Student Leaders
Maria Laura Polo Gonzalez
Maria Laura Polo Gonzalez – is president at the Student Platform for Engineering Education Development, where she leads diverse activities with students all around the world. She is a Global South Woman in STEM with an Environmental Engineering degree from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia. From a young age, she has been fascinated with nature, biological systems, ecological and anthropological processes. Yet, all those interests stem from an underlying true passion for education.
For the past 5+ years, Maria Laura has been working in SPEED towards promoting inclusive meaningful engagement of students in the international community, by creating a cooperative network and fostering experiences towards a common goal: generate a positive effect of engineering on society and the environment, and the participation of students in the decision-making process with a holistic and intersectional perspective. Maria Laura and SPEED motivate young engineers to take action towards integrally reshaping the communities in which they can have an impact.
Raheel Pathan
Raheel Pathan – is pursuing his Masters in Computational science and engineering from the University of Rostock, Germany, and completed his B.tech Mechanical Engineering from I.T.M. Vocational University, India. Currently he is VP of Member Relations in SPEED. He has been working with SPEED since 2016 and facilitated various Regional Student Forums. He also wporks as a Global Sourcing Engineer In Nordex Wind Turbine part-time. He was a part of the organizing committee in the 2018 Global Student Forum conducted in ABQ, USA, and also coordinated the recently conducted Indian Student Forum-2019. He is focused on analyzing the most efficient process with flexible and high-quality products in the Industrial sector by maintaining a balance in Environment and Technology.
Radhika Gautam Gunaji
Radhika Gautam Gunaji – has grown from being an Educational Content Officer to presently serving as the Vice President, Educational Content at Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED). She brings a diverse set of skills to the table, having held several leadership positions both within and outside of her university. She’s a girl with a travel bug and an appetite for learning. She has worked with a number of organisations and NGOs focused on child education and women’s empowerment. Her primary ability of networking and bringing people together has been pivotal in successfully organising international student conferences aimed at improving engineering education. She is presently pursuing her PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. She recently was awarded first runner-up in the National Level Three Minute Thesis Competition, 2021. She’s also an adventure sport enthusiast who, in her words, “let any corner unexplored.”
Yash Tadimalla (SPEED)
Kelvin Kiprono (SPEED)
Collins N. Vaye
Collins N. Vaye – is a first-generation college student from Liberia, West Africa. Currently and a 3 rd -year Engineering Education Ph.D. student at Florida International University, USA. He earned his M.Sc Degree in Computer Engineering and a B.Sc Degree in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University and the University of Liberia, respectively. He is very passionate about Engineering Education and its application in developing countries. His research interests revolve around the following:
- Effective technology integration engineering education.
- Faculty development, professional development, and technology-supported learning.
- Broadening participation in engineering and engineering technology within and from Sub–Saharan Africa.
Trigueiros
Francisca – is a Master’s student of Industrial Engineering and Management and the Vice President of Education at ESTIEM – European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management. Her responsibilities in ESTIEM include the development of Industrial Engineering and Management Education and the Social and Environmental Responsibility Committee. She is a sustainability enthusiast and a strong believer that Engineers can make a significant contribution to the fight for sustainability. Therefore, during her mandate, she has been focusing on improving ESTIEM’s contribution to numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing the way sustainability is taught in engineering degrees.
Mihai Filimon
Mihai Filimon is the Ambassador of the Board of European Students of Technology (BEST) after a few years of being involved in his local branch and being Vice President for Corporate Relations of BEST Delft last year. He will soon finish his BSc Computer Science at the TU Delft in the Netherlands and is planning to start another BSc, this time in Electrical Engineering in order to pursue an impactful career in the field of Sustainable Energy.
Mihai is extremely passionate about the environment and tackling climate change, and tries to incorporate that in every aspect of his life. He loves discussing about accessibility, diversity, and real applications and improvements in education.
Aniek van Kersen
Aniek van Kersen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University College The Hague. With an emphasis on institutions and policy analysis, her research primarily focused on social capital theory in the Food Bank Model and food insecurity in The Hague. Throughout her studies, she worked for the United Nations Institute of Training and Research as Community Manager working with an onsite and virtual team across the globe and as a researcher for the Social Entrepreneur Support for Food Security non-profit. Currently working at the Peace Innovation Institute Aniek currently focuses on research and development surrounding positive peace, peace as an investible mechanism, and peace engineering. The diversity of organizational roles led her to start her own company focused on innovation and project management.
Azeez Mohideen Mohamed Nazeer
Azeez Mohideen Mohamed Nazeer, the Founder and Executive Director of Ikasle Socio-Educational Entity (ISEE),which endures being a global leader in education with its efforts towards connecting students across the border with quality. ISEE conducts workshops, competitions, and conferences on a global scale to create a platform for several stakeholders in education to connect and collaborate.He is passionate about engineering education and works towards enhancing it. He dreams to achieve beyond the illusion of insecurity and societal pressures. With active participation and involvement in Organizing and Facilitating the World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF) and Global Student Forum (GSF) conferences , he became an important component of International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES). He is a team player, speaker, and leader who is very analytical, practical, technical & critical.
Felipe Gomez Gallo
Felipe Gomez Gallo is a master’s student in Environmental Engineering with majors in Environmental and Civil Engineering and a minor in Biodiversity studies and Environmental science at Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. With a great interest in sustainability, climate change adaptation, risk assessment, and Education. He is the current President of the Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED) and has been a member since 2015 as a participant of the 11th Global Student Forum (GSF) in Florence and working as an Ed. Content officer and later as a facilitator for the 12th GSF in Seoul. He served as Educational content VP in 2017 and 2018 leading both the Kuala Lumpur and Albuquerque’s GSF educational content. He is a Climate Reality Leader, a well-being ambassador, and a graduate teaching assistant.
Kelvin Kiprono
Kelvin Kiprono, from Kenya. He is an undergraduate student engineer, pursuing Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering at Moi University in Kenya. He has been working with SPEED for about four years now and for him, it has been such a wonderful and enlightening experience. He believes in positive change especially in things that have a great effect on the society that we live in and he also believes in teamwork with a safe space and SPEED brings these aspects together in ways you can never imagine. He wants to create a “Squad” of student engineers across Africa which will have Engineering, SPEED, and a positive motive to bring change to Africa and to the world as a whole.
Laura Restrepo Alameda
Laura Restrepo Alameda, proudly Colombian, is finishing her undergraduate degree in environmental engineering at the Universidad de Los Andes. In addition to serving as vice president of strategic development at SPEED, she is president and co-founder of the Uma Kiwe Foundation for Participatory Action Research Centre. She is a member of the International Network of SDGs Promoters and the National Water network. She studies the relationship between engineering and peacebuilding from community-based research perspectives. She is currently taking the Leadership, Sustainability and Ethics course taught by earthcharter.org. She has experience in education since 2015 and curriculum design for formal and informal education. She has been part of SPEED since 2018 in the area of education, in the WEEF of the same year, that took place in Albuquerque, she participated as a panelist in the intergenerational panel. She is VP since 2019 endings.
Maria Laura Polo
Maria Laura Polo is an Environmental Engineer from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia. She is currently pursuing further studies in New York City in her various fields of interest, which include Engineering Education, Anthropology, and Psychology. She is particularly drawn towards educational techniques and cognitive processes. She has been a member of SPEED since 2017 when she worked as an Ed. Content officer and facilitator for the 13th GSF in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Maria Laura is a curious soul, travel fan, and animal lover, always searching for something new to learn from the world.
Nor Azlinda Azmi
Nor Azlinda Azmi is a Master’s graduate in Engineering Education from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Passionate in engineering education, specifically in computing education. She worked as a research officer in engineering education and currently she’s a manager in manufacturing industry. Now, she is preparing to further her doctoral study in engineering education. She has been a member of SPEED since 2016 as a participant of the 12th Global Student Forum (GSF) in Seoul, South Korea. She chaired the 13th Global Student Forum in Kuala Lumpur and became SPEED’s ambassador in Asia Pacific region. During her pastime, she is a volunteer in self-development trainings and education for refugees in her country.
Raheel Pathan
Raheel Pathan is pursuing B.tech Mechanical Engineering from I.T.M. Vocational University, and currently he is Vice-president of Member relations. He is working with SPEED since 2016 and facilitated various Regional Students Forum. He was a part of the organizing committee in the 2018 GSF conducted in ABQ, USA, and also coordinated the recently conducted ISF-2019. He is focused on analyzing the most efficient process with flexible and high-quality products in the Industrial sector by maintaining balance in Environment and Technology. By the approach towards INDUSTRY 4.0 ” A new rise in Industrial technology.
Radhika Gautam Gunaji
Radhika Gautam Gunaji, who belongs to India is a Ph.D. student majoring in Petroleum Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. She has been a member of SPEED since 2017 working as an Ed.content officer in 13th GSF held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 14th GSF held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Her research involves developing a Biopolymer using Natural Resources for Enhanced Oil Recovery that would help in Sustainable Oil Production. She brings with herself a strong leadership experience as the President of Post Graduate Student Society for School of Chemical and Energy Engineering and Vice President (women’s affair) of International Student Society at her current University. She is a travel enthusiast and highly self-motivated individual who in her words would not like to leave any corner unexplored
Sanket Dhadke
Sanket Dhadke is currently the VP of Student Affairs in IFEES. He spearheaded the establishment of SCALE along with his colleagues and working together with IUCEE since 2017. He has been an active part of IFEES since SCALE’s foundation. Together with his team, they have conducted a number of workshops focusing on Engineering Education. Sanket holds a Bachelors degree in Automobile Engineering and Masters in Industrial & Organizational Psychology. He is also a professional Finance Consultant & Planner based out of Mumbai, India. With a diverse background in education & work, he promises to work along with everyone and aims to achieve a better future for all living beings.
Ximena Velandia
Ximena Velandia, she is currently in postgraduate studies in Civil Engineering. She started to get involved in SPEED when she was in her 3rd semester of undergraduate studies, after having the opportunity to participate in the 9th Global Student Forum (GSF) 2013, which was held in Colombia. Her experience in SPEED has been a great contribution to her professional and personal skills, and thanks to them she has become a better leader. SPEED helped her to connect with people from different countries, cultures, and ideologies. She learned a lot from each people she has met because we have a common goal, which is our passion for engineering education.
Johannes
Johannes is a master’s student in Engineering Physics at Ghent University, Belgium, and he is the President of the youth NGO Board of European Students of Technology (BEST). In that capacity, he is responsible for the coordination of the International Board and for the External Relations of BEST, the latter in particular for many projects striving to improve STEM education. In the past two years, he has taken an active role in developing communication and collaboration between different Youth NGOs. Before becoming President of BEST, he was part of different projects which dealt with advocacy and leadership.
Daniel
Daniel is a graduate in Aerospace Engineering from Carlos III University of Madrid, and he is currently coordinating the Educational Involvement Department of the youth NGO Board of European Students of Technology (BEST). He has been involved in the past two years in projects on education at local, national and European level and he is now leading an international team of +20 volunteers to research the impact of the pandemic on STEM education, strive for diversity enhancement in engineering education and ultimately advocate for a change in the way higher education is delivered in Europe and worldwide.
What Our Members Have to Say
