Committee (2024-Present)
• Member, Technical Program Integrity Committee, IEEE MCE (2023-Present)
• MGA Nominee to TAB/PSPB Products and Services Committee (2015)

REGION 10:

• Chair, R10 Conference Quality & Management Committee (2023-Present)
• Secretary, Region-10 (2021-2022)

SECTIONS/CHAPTERS:

• INDIA COUNCIL: EXCOM Member (2016, 2023-2024), Treasurer (2017-2018)
• IEEE KERALA SECTION: EXCOM Member (2009-2012, 2020-Present), Treasurer (2013-2014), Vice-Chair (2015-2017), Chair (2018-2019)
• IEEE MALABAR SUBSECTION: EXCOM Member (2013-2024), Founding Secretary (2009-2012)
• Interim Chair, IEEE Bombay Section: (October 2023-Present)

CONFERENCES:

• General Chair, IEEE INDICON-2022 (Flagship Conference of IEEE India Council)
• General Co-Chair, IEEE TENCON 2019 (Flagship Conference of IEEE R10)
• TPC Chair, IEEE TENSYMP 2017 (Flagship Conference of IEEE R10)
• TPC Co-Chair, IEEE HTC 2023 (Flagship Conference of IEEE R10)

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

• Provided training to several conference volunteers in Region-10 Sections on organizing high-quality IEEE conferences.
• As IEEE Region-10 Secretary, provided critical support to the Region Director and EXCOM in organizing regional activities and meetings during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As Section Chair, spearheaded a team of IEEE student volunteers to develop keralarescue.in, a web portal that facilitated rescue efforts during the devastating 2018 Kerala floods. The platform's success led to its adoption by the Kerala Government, garnering 17 million hits and registering 57,000 volunteers. This initiative exemplifies IEEE's commitment to 'Advancing Technology for Humanity'.
• Successfully organized one of the highest-rated TENCON conferences in Region-10 history in terms of participation venue, and conference surplus.
• As Treasurer of the IEEE India Council and Kerala Section, implemented financial streamlining measures to ensure compliance with IEEE requirements and local laws.
• Played a pivotal role in establishing Malabar Subsection, the first subsection within the IEEE Kerala Section, encompassing six northern districts in Kerala, significantly benefiting nearly one-third of IEEE members in Kerala.

ZUHAINA ZAKARIA, PhD
(Nominated by IEEE Region 10)

Professor
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuhainazakaria/

Zuhaina Zakaria holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. She has been working in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia for more than 30 years and currently she is the Dean for Institute of Postgraduate Studies, UiTM. Throughout her IEEE journey, she has held various executive positions within the IEEE Malaysia Section. Her experience as the Section Chair during 2015-2016 reflects her ability to effectively lead and navigate IEEE at the regional level. On the international stage, she has held various roles within IEEE, including Chair of the IEEE Admission and Advancement Committee 2023, overseeing Senior Member Elevation policies. Her remarkable contributions have earned her multiple awards, including the Honorable Mention for the 2018 WIE Inspiring Member Award, 2018 IEEE MGA Leadership Award, 2019 IEEE PES Outstanding Engineer Award, 2022 IEEE PES Outstanding Chapter Volunteer Award, and 2023 Region 10 Outstanding Volunteer Award recently.
 

Statement

In assuming this role, my strategy revolves around communication, collaboration, cooperation, and innovation, all pivotal for Region 10's advancement.

Communication Priority: I will prioritize transparency and timeliness, ensuring that information flows freely and our members are well-informed. This will foster a more cohesive and connected community.

Collaboration Culture: I will actively promote and facilitate collaborations among our members. By encouraging interdisciplinary and cross-functional teamwork, we can tackle complex challenges, share knowledge, and enhance the depth and breadth of our initiatives.

Cooperation Spirit: I will work to create a culture of cooperation, where members come together, share resources, and support each other. This cooperative spirit will not only strengthen our bonds but also maximize our collective impact.

Innovation Focus: I am committed to driving innovation within Region 10 and IEEE. By creating an environment that encourages creative thinking and problem-solving, we can nurture cutting-edge solutions and technical advancements. This spirit of innovation will not only keep us at the forefront of technology but also attract dynamic members who thrive in such an atmosphere.
 

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(M’99-S’02-M’05-SM’13)

I have served in various range of leadership roles, interfacing within many levels of IEEE committees. Some of my major contributions are as follows:

• In 2017-2018, introduced the R10 EA Challenge, a pioneering initiative that promotes innovative programs and fosters excellence in the region.
• Collaborated with EAB and R8 in 2018 to establish the Teacher in Service Program (TISP) Week, providing vital training to 500 teachers across 13 locations in Region 10.
• Successfully secured the hosting of IEEE flagship conferences in Malaysia, including TENSYMP 2014 and Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) Asia 2014.
• Contributed to the revision of the Section Education Volunteer Manual as a Member of the EAB Section Educational Outreach Committee (SEOC) in 2018.

The following is a brief list of my activities:

IEEE Committees/Board:

• Chair, IEEE Admission and Advancement (2022-2023)
• MGA Representative for PECC (2022)
• Member, IEEE Admission and Advancement (2020)
• Member, MGA Geographic Unit Operations Support Committee (2018-2019)
• Member, EAB Section Educational Outreach Committee (SEOC) (2017-2018)

IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES):

• Member-at-Large Diversity and Inclusion, PES Governing Board (2024-Present)
• Member, PES Long Range Planning Subcommittee-4 Education (2020-Present)
• Chapter Representative for Region 10 (2015-2022)

Region 10:

• Member, WIE Committee (2024-Present)
• Member, Section Chapter Committee (2021-Present)
• Educational Activities Coordinator (2017-2018)

Section/Chapters:

• Chair, IEEE Malaysia Section (2015-2016)
• Chair, IEEE PES Malaysia Chapter (2015-2016)
• Vice Chair, IEEE Malaysia Section (2014)
• Secretary, IEEE Malaysia Section (2010, 2012-2013)
• Treasurer, IEEE Malaysia Section (2008-2009)
• Founder and Chair, IEEE WIE Malaysia Affinity Group (2007-2011)
• Student Counsellor, IEEE UiTM Student Branch (2005-2007)
• Committee, IEEE Malaysia Section (2000-2001, 2005-2008)

Conferences:

• Program Chair, 10 Asia Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC) (2018)
• Co-chair, Region 10 Conference 2017, TENCON (2017)
• Chair, IEEE WIE Leadership Summit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017)
• Chair, Innovative Smart Grids Technology (ISGT Asia) (2014)
• Co-chair, Region 10 TENSYMP (2014)

CHEONWON CHOI
(Nominated by IEEE Region 10)

Professor
Dankook University
Yongin Si, Gyeonggi Do, Korea
https://sites.google.com/view/cheonwon-choi

 

CheonWon Choi is a professor at the department of computer engineering in Dankook University. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electronics Engineering from Seoul National University and Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles. After working in IRI Computer Communications Inc., he joined the faculty of Dankook University in 1997, where he has been conducting researches on medium access control and resource allocation in wireless networks using queueing, game and decision theories. Also, he led a project of deploying infrastructure for communication and computation at a new campus while serving as the CIO of Dankook University. Over 25 years, he voluntarily served at IEEE geographic organizational units. Notably, he organized many IEEE conferences and events including TENCON 2018, TENSYMP 2021 and Region 10 SYWL Congress 2022. Further, he served as the President of IEIE, first Korean society for electronics and electrical engineers, in 2019.
 

Statement

Region 10 is a vast diverse area in which more than 150 thousand members are living and working. Since founded in 1967, Region 10 has been steadily growing as with the pride of members. As 2028 begins, Region 10 will meet an important moment of the realignment that divides the existing Region 10 into newly formed Regions 10 and 11. While going through such a transient period, I’d like to help every member, living and working in Region 10, be constantly or even further proud of being an IEEE Region 10 member. Specifically, devoting my time and energy, I will:

• Hold conferences and events which give a chance to each participant for self-development and self-improvement.
• Customize programs for students, young professionals and women in engineering so that everyone can find a program of personal interest.
• Develop incentive programs which encourage sections to create team-building and further team-bonding activities.
• Build a healthy relationship between industries and Region 10.
• Promote strong collaboration and cooperation between regions as well as between sections.
   

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities
(S’86-M’86-S’87-M’88-SM’05)

Accomplishments:

• As the General Chair of 2022 IEEE Region 10 SYWL Congress, he made the congress a highly successful team-building event. The congress was also a paragon of the following in-person events.
• Working as the Technical Program Committee Chair of 2018 IEEE TENCON as well as the General Co-chair of 2021 IEEE TENSYMP, he qualitatively upgraded both conferences.
• In Seoul Section, he recruited a large number of student and graduate student members. In recognition of his activities, certificates of appreciation for outstanding achievement in member recruitment and member retention were awarded to him in 2017 and 2021, respectively.
• As the IEEE Seoul Section Chair, he sponsored and submitted an IEEE milestone proposal. The proposal, which was recently approved, was the first one from Seoul Section.
   

ACTIVITIES:

Regions:

• 2017: Region 10 History Committee Chair
• 2021: Region 10 Internal Audit Committee Member
• 2023-2024: Region 10 Conference Quality and Management Committee Member
• 2024: Region 10 Ad hoc Committee on Outreach and Retention Member
• 2024: Region 10 Membership Development Committee Chair

Sections:

• 1999-2002, 2007-2009: Seoul Section Membership Development Committee Chair
• 2004: Seoul Section Educational Activities Committee Chair
• 2005: Seoul Section Professional Activities Committee Chair
• 2008-2010, 2011-2012: Seoul Section Webmaster
• 2014: Seoul Section Secretary
• 2015-2016: Seoul Section Student Branch Coordinator
• 2017-2020: Seoul Section Vice-chair
• 2021-2022: Seoul Section Chair

Chapters:

• 2012-2013: Seoul Section VTS Chapter Chair

Student Branches:

• 2007: Dankook University Student Branch Counselor

Conferences and Events:

• 2003 IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC) Spring, Organizing Committee Member
• 2009 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory (ISIT), Organizing Committee Member
• 2012 IEEE VTS Asia Pacific Wireless Communications Symposium (APWCS), General Co-chair
• 2013 IEEE VTS APWCS, General Chair
• 2014 IEEE VTC Spring, Organizing Committee Member
• 2018 IEEE TENCON, Technical Program Committee Chair
• 2021 IEEE TENSYMP, General Co-chair
• 2022 IEEE Region 10 SYWL Congress, General Chair

As approved by the Board of Directors in 2022, IEEE is restructuring its 10 geographic regions to provide a more equitable representation across its global membership. Effective on 1 January 2028, IEEE Region 10 (Asia and Pacific) will be separated into two Regions, Region 10 (North Asia) and Region 11 (South Asia and Pacific). In the 2024 IEEE Annual Election, eligible voting members residing in Region 10 will be electing the IEEE Region 10 Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect for the term 2025-2026 (Delegate/Director in 2027-2028). The newly elected officer will first serve as the Director of the current Region 10 (Asia and Pacific) in 2027 and then as the Director of the 'future' Region 10 (North Asia) in 2028. Per IEEE Bylaws, the Region Delegate/Director must reside in the Region that they represent.

Learn more about Region Realignment here.