IEEE Portugal represented at the 127th IEEE Region 8 Committee Meeting in Glasgow

Glasgow, United Kingdom, 20–23 August 2026

IEEE Portugal was represented in Glasgow during a week dedicated to leadership, collaboration and the future of IEEE, with the 127th IEEE Region 8 Committee Meeting, held on 20–21 August, followed by the IEEE Sections Congress 2026, from 21–23 August.

The gatherings brought together IEEE volunteers and leaders from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, creating an opportunity for Sections and organizational units to exchange experiences, discuss priorities and strengthen collaboration across the IEEE community.

Bringing IEEE Region 8 together

The 127th IEEE Region 8 Committee Meeting took place at the Crowne Plaza Glasgow on 20 and 21 August. The meeting brought together representatives from IEEE Sections, committees, councils and other regional leadership bodies to discuss activities and priorities across Region 8.

Over the two days, participants took part in discussions covering a broad range of IEEE activities, including member and volunteer engagement, student activities, technical activities, professional development, communications, awards, women in engineering, young professionals and the continued development of IEEE Sections.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for representatives to share their experiences and perspectives from their respective countries and Sections, contributing to the wider regional discussion on how IEEE can continue to support its members and volunteers.

For IEEE Portugal, participation in this setting represents an important opportunity to ensure that the experience, priorities and perspectives of the Portuguese Section are part of the wider regional conversation.

A Portuguese presence in Glasgow

IEEE Portugal was represented by its Section leadership, with Carlos Ferreira, IEEE Portugal Section Chair, and Diogo Pereira participating in the activities in Glasgow.

The Portuguese presence was further strengthened through participation in the wider IEEE leadership gatherings taking place in the city. Raquel Castro Madureira and Nuno Borges Carvalho joined the IEEE Societies and Councils Congress, taking place alongside the other leadership meetings.

The participation of Portuguese IEEE volunteers across these different gatherings reflects the breadth of engagement of the IEEE community in Portugal and its connection to the wider organization.

Being present at regional and global IEEE events is not only about representing Portugal. It is also an opportunity to learn from other Sections, identify successful approaches, establish new collaborations and bring ideas back to the Portuguese IEEE community.

From the Region 8 Meeting to Sections Congress

The Region 8 Committee Meeting was followed by one of IEEE’s major gatherings for Section leadership: the IEEE Sections Congress 2026, held at the Scottish Event Campus from 21 to 23 August.

Held every three years, Sections Congress brings together IEEE Section leaders from around the world and across all ten IEEE Regions. The 2026 edition focused on the theme “Leading Technology for Global Good”, with the programme designed around collaboration, learning, networking and sharing experiences between Sections.

The programme included an opening ceremony, breakout sessions, an exhibition hall, leadership forums and opportunities for participants to exchange ideas about IEEE activities in their local communities.

For IEEE Portugal, the proximity between the two gatherings created an especially valuable opportunity: regional discussions within Region 8 could be followed immediately by conversations with IEEE leaders and volunteers from across the wider organization.

Connecting Portugal with the wider IEEE community

One of the most valuable aspects of these gatherings is the opportunity to connect people working within different parts of IEEE.

For a Section such as IEEE Portugal, these connections can translate into new ideas, collaborations and opportunities for members and volunteers. Conversations with other Sections can provide different perspectives on member engagement, volunteer development, student activities, technical initiatives and communication strategies.

At the same time, representing Portugal at these events allows the Section to contribute its own experiences to the wider IEEE community.

This exchange is particularly important for an organization as geographically diverse as IEEE. Although Sections operate within different national and cultural contexts, they share many of the same challenges and objectives: engaging members, supporting volunteers, developing future leaders and demonstrating the impact of engineering and technology on society.

Looking beyond Glasgow

The end of the meetings in Glasgow marks not an ending, but the beginning of the next stage of putting ideas into practice.

For IEEE Portugal, participation in the 127th IEEE Region 8 Committee Meeting and IEEE Sections Congress is an opportunity to bring knowledge, perspectives and new connections back to Portugal and into the work carried out throughout the Section.

From local activities and Student Branches to technical communities, professional initiatives and member engagement, the strength of IEEE ultimately depends on the people who turn ideas into action within their communities.

The conversations held in Glasgow are therefore expected to continue well beyond the event itself — through new collaborations, shared initiatives and continued engagement between IEEE Portugal and the wider IEEE community.

From Portugal to Glasgow, and from Glasgow back to Portugal, IEEE Portugal continues to connect, collaborate and contribute to the global IEEE community.