IET Auckland Young Professionals

IET Auckland Young Professionals This is IET's Auckland Young Professionals section.

The IET is an international engineering institution with the vision to lead the development of a global engineering and technology community, sharing and advancing knowledge to enhance people's lives.

The IET Auckland Network successfully hosted its Project X electronics workshop at Waikowhai Intermediate School on 4 Au...
04/08/2026

The IET Auckland Network successfully hosted its Project X electronics workshop at Waikowhai Intermediate School on 4 August 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year that the programme has been delivered at the school.

The workshop was once again met with great enthusiasm from students and staff. Teaching Principal David King, together with teachers, praised the programme for providing students with an engaging, hands-on introduction to electronics, engineering, and technology.

The one-day workshop was made possible through the dedication of volunteers. Led by Gowrishankar Sunthanthirapalan, the project team included Clive Jordan, Jaco Viviers, Louis Popham and Mauro Resta who guided and supported the students throughout the day.

Industry support continued to play an important role in the success of the event. Alstef Group generously supported the workshop by providing engineers Jaco Viviers, Louis Popham, and Mauro Resta, who shared their technical knowledge and practical experience with the students.

Designed specifically for intermediate school students, the workshop gave participants the opportunity to build their own interactive robot by soldering electronic components onto a printed circuit board. Throughout the day, students learned to identify electronic components, develop safe soldering techniques, understand basic electronic circuits, and gain an introduction to programming.

As Project X continues to grow, the IET Auckland Network remains committed to inspiring young people and encouraging them to explore careers in engineering, science, and technology. The programme reflects the Institution of Engineering and Technology's (IET) ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of engineers and technologists in New Zealand.

The continued success of Project X demonstrates the value of collaboration between schools, industry, and professional engineering volunteers in providing meaningful STEM learning experiences for young students.

IET Auckland Hosts Successful 'Project X' Workshop for Poonga – Tamil Community SchoolIn a vibrant celebration of commun...
29/06/2026

IET Auckland Hosts Successful 'Project X' Workshop for Poonga – Tamil Community School

In a vibrant celebration of community and education, the IET Auckland Local Network hosted the Project X electronics workshop on 27 June 2026 for Poonga – Tamil Community Education. Now in its sixth year with Poonga, the initiative is part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)’s commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technologists in New Zealand.

Tailored for intermediate school students, the workshop featured hands-on activities where participants built interactive robots by soldering electronic components onto circuit boards. Students also learned to identify key electronic components and were introduced to microcontroller programming, building essential skills for the STEM pathway.

The event was warmly received by both parents and students. Feedback from some students:
Evan Wilfred Fernando shared:
“The experience was amazing. The engineers were even better. I loved the way they helped us, and I cherish the robot that we made. I hope more children like us will have the chance to experience what we did today.”

Melina Mathiharan said:
“I had a really fun time today. I learned a lot about robots and how circuits work. The instructors made everything interesting and easy to understand. Thank you so much for this workshop.”

Shawin Sasikaran said:
“I found the Robotics Workshop fun and educational. The activities were hands-on and helped me understand basic electronics better. Thank you for the enjoyable workshop.”

Nithila Selvakumar shared:
“I found the Robotics Workshop very fun, interactive, and curiosity-sparking. I especially loved that we got to solder the transistors and resistors ourselves. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”

Abi Sanjee said:
“I really enjoyed the Robotics Workshop. I liked the coding, and it was exciting to see how it worked from start to finish and to watch the robot behave according to the code I wrote. Thank you to all the volunteers who took the time out of their day to help us.”

The workshop was led by Gowrishankar Sunthanthirapalan and supported by dedicated volunteer engineers including Anvesh Lagow, Boomin Perera, Brian Chu, Kohulan Thirunavukarasu, Sanjee Mahadeva, and Sarveswaran Sivasaravanabavan, along with teacher Jenny Parker. Vijugan, a former participant from the first Project X with Poonga in 2001 who is now studying mechatronics engineering at AUT, also volunteered for the program.

Parents praised the workshop’s positive impact on their children’s enthusiasm for STEM, highlighting the importance of such community-driven educational programs. As Project X continues to grow, the IET Auckland Network remains committed to inspiring young minds and equipping them with the tools to thrive in the world of engineering and technology.

IET Auckland Local Network successfully hosted a special lecture titled “Beyond AI – The Next Technological Revolution: ...
17/04/2026

IET Auckland Local Network successfully hosted a special lecture titled “Beyond AI – The Next Technological Revolution: Cryogenic Power Electronics for Superconducting Systems” on 14 April 2026 at the Fickling Convention Centre, Mt Roskill, Auckland. The event brought together engineers, researchers, industry professionals, and university students to explore emerging technologies beyond artificial intelligence, with a strong focus on superconductivity and cryogenic power electronics.

The evening commenced with a welcome and introduction by Timothy O'Brien, who, as a former student of the speaker, introduced the session and set the context for the lecture. The lecture was delivered by Duleepa J. Thrimawithana, Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, who provided deep insights into superconducting systems and the enabling role of cryogenic power electronics. He discussed how these technologies are critical for applications in transportation, energy systems, electric aviation, and aerospace, and presented collaborative research involving the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Cambridge, and University of Canterbury.

During the lecture, key technical insights were shared, including the behaviour of GaN HEMTs at cryogenic temperatures and the development of a cryogenic buck converter achieving efficiencies greater than 99%, demonstrating significant progress toward the practical implementation of superconducting power systems. The presentation also highlighted the strong collaboration between academia and industry across both domestic and international partners, as well as real-world applications of the research and the successful spin-out companies emerging from this work.

Warren McLuckie, Chairperson of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Auckland Local Network, delivered the vote of thanks and closing remarks. He reflected on the value of engaging with cutting-edge academic research that is often not easily accessible within industry. The event concluded with networking over refreshments, including finger foods and drinks, providing an excellent opportunity for professional engagement and discussion among attendees.

The lecture was well received and reinforced the IET Auckland Local Network’s commitment to delivering high-quality technical events that bridge academic research and industry practice while showcasing emerging technologies shaping the future of engineering.

Beyond AI – The Next Technological Revolution: Cryogenic Power Electronics for Superconducting Systems hosted by IET Auc...
24/02/2026

Beyond AI – The Next Technological Revolution: Cryogenic Power Electronics for Superconducting Systems hosted by IET Auckland Local Network

Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (UTC +12 hour)
Venue: Fickling Convention Centre, 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1041

Speaker: Dr. Duleepa J. Thrimawithana, Associate Professor - Faculty of Engineering and Design, Elec Comp and Software Eng, New Zealand at University of Auckland

AI is transforming the world — but what comes next?

One of the most exciting frontiers beyond AI is superconductivity, enabling breakthroughs in transportation, energy systems, electric aviation, and aerospace. To unlock its full potential, we need highly efficient cryogenic power electronics capable of operating at extremely low temperatures.

This seminar will present cutting-edge research from the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Cambridge and University of Canterbury on the development of power electronics systems designed specifically for cryogenic operation. The talk will highlight the behaviour of GaN HEMTs and other key components at low temperatures and introduce a cryogenic buck converter achieving greater than 99% efficiency.

If you want to understand the power electronics technology enabling the next generation of superconducting systems, this lecture is not to be missed.

Register now: https://events.theiet.org/events/beyond-ai-the-next-technological-revolution-cryogenic-power-electronics-for-superconducting-systems/

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