STB05251 – University of British Columbia – Okanagan Student Branch
| Executive Officers | |
|---|---|
|
Co-Chairs |
Tomi Shittu, Christina Yee |
|
Treasurer |
Rica Santos |
|
Hackerspace Director |
Adam Jilani |
|
Outreach/Sponsorship Officer |
Monica Nguyen |
|
Design & Social Media Manager |
Fifi Omo-Loto, Mikayla Williams |
|
Event Coordinator |
Declan Armstrong |
|
Webmasters |
Nisini Perera, Lucas Slunt, Varun Garg |
IEEE Canada Students and Young Professionals Congress 2026
Ricashae Santos represented the IEEE UBC Okanagan Student Branch at the IEEE Canada Students and Young Professionals Congress 2026, held in Toronto, Ontario from September 25-27, 2026.
The Congress brought together student branch leaders and Young Professionals from across Canada to connect with delegates, network with student and industry professionals, and learn more about the opportunities and benefits available through IEEE. This year’s theme focused on three key ideas: Connect, Lead, and Innovate.
During the Congress, delegates participated in industry and academia networking sessions, professional development panels, and discussions on IEEE volunteer resources. The event also included sessions on public policy, humanitarian technology, student branch development, and the transition from student life to young professional careers.
A highlight of the weekend was the Interactive Pitch Competition, where Ricashae presented a pitch on advancing worker safety through a biomedical device tracking stress and fatigue levels: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHWLVqj5IE/oyh9fhIKJ5lyUHdrOmg9GQ/edit
The Congress featured speakers and panelists from IEEE Canada, industry, and academia, with discussions on engineering leadership, mentorship, career growth, and building meaningful professional networks.
Some key takeaways from the event included the importance of asking questions early, building trust with stakeholders, finding mentors, balancing technical skills with soft skills, and staying involved with professional communities like IEEE beyond graduation.
The experience also inspired several ideas for future IEEE UBC Okanagan activities, including professional awareness events, Young Professional talks, research talks, humanitarian technology opportunities, and resume or mock interview workshops.
IEEE UBC Okanagan thanks Ricashae Santos for representing the branch and sharing insights from the Congress with our student community.
View the related IEEE UBC Okanagan Instagram post here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd8HAnNlEDZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&img_index=1
For more information about IEEE Canada Students and Young Professionals, please visit: https://r7.ieee.org/csypc/
Featured Sponsors and Partners included: IEEE Canada – Region 7, Qualcomm, IEEE Students, IEEE Young Professionals, IEEE Computer Society, TELUS, IEEE Canadian Foundation, IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Consumer Technology Society, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, IEEE Global Policy Caucus, IEEE Photonics Society, Marvell, IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society, IEEE Humanitarian Technologies, IEEE Power & Energy Society, IEEE Systems Council.
Links
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/ubco-ieee-student-branch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubcoieee/