IEEE Curtin ASPIRE 26 Grand Final: Four Campuses, One Global Celebration of Student Innovation

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Date: 9 August 2026 Start Time: 9:00 AM Dubai time (UTC+4) Location: Virtual Event – Zoom The IEEE Curtin ASPIRE 2026 Grand Final marked the culmination of a two-week global student innovation challenge involving Curtin University campuses in Perth, Dubai, Malaysia and Colombo. Working in multidisciplinary cross-campus teams, students developed innovative and sustainable solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. During the live Grand Final, finalist teams presented their proposed solutions and responded to questions assessing their originality, technical feasibility, scalability, sustainability and potential real-world impact. The event celebrated student innovation while strengthening global collaboration, entrepreneurship, communication and teamwork across the Curtin community. Initiated by Curtin Dubai student Mohammed Sahal Shaikh and organised collaboratively by IEEE Student Branches across the four campuses, ASPIRE 2026 served as a practical expression of Curtin ONE. Ms Bhavika Khetani, Lecturer in Cybersecurity at Curtin University Dubai, coordinated the cross-campus initiative alongside the Dubai IEEE team and secured sponsorship and strong support from the IEEE Western Australia Section and Curtin’s School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS). Professor Ammar Kaka, Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin University Dubai, delivered the welcome address, encouraging students to embrace global collaboration and use innovation to create meaningful change. Rifa Anwar from Curtin Dubai served as the emcee, guiding the programme and ensuring that the presentations, judging and awards proceeded smoothly. Agenda Welcome address by Professor Ammar Kaka Introduction to the ASPIRE 2026 journey Finalist team presentations Questions and feedback from the judging panel Judges’ evaluation and deliberation Recognition of mentors and the organising committee Announcement of the overall and category winners Closing remarks and acknowledgements Judging Panel Dr Ehsan Pashajavid – Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Curtin University; Chair, IEEE PES/PELS WA Joint Chapter John Curtin Distinguished Professor Chithirai Pon Selvan – Director of Research and Head of the School of Science and Engineering, Curtin University Dubai Mr Pang Po Ken – Lecturer in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Curtin University Malaysia Mr Ashen Fernando – Senior Electronics Engineer at Zone 24x7, Sri Lanka, and Visiting Lecturer at Curtin University Colombo Mentors Dr Umanga Pilapitiya – Curtin University Colombo Mr Senuda Jayasooriya – Curtin University Colombo Mr Michael Lian Gau – Curtin University Malaysia Dr Saaveethya Sivakumar – Curtin University Malaysia Mr Mahesh Rai – Curtin University Dubai Ms Keerthana Danasekaran – Curtin University Dubai Dr Sonny Pham – Curtin University Bentley Mr Bayou Assaye – Curtin University Bentley Organising Committee Rovindu Tharin – IEEE Curtin Colombo Mohammed Sahal Shaikh – IEEE Curtin Dubai Shem Dhliwayo – IEEE Curtin Perth Yong Jun Lai – IEEE Curtin Malaysia Divyani Fonseka – Curtin Colombo Nyasha Nicole Gutuza – Curtin Dubai Rifa Anwar – Curtin Dubai Methuli Parami Wijekoon – Curtin Colombo Yasiru Fernando – Curtin Colombo Zack Abesinghe – Curtin Colombo Yameen Shiraz – Curtin Colombo Darren Chew – Curtin Malaysia Awards Overall Champion – Team D First Runner-up – Team B Second Runner-up – Team I Best SDG Impact Award – Team C Most Innovative Solution – Team D Best Technical Design – Team D Best Pitch – Team D Organised By IEEE Student Branches at Curtin Perth, Curtin Dubai, Curtin Malaysia and Curtin Colombo. Sponsorship and Support ASPIRE 2026 received generous sponsorship and strong support from the IEEE Western Australia Section and Curtin University’s School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS), together with support from Curtin’s Perth, Dubai, Malaysia and Colombo campuses.