HTB Panel: Engineering with purpose: The New Humanitarian Technologies Approach

Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti

IEEE Humanitatian Technologies Senior Director

Mariela Machado is a skilled professional with nearly two decades of experience building, deploying, and scaling international humanitarian programs at the intersection of technology, social/environmental impact and public policy in the private sector, public sector and academia. As the Senior Director of Humanitarian Technology at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Mariela leads multiple programs at the intersection of social/environmental impact and technology for this engineering society worldwide. Prior to IEEE, she was the Director of Programs at Newlab, a social innovation hub focused on scaling transformative technologies through public-private partnerships; she was also the Senior Program Manager at the American Society of Mechanical Engineer (ASME) & Engineering for Change working to support technology for sustainable development across all continents. Mariela advises capstone projects at the intersection of digital technology and policy at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University and teaches a class on emerging digital technology for social and environmental impact. She is a Telecommunication Engineer with MSc in Information and Communication Technologies and a MPA in Sustainable Development from Columbia University. Mariela is fluent in 5 languages: Spanish, English, French, Swedish and Italian.

Lwanga Herbert

2024 IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board Chair

Lwanga Herbert is an innovation and technology enthusiast and practitioner inspired by technological solutions to diverse problems and challenges. He is the Co-founder of M/S LOG`EL GROUP LTD, an IT company based in Uganda and the co-founder of Log`el Science Foundation, a civil society organization which conducts research and development in science and technology. Lwanga Herbert was a beneficiary of the presidential innovation fund in Uganda from 2000-2005, which allowed him to develop a variety of innovations to address corresponding community challenges. These innovations were patented with the support of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. He has made several contributions within the IEEE community, which includes co-founding the IEEE Uganda Section and implementing humanitarian projects and programs in Uganda with IEEE support.

Grace Burleson

Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder

Dr. Grace Burleson is a multi-disciplinary design researcher with expertise in engineering for social impact and sustainable development applications. She is an assistant professor in mechanical engineering as well as a faculty fellow at the Mortenson Center for Global Engineering and Resilience. She has led research initiatives for a variety of socially engaged engineering organizations, including NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project, ASME’s Engineering for Change, and MAPLE Microdevelopment-Uganda. Burleson received her PhD in design science from the University of Michigan, as well as a dual-MS in mechanical engineering and applied anthropology and a BS in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University.

Stephanie Gillespie

Chair of EPICS in IEEE

Dr. Stephanie Gillespie is an Associate Dean at Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut, USA. She has been a service learning practitioner for 5 years, including development of community partners and supporting student teams with real-world, client-based engineering for nonprofit organizations. Her current research interests span multiple areas of engineering education including makerspaces, multidisciplinary teams, gender diversity and minority retention, and entrepreneurial mindset. Her PhD from Georgia Tech focused on machine learning and signal processing for affective computing, specifically detecting stress and depression in adults with communication disorders. She is currently serving as the Chair of the EPICS in IEEE committee, and is also involved with the Society of Women Engineers and American Society for Engineering Education.

Theodoros Chatzinikolaou

Chair of IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technology Activities Committee

Theodoros is a PhD Candidate in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the Democritus University of Thrace, and has received his Engineering Diploma with Integrated Master from the aforementioned Department. His research interests focus on future and emerging computing systems and cutting-edge technologies, including memristive circuits and systems and artificial intelligence technologies. As an active IEEE volunteer, he strongly believes he can create a valuable impact on humanity and society via engineering through volunteerism, and, thus, he is, currently, chairing the IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technology Activities Committee, along with being a member of the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board Outreach and Ad-Hoc on Partnerships Committees. He has served many conferences as well as various IEEE OUs including MGA SAC, his Region as Student Representative, and his local Student Branch as Chair. He has received the IEEE MGA Young Professionals Achievement Award, the IEEE CASS Pre-Doctoral Grant, the IEEE MGA Larry K. Wilson Regional Student Activities Award, as well as a bronze medal from the SEEMOUS Mathematical Olympiad.