By Report 3

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The IEEE Student Chapter at The University of the South Pacific (USP) successfully hosted an Entrepreneurial Conference at the Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a global movement dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. The event brought together students, industry professionals, and academic leaders to inspire innovation and highlight entrepreneurial opportunities for engineering graduates.

The conference, held in August, began with a welcome address from the IEEE USP Student Chapter Counselor, Krish Kumar Raj, who described the event as a unique opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and enhance their skills.

He also highlighted that the subsection was recently recognised as one of the top performers in region 10 for its contributions to membership, reporting, and member-focused activities.

“This conference is all about inspiring innovation and helping students see how engineering skills can translate into entrepreneurial success,” he said.

Taanvi Singh, a student, highlighted that taking part in the Entrepreneurial Conference organised by the IEEE USP Student Branch was a great opportunity.

“As an IEEE Student Member, I found this conference extremely helpful in enhancing my knowledge of entrepreneurship and preparing for my future goals. The invited guest speakers shared valuable insights on financing startups, management skills, and effective business pitching techniques, which provided me with practical knowledge and fresh perspectives,” she said.

For Divyesh Kumar Mistry, the phrase “innovation – from ideas to outcomes” took on a whole new meaning after attending the conference. Innovation, he realised, isn’t just about novel technology.

“When I left the conference, I had a sharper lens for communicating value and a deeper appreciation for resilience – reinforcing a simple conclusion: entrepreneurs blend vision with execution,” Mistry said.

USP academic Dr Utkal Mehta, Secretary of the IEEE Fiji Subsection, reflected on the role of IEEE in student development.

“Supporting initiatives like this empowers students to develop leadership, technical, and entrepreneurial skills that will benefit Fiji’s School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics (STEMP) community for years to come,” he said.

The first keynote speaker, Seymour Singh, Chief Strategic and Information Officer at the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), delivered a presentation titled “From Classroom to Boardroom.”

Drawing on extensive experience in the water sector and prior leadership roles, the presentation highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship for engineers, opportunities in the water sector, essential management skills for startups, common pitfalls to avoid, and real-world success stories. The session emphasised the value of combining technical expertise with business knowledge to create lasting impact.

Maanvik Gounder, a Cybersecurity Analyst at Carpenters Fiji Pte Ltd, delivered the second keynote address.

Gounder focused on the intersection of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and entrepreneurship. The presentation encouraged young engineers to explore opportunities in these rapidly evolving fields and highlighted strategies for protecting innovative ideas while navigating the local business environment.

An interactive Q&A session followed, allowing students to engage with the speakers on practical topics such as copyright procedures and intellectual property protection in Fiji.

The IEEE USP Student Chapter presented each guest speaker with an IEEE-branded merchandise package and a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their contributions.

The programme also included a recap of the chapter’s achievements over the past two years, including hosting workshops, community service initiatives such as providing computers to village schools, and securing funding to support student-led projects. Plans for upcoming activities include a Gala Night and the IEEE Game Night, which were shared to further engage the student community.

Students were also encouraged to participate in the ongoing IEEE Idea Pitch Competition 2025, with the top three finalists from Fiji given the opportunity to have their ideas reviewed by international judges and potentially showcased at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai.

The IEEE Entrepreneurial Conference 2025 was a success, fostering knowledge-sharing, professional inspiration, and networking for the student community.