IEEE Student Professional Awareness Conference

November 13^th Brookstreet Hotel | 12 - 5 PM

About Us

First hosted in 1979, SPAC has manifested itself as an event where future professionals receive exposure to the world of employment which complements their ongoing studies.

The IEEE Student Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC) is a formal networking event that serves esteemed professionals and allows them to engage with engineering and computer science students within their fields.

A typical SPAC...

Professional 1:1

Engage in personalized discussions with industry professionals tailored to your career interests.

Exclusive Masterclass

Interactive sessions with experts to deepen your knowledge and enhance your skills.

Workshops

Hands-on workshops designed to showcase practical skills and industry insights.

Networking Booths

Explore potential career paths and company cultures directly from the insiders.

Program

Friday, November 13. Every room is inside the Brookstreet Hotel.

The day at a glance

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Registration
GS Foyer
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Opening Remarks & Networking
Newbridge II & III
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Workshops & Speakers
Newbridge I & Signed (GS)
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Networking
Sealed & Delivered (GS)
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Reception
Newbridge Foyer
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Ottawa Section AGM & Dinner
Newbridge II & III

Workshops & Speakers

Workshop
Talk
Panel

Two rooms run at the same time. Sessions last 30 to 90 minutes, so you can move between them.

Newbridge I

Signed (GS)

Workshop in Newbridge I, 1:00–1:30

CGI

Workshop in Newbridge I, 1:30–2:00

Mission Control

Panel in Newbridge I, 2:00–3:30

IEEE YP Panel

From Campus to Career

Meet the panel

Workshop in Newbridge I, 3:30–4:30

Marvell

Talk in Signed (GS), 1:00–1:30

Prof. Yiwei Lu

AI Safety

Talk in Signed (GS), 1:30–2:00

Dr. Bushra Khan

Leadership

Workshop in Signed (GS), 2:00–2:30

STL Engineering

Workshop in Signed (GS), 3:00–4:00

Lumentum

Panel in Signed (GS), 4:30–5:00

Women in Tech Panel

Speakers

IEEE Young Professionals Panel, 2:00 – 3:30 PM in Newbridge I

From Campus to Career: Practical Advice for Your Job Search and First Industry Role

A career beyond academia can open many paths, but the transition often raises questions about how to translate research skills into industry roles, navigate hiring expectations, and build a fulfilling career. This career-coaching panel brings together professionals with academic and industry experience to share practical advice, personal lessons, and perspectives on making that transition with confidence.

Afsoon Alidadi Shamsabadi

Manager, Non-Terrestrial Networks Lab, Carleton University

Afsoon Alidadi Shamsabadi (She/Her) is the Manager of the Non-Terrestrial Networks Lab at Carleton University, Canada. She is also the Past Chair of IEEE Women in Engineering Ottawa, Vice-Chair of IEEE Young Professionals Ottawa, and a Committee Member of IEEE Canada Young Professionals. She holds a PhD from Carleton University and has also studied at Isfahan University of Technology and Sharif University of Technology. She has six years of industry experience at Huawei Technologies, where she served as a Solution Sales Manager specializing in end-to-end wireless network solutions. Her research at Carleton University focuses on non-terrestrial networks (NTN), particularly the integration of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) with terrestrial wireless networks to enable next-generation connectivity. Afsoon is an IEEE Senior Member and is actively involved in the engineering community.

Also speaking

Prof. Yiwei Lu

AI Safety

1:00 – 1:30 PM in Signed (GS)

Dr. Bushra Khan

Leadership

1:30 – 2:00 PM in Signed (GS)

Meet The Team

uOttawa Co-Lead