Dear technology professionals, researchers, educators and industry practitioners,

Pandemic has reminded us the importance of health, family and connections and showed us there are opportunities to seek out during challenging times.

In 2022, I would like to thank you all, more than ever, for your help and dedication as members of the IEEE UK and Ireland section, and particularly to the our section Executive Committee Members whose support has led us to achieve many of the goals and priorities.

Our 2020 strategy targeted three priorities for our section; getting closer to industry, IEEE new technical initiatives and humanitarian activities. I am delighted with the progress that we have made against these priorities.  Our section’s industry forum received the IEEE Industry Engagement Award in May 2020; we have formed three IEEE new initiatives – namely Blockchain, Future Networks initiatives and Cyber Security) – and our Special Interest Group for Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT) organised the International Humanitarian Technologies Conference (IHTC 2021) virtually in December 2021, hosting a platform to showcase and present technologies intended for the benefit of humanity.

Beside our set goals, and despite the lockdown limitations, we ran two virtual annual section ExCom meetings and even kept our December Christmas Lecture tradition inviting a keynote speaker from the Science Museum, London. We have continued to receive a number of awards from IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Africa and Middle East) including the Large Section Award. Thanks to all the volunteers, whose efforts led to so many awards and recognitions for our collective efforts.

I believe that IEEE and its future initiatives provide us with a platform to make advancements to benefit the society particularly in this challenging time. A significant number of events, invited speakers and workshops were arranged by our IEEE Society Chapters, Women in Engineering, Special Interest Group for Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT), Life Members, Students and Young Professionals Affinity Groups.  Many of these online events remain available to watch again for our members’ benefit.

As the IEEE UK and Ireland section chair, I know that 2022 will see us building on what we achieved in 2020 and 2021 with the support from of the Executive Committee, Section Officers, Chapter Chairs and volunteers.  We have continued to develop the value of membership equitably for all and I will continue to support our members’ needs and priorities.

Thanks again to everybody. I hope all of you will continue to volunteer for IEEE, even if not involved in section positions. IEEE needs you! There are so many ways you can contribute to the effort of IEEE in advancing technology for humanity!

Prof Izzet Kale
Chair, IEEE UK and Ireland Section