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The IEEE Foundation is proud to announce the addition of two accomplished leaders to its Board of Directors: Philip Krein and Saurabh Sinha. Their unique perspectives and expertise will be instrumental in guiding the Foundation’s mission to inspire philanthropic engagement and expand the IEEE charitable body of work. 

Philip Krein

Dr. Philip Krein, a leader in power electronics, brings decades of experience in energy systems and renewable energy. He holds the Grainger Endowed Chair Emeritus in Electric Machinery and Electromechanics at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and is an Adjunct Distinguished Professor at Zhejiang University. As a dedicated IEEE member for over 45 years, Philip joins the Board of Directors, having previously served on committees. He has received numerous honors, including the IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award in 2003 and the IEEE Transportation Technologies Award in 2021. He is a past president of the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) and a former chair of the IEEE Transportation Electrification Community (now Council).

Reflecting on what motivated him to join the Board, Philip emphasized, “I have been involved in IEEE-based student competitions for about 25 years, and more recently, in the Empowering a Billion Lives (EBL) program. These are examples of programs that need support through the IEEE Foundation and that can leverage the IEEE mission to serve humanity.”

Philip’s vision for his tenure focuses on expanding the Foundation’s support for service-oriented initiatives and engaging IEEE members, technical societies, and public supporters in philanthropy. He shared, “There are strong opportunities for internal IEEE groups to work through the Foundation to support service mission programs. If the IEEE Foundation can be a crucial conduit for public service and humanity, the impact will grow tremendously”.

Philip is particularly passionate about advancing programs that support K-8 engineering education, and initiatives like EBL that serve global populations living on the margins. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the Foundation’s broader service roles, saying, “Many IEEE technical societies perceive the IEEE Foundation as primarily an awards endowment program. While this is important, the broader service support roles need to be widely known.”​ The IEEE Foundation is the heart of IEEE charitable giving, supporting projects across the five pillars – Illuminate, Educate, Engage, Energize, and Future. The projects vary in form and function, such as IEEE Humanitarian Technologies, which inspires and empowers IEEE volunteers around the world carrying out and supporting impactful humanitarian technology activities at the local level or IEEE Power & Energy Scholarship Plus Program – A transformational scholarship program ensuring the future of the power & energy sector. And many more to be discovered on the IEEE Foundation site.

Saurabh Sinha

Professor Saurabh Sinha, an expert in electronic engineering and researcher, currently leads the Faculty of Engineering as Executive Dean at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He joins the Board of Directors with a clear mission to scale the IEEE Foundation’s global impact. An IEEE Fellow and former IEEE  Board of Director (Vice-President, Educational Activities), Saurabh’s inspiration to join the Foundation comes from IEEE’s focus on using technology to benefit humanity. He remarked, “The IEEE Foundation’s mission of supporting initiatives in this direction feels like a natural fit—not only professionally but also as a donor myself. Being part of this global community that believes in giving back is both inspiring and fulfilling. I see an opportunity to develop this circle further across the globe, deepening connections in different regions and sectors.” 

In 2009, Saurabh co-founded Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) in IEEE, a donor-supported program integrating service learning into engineering education to address real-world challenges. As a director, he aims to enhance the Foundation’s global partnerships and explore the ethical and responsible integration of AI into its programs. “In terms of innovation, I believe there’s potential to augment some new approaches to philanthropy,” Saurabh noted, stressing the importance of engaging both traditional and emerging donors​.Looking ahead, Saurabh is excited to support initiatives that align with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, community-driven impact, and the responsible integration of technology. His vision for the Foundation’s future involves creating innovative philanthropic models that resonate globally, ensuring both continuity and fresh engagement from new supporters and observed, “The greatest opportunities lie in expanding global partnerships and exploring, among others, impact investing models that have already shown success in different regions. Leveraging the experiences I bring from my global leadership roles allows me to see how strategic connections can be applied more broadly. It’s about continuously learning and adapting while staying true to the Foundation’s mission of advancing technology, including AI, for the benefit of humanity.”

Directors in New Roles

In addition to welcoming these esteemed individuals, the IEEE Foundation is also celebrating several transitions within its leadership for 2025:

Marko Delimar, President

Jerry Hudgins, Vice President of Programs

John McDonald, Vice President of Development

Christopher Geiger, Treasurer

Sarah Rajala, Secretary

These shifts represent the dynamic and forward-thinking nature of the Board, ensuring that the Foundation remains poised to continue its legacy of driving technological advancements that improve lives around the world.

As Philip Krein, Saurabh Sinha, and the new Board Leadership embark on their terms, the IEEE Foundation is excited about the new opportunities and expanded impact they will bring. Their expertise and shared commitment to using technology for social good promise to strengthen the Foundation’s role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Learn more about the IEEE Foundation’s Board of Directors on our Board of Directors page. To stay current on Foundation milestones and help welcome our new 2025 Board of Directors, join us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Vimeo. To learn more about the innovative programming that the IEEE Foundation supports, we invite you to read more about our impact here.