1. GOLD Importance to IEEE
Keith B Brown, Ph.D., P.Eng.
IEEE Canada President
Director / Delegate Region 7
Toronto, Canada
18 May 2013

2. IEEE Quick Facts
World’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity
Not-for Profit (gains go back into the association)
Volunteer-led
Produces almost one third of world’s technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics
Partners with over 1000 non-IEEE global entities
over 1300 conferences / year in 80 countries

3. But how much of it do we do well? How much is outward focused?
1000 Staff
585 Student Branch Technical Chapters
1400+ standards & projects under development
Education & Careers Support
But how much of it do we do well?
404 Affinity Groups
116k students
429k Members
2173 Student Branches
How much is outward focused?
Charitable Foundation Subsidiary
World-Class Awards Program
2110 Technical Chapters
333 Sections
45 Technical Societies
Cloudy skies ahead?
160 Countries

4. IEEE Canada Quick Facts
Result of 1994 merger between Region 7 and Canadian Society of Electrical & Computer Engineers
18k members (~4% of total IEEE membership)
5.4% annual growth rate (cf. 2.3% worldwide)
27 Active committees (e.g. TISP, WIE, GOLD, LM, Students)
We tend to pull above our weight class (awards, fellows, financial & volunteer resources)
65% of region leaders are from INDUSTRY
50% of region leaders are GOLD or recent GOLD members!
IEEE Canada National Strategic Plan:
Visibility x Impact = Growth
It’s not perfect. It takes time.
And we must not get complacent.

5. Why GOLD Matters
You want to make your mark in the world, establish your career = energy & drive to create change
You’re connected; Socially responsible; Active
Fresh ideas!
Future leaders & mentors
The foundation for most accomplishments is achieved by age 35 (Armstrong, Bollman, Carrier, Cray, Hawking, Einstein?)
So why is GOLD voter turnout so low?
Willis Carrier – invented first air conditioner only 1 year after completing MSc degree.
Wendell Bollman – self taught civil engineer, created truss bridge design.
Seymour Cray – invented and was shipping first supercomputer to customers at age 35.
Edwin Armstrong – "the most prolific and influential inventor in radio history”. Invented and patented regenerative circuit, super regenerative circuit and super heterodyne receiver by age 32.
Stephen Hawking – accomplished most of his fundamental work by age 33.
Albert Einstein – an anomaly in that he published most of his important works after age 37…

6. FOCUS What is Your GOLD Role? To provide Leadership
Strategic Direction
Role Models
Relationship Builders
To provide Operational Management
Oversight
Growth
Risk Management
FOCUS

7. GOLD Volunteer Leadership
Keys to our success
Engaged GOLD Members
Engaged Members
Success
GOLD Volunteer Leadership
Volunteer Leadership
IEEE Support