The IEEE Victorian Section is proudly celebrating a landmark achievement as its 2024–25 Chair, Vijay S Paul, has been named the recipient of the 2025 IEEE MGA Leadership Award – one of the highest global honours conferred by IEEE on individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and service in advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Vijay becomes only the third Australian and the first Victorian to receive this distinguished recognition, marking an extraordinary moment in the Section’s 42-year history.

Established in 1983, the IEEE Victorian Section represents the world’s largest technical professional organisation’s footprint in Victoria. IEEE, founded in 1884, brings together more than 500,000 members across 190+ countries, united by the mission of advancing technology for humanity.

Vijay S Paul wins IEEE MGA Leadership Award

A dedicated IEEE Senior Member, Vijay has spent over 18 years enriching the global STEM volunteering community. Beginning as a student volunteer at just 18 years old, he has since become a transformative leader whose contributions have shaped programs, policies and impact across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Among his many accomplishments within IEEE, Vijay has:

  • Delivered hands-on science camps for visually challenged students.
  • Founded ELITE, a customised leadership program that has become a cornerstone of volunteer training in the Victorian Section.
  • Led the creation of the information management strategy for IEEE Region 10 (Asia-Pacific).
  • Conducted numerous STEM workshops for underserved communities.
  • Spearheaded R10-140, a region-wide health and wellness campaign marking IEEE’s 140th anniversary.
  • Led multiple humanitarian technology initiatives across the Asia-Pacific.
  • Guided the Victorian Section to secure 13 competitive grants in just two years – more than any other Australian Section.
  • Established a strategic partnership with the Victorian Government’s Melbourne Convention Bureau to support IEEE members in hosting technical conferences in Melbourne.

Vijay has also played a pivotal role in strengthening governance at both regional and global IEEE levels. His contributions include:

  • Reviewing and recommending improvements to the IEEE MGA Operations Manual.
  • Providing expert feedback on proposed Bylaws and Local Operating Guidelines for IEEE Sections, as part of MGA Ad-Hoc Committee on Governance.
  • Creating lifecycle paths for two prospective volunteering journeys for an average IEEE volunteer – one of technical leadership and one of organisational leadership.
  • Finalising global processes for the formation and dissolution of IEEE Local Groups.
  • Developing the Victorian Section’s first updated Financial Guidelines since 2009.

As the youngest Section Chair in Victorian Section history, Vijay has significantly elevated the Section’s visibility, influence, and effectiveness. His leadership philosophy – centred on empowering volunteers – has left a lasting imprint on individuals and the wider IEEE community.

Professionally, Vijay is a Senior Trainer and Business Improvement Specialist at Monash University, contributing to enhancing the quality of alumni and donor-focused data, developing robust business processes, ensuring data integrity, and fostering continuous improvement across operational workflows. He holds a Bachelor’s in Technology (Electronics) from the University of Calicut (India) and a Master’s in Communications from Monash University (Australia).

For the members and volunteers of the IEEE Victorian Section, this recognition is a moment of profound pride. Vijay’s work has strengthened the Australian science and technology community, inspired volunteers across the region, and positioned Victoria as a recognised leader within the global IEEE ecosystem.

The IEEE Victorian Section congratulates Vijay on this remarkable accomplishment and celebrates the enduring impact he has created for the community, both locally and worldwide.