INCOSE Canada Chapter 2025-2026 Board Elections

 

Dear INCOSE Canada Chapter members,

We are excited to announce that we will hold a Board of Directors election with voting commencing November 3, 2025. We encourage you to consider running for a position and help shape the future of INCOSE Canada!

How to Apply:

If you would like to nominate a person or put yourself forward as a nominee, please send the following information to Arman Nikkhah, the Elections Officer, at Arman.Nikkhah@incose.net by October 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PST). Before voting starts, the information you provide will be displayed and presented on INCOSE Canada’s website.

  • Full name of the candidate as registered with INCOSE
  • The position or positions you are nominating for in order of preference
  • A short bio and your vision for the role (less than 120 words)
  • A portrait image (if available)
  • Contact information (Email and/or phone number)

The following positions are available and open (all terms starting from the AGM when the new board members are declared):

Board of Directors Positions (election):

  • Vice President: The Vice President/President-Elect shall assist the President and shall assume the duties of the President when the President is unable to perform these duties. The Vice President shall succeed to the position of the President if the President resigns, or upon completion of his/her term of office. The Vice President is accountable for the INCOSE Chapter Circle Awards submission.
  • Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial affairs of the INCOSE Canada Chapter. The Treasurer shall receive all funds paid to the INCOSE Canada Chapter and shall approve payment of all bills incurred by the INCOSE Canada Chapter, as approved by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall maintain adequate financial records to make an annual report on the financial affairs of the INCOSE Canada Chapter to the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall prepare the budget for 2026.
  • Secretary: The Secretary shall prepare minutes of all meetings of the INCOSE Canada Chapter, and the Board of Directors as required. The Secretary shall maintain all permanent, non-financial records of the INCOSE Canada Chapter in a central location, accessible by the Board of Directors.
  • Communications: The Communications Director shall be responsible for electronic communication notices (e.g., email) to members. The Communications Director shall assist the Board of Directors in providing communication between the Board of Directors, the INCOSE Canada Chapter membership, and the council.
  • Technical Program: The Technical Program Director shall be responsible for technical programs of the Chapter and planning technical meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, and courses. The Technical Program Director shall be responsible for planning the overall strategy for systems engineering education, professional development, and shall be the Chairperson of the Program Committee.
  • Membership: The Membership Director shall be responsible for membership-related matters of the Chapter. The Membership Director will endeavor to sustain and increase Chapter membership.
  • Webmaster: The Webmaster shall be responsible for developing and maintaining the Chapter website.
  • Member at Large: The Member at Large serves as a general representative on the Board of Directors, supporting the overall function and effectiveness of the Chapter. This role provides input on board decisions, represents the general membership’s interests, and assists with special projects or tasks as assigned by the Chapter President to help advance the Chapter’s mission and goals.

Appointed Board of Directors Positions:

Applications for these positions follow the same process as those for the Board of Directors. The newly elected board will be responsible for appointing the selected candidate(s) after the election completion.

  • French Language Outreach: In collaboration with the rest of the board and under the leadership of the Chapter President, the director is responsible to formulate and execute the strategy to broaden the Chapter’s outreach to francophones within Canada.
  • Academic and Industry Outreach: In collaboration with the rest of the board and under the leadership of the Chapter President, the director is responsible to develop and execute the strategy to deepen the outreach between the Chapter and students and faculty within Canada. Furthermore, the director is to continually promote and develop INCOSE Canada Chapter’s Student Systems Engineering Competition as a means to improve student outreach.
  • Systems Engineering Professional Development: In collaboration with the rest of the board and under the leadership of the Chapter President, the director is responsible to develop and execute the strategy to grow the number of SEPs within Canada Chapter’s membership. This person manages Study Groups for INCOSE Canada Chapter, with support from the President and former moderators.
  • Events and Engagement: In collaboration with the rest of the board and under the leadership of the Chapter President, the director shall lead the Chapter’s efforts to support INCOSE Central’s International Symposium, International Workshops, local chapter in-person meet-ups and/or technical conferences and workshops that the board decides to contribute.

All positions listed above are appointed for a one-year term, with the exception of the Vice-President and Treasurer roles, which are designated as two-year terms to ensure continuity and stability in chapter leadership. However, for these two-year term positions, the appointment may be terminated after the first year if requested by the individual holding the position or if the Board of Directors determines it is necessary.

Important Dates:

  • Nominations Close: October 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PST)
  • Voting Opens: November 3, 2025, at 1:00 AM (PST)
  • Voting Closes: December 5, 2025, at 1:00 AM (PST)
  • Results Announced and AGM: December 9, 2025, at 5:00 PM (PST)

Voting Method:

Voting will be conducted online via a platform provided by INCOSE Central. Eligible voters will receive an email with unique login credentials.

Election rules:

  1. Only Canada Chapter members who are in good standing at the time voting opens are eligible to participate in the elections, including both voting and being nominated as a candidate for open positions.
  2. One person has one vote for each open position.
  3. Voting by proxy is not allowed.
  4. Write-in candidate is not allowed.
  5. Once a vote has been submitted, the vote cannot be modified.
  6. No nominee shall hold more than one position on the Board of Directors.
  7. Any position with only one nominee by the time voting closes will be acclaimed.
  8. Any position with no nominee shall remain vacant.
  9. Nominees who are tied for a position at the time voting closes shall be given the opportunity to be nominated again for the same position during the run-off voting. By default, the nominee who is tied for a position in the main elections will be nominated for the same position in the run-off—the nominee will need to notify the election committee in writing that they withdraw their nomination if they so desire.
  10. A nominee who receives the most votes for a position shall be granted the position, unless doing so is in conflict with rule (6).
  11. Runner-ups for Appointed Board Positions will be invited to participate in their nominated committee.

 

We’re excited about the new direction INCOSE Canada will take with your valued support and leadership! Please consider nominating. It is just not possible to function as a Chapter without your valued input. For further information about positions and the election rules, please visit Canada Chapter's election website, and you can reach out to Arman Nikkhah if you have any questions or concerns.

Your involvement is crucial for the continued success of INCOSE Canada. We look forward to your active participation in shaping our future together!

Nominees: Vice President

Anup_Suresh

Anup Suresh

Anup Suresh, P.Eng., PMP, ASEP, is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in systems engineering and project management across the rail & transit and aerospace sectors. Anup also brings valuable leadership experience from his tenure on the INCOSE Canada board, where he served as a Director.  As Vice President, his vision is to foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and professional growth, driving forward the mission of INCOSE Canada.

Somith Das

Somith brings over 5 years of experience from the perspective of an owner, design firm and consulting firm. He recognizes the broad spectrum of systems engineering in the application of major infrastructure projects, especially in the rail and transit industry. Canadian SE maturity is accelerating quickly with major opportunities in rail, digital twin integration and sustainable lifecycle management. Somith is prepared to lead the INCOSE Canada Chapter towards registration as a non-profit. This transition will formalize the chapter's role in shaping Canada's SE future and expand outreach. Driven by a passion for systems thinking, Somith aims to grow the practice by forging strategic industry partnerships and positioning the chapter as Canada's hub for SE knowledge.

Nominees :Treasurer

Ivan Taylor

Ivan Taylor

As current Treasurer, I’ve delivered on-time budgets, transparent reports, and audit-ready records. Next term, I will register INCOSE Canada as a non-profit organization, develop an easier receivables and payables system, and track the budget using rolling forecasts. I’ll handle sponsorships for the Transportation and Infrastructure Workshop and the Student Competition and provide the event’s Profit & Loss statements. I will provide value to members by investing wisely in new capabilities with excellent ROI.

Ray Barton

 Having fulfilled the role of treasurer for Incose Canada in 2021 through 2024, and having managed the financial records for the chapter, I am familiar with the responsibilities of the role. I look forward to serving the chapter and its members.

Nominees : Secretary

Ali Nasseri

I am currently an Associate Professor in the MBA program at University Canada West. Prior to academia, I worked in engineering and project and program management roles in the space sector, and AI and machine learning research sphere for 5 years. I joined the INCOSE Canada Chapter board in 2025 and currently lead the student competition. With competition ending in April my goal is to complete our implementation efforts and plan the next iteration based on the lessons learned. Having ran communications and acted as a secretary for another nonprofit, I can also support the communication strategy of the chapter and help organize the knowledge-base of the chapter for faster onboarding of new members of the Chapter and the board.

Pengzhou-Lu

Pengzhou Lu

I have been working for the position of Chapter Secretary for 2 years. My vision for this role is to support the management team to proceed the bi-weekly meetings, taking notes, pushing the progress of discussions and votes when it's necessary. Meanwhile, I also help manage the chapter folders, gather and tidy up the information needed for the circle award. My goal is to maintain the information directory for this chapter and get the document ready when it is needed.

Nominees : Communications

Ali Nasseri

I am currently an Associate Professor in the MBA program at University Canada West. Prior to academia, I worked in engineering and project and program management roles in the space sector, and AI and machine learning research sphere for 5 years. I joined the INCOSE Canada Chapter board in 2025 and currently lead the student competition. With competition ending in April my goal is to complete our implementation efforts and plan the next iteration based on the lessons learned. Having ran communications and acted as a secretary for another nonprofit, I can also support the communication strategy of the chapter and help organize the knowledge-base of the chapter for faster onboarding of new members of the Chapter and the board.

Nominees : Technical Program

IvanRodriges

Ivan Rodrigues 

Ivan Rodrigues (P.Eng., CSEP) has been a member of INCOSE since 1997 and a CSEP since 2007. He has attended several INCOSE Annual International Symposiums and previously served as a SEP assessor. He has fulfilled various product development roles in the Defence, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Cellular Communications industries, spanning the full V-model from use cases and requirements elicitation, through requirements derivation and analysis, to systems level architectural design, integration, and V&V. Further to his Mechanical Engineering degree, Ivan has completed graduate studies in Electrical Engineering as well as the MIT xPRO Architecture and Systems Engineering certificate program. He is currently the Senior Manager of Systems Engineering within Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning Division, where he and his team have developed world-class, IATF 16949, ISO/IEC 15288, ISO 26262 and ASPICE compliant SE processes, tools, best-practices, and an effective SE community of practice (SECoP).

Somith Das

Somith brings over 5 years of experience from the perspective of an owner, design firm and consulting firm. He recognizes the broad spectrum of systems engineering in the application of major infrastructure projects, especially in the rail and transit industry. Canadian SE maturity is accelerating quickly with major opportunities in rail, digital twin integration and sustainable lifecycle management. Somith is prepared to lead the INCOSE Canada Chapter towards registration as a non-profit. This transition will formalize the chapter's role in shaping Canada's SE future and expand outreach. Driven by a passion for systems thinking, Somith aims to grow the practice by forging strategic industry partnerships and positioning the chapter as Canada's hub for SE knowledge.

Nominees: Membership

Ivan Taylor

Ivan Taylor

I’ve served INCOSE Canada as Membership Director in 2023 and 2024, driving growth through organizational initiatives. If re-elected, I will optimize the member journey by focusing on targeted onboarding, retention campaigns, and certification recognition. I will work with the Technical Program Director and other Board members to deliver value-led programming aligned with the needs of INCOSE Canada members, Canadian engineering firms, and Canadian engineering schools.

Blair_MacDonald

Blair MacDonald

Hello, my name is Blair MacDonald. With 18 years of dedicated service as a Naval Combat Systems Engineer in the Royal Canadian Navy, I bring a wealth of experience in complex, mission-critical environments. Currently, I serve as a public servant with the Department of National Defence, where I continue to champion innovation and excellence.

As a key member of the PMO River Class Destroyer Team, I have led initiatives in requirements development, performance modeling, and the practical application of ISO Standard 15288. My work in implementing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has directly contributed to advancing the Navy’s technical capabilities and behavioural understanding.

I am deeply passionate about growing the systems engineering community across this country. I work with our international partners and recognize the innovation and capability our Chapter can bring to the broader INCOSE team. Since joining INCOSE in 2023, I have been committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. I am eager to support the Chapter President in expanding our Canadian Chapter’s membership, ensuring we harness the power of diverse perspectives to drive our discipline forward.

Together, we can elevate systems engineering in Canada—strengthening our profession and delivering greater value to our nation.

Nominees : Webmaster

Stephane Lacrampe

Stéphane Lacrampe co-founded Obeo in 2005 in France, a leading independent software vendor in open-source modeling tools for system and software engineers, enterprise architects, and domain experts. After serving as CEO until 2018, he became Director of Obeo Canada, based on Vancouver Island, where he leads the development of the Capella ecosystem across the Americas. He also co-chairs the INCOSE Systems Engineering Tools Database Working Group.

I have been serving as the INCOSE Canada Chapter Webmaster for several years. While I am not a professional webmaster, my IT background and past experience with web projects allow me to maintain the site efficiently and support the Chapter’s communications. In 2026, I will help oversee the migration of our website to INCOSE’s new platform, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of service.

Nominees : Member at Large

IvanRodriges

Ivan Rodrigues

Ivan Rodrigues (P.Eng., CSEP) has been a member of INCOSE since 1997 and a CSEP since 2007. He has attended several INCOSE Annual International Symposiums and previously served as a SEP assessor. He has fulfilled various product development roles in the Defence, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Cellular Communications industries, spanning the full V-model from use cases and requirements elicitation, through requirements derivation and analysis, to systems level architectural design, integration, and V&V. Further to his Mechanical Engineering degree, Ivan has completed graduate studies in Electrical Engineering as well as the MIT xPRO Architecture and Systems Engineering certificate program. He is currently the Senior Manager of Systems Engineering within Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning Division, where he and his team have developed world-class, IATF 16949, ISO/IEC 15288, ISO 26262 and ASPICE compliant SE processes, tools, best-practices, and an effective SE community of practice (SECoP).

Somith Das

Somith brings over 5 years of experience from the perspective of an owner, design firm and consulting firm. He recognizes the broad spectrum of systems engineering in the application of major infrastructure projects, especially in the rail and transit industry. Canadian SE maturity is accelerating quickly with major opportunities in rail, digital twin integration and sustainable lifecycle management. Somith is prepared to lead the INCOSE Canada Chapter towards registration as a non-profit. This transition will formalize the chapter's role in shaping Canada's SE future and expand outreach. Driven by a passion for systems thinking, Somith aims to grow the practice by forging strategic industry partnerships and positioning the chapter as Canada's hub for SE knowledge.

Nominees : French Language Outreach

arnaud_royer

Arnaud Royer

Working in system engineering since my graduation as an engineer (in France), I've been travelling the world to deploy railway systems in various challenging environments. As a system designer and functional architect for several industry leaders, as an evaluator assessing compliance of safety-related signaling for train control systems, and now working with the biggest metro operator in Canada, I have seen different aspects and visions of system engineering. Daily, I see the value it adds to our companies and to society when we can understand, think and design systems as a whole.

Understanding the new vision of INCOSE to develop among the French community, I am willing to help build the bridge that will enable engagement and inclusive growth in the INCOSE organization. My vision is to develop resources that would help reach the French community, starting with a French version of the website and, in the future, the possibility to have French exams.
I am enthusiastic about this opportunity to make a meaningful impact, and I am confident that, together, we can empower more francophone individuals to join and contribute to our mission.

Nominees : Academic and Industry Outreach

Ali Nasseri

I am currently an Associate Professor in the MBA program at University Canada West. Prior to academia, I worked in engineering and project and program management roles in the space sector, and AI and machine learning research sphere for 5 years. I joined the INCOSE Canada Chapter board in 2025 and currently lead the student competition. With competition ending in April my goal is to complete our implementation efforts and plan the next iteration based on the lessons learned. Having ran communications and acted as a secretary for another nonprofit, I can also support the communication strategy of the chapter and help organize the knowledge-base of the chapter for faster onboarding of new members of the Chapter and the board.

Nominee : Events and Engagement

Pengzhou-Lu

Pengzhou Lu

Since I'm based in Toronto, I took the initiative to host the Toronto In-person meeting for 2 years. I have accumulated significant experience in communicating and interacting with local public facilities, schools and professionals through enabling the organization of in-person meetings. This makes me a perfect fit for the Event and Engagement Director in the Toronto region. In fact, from the successful collaboration with Elton Academy on Oct 25th (for in-person meeting), I plan to build a strong bond with local high schools and provide our chapter with opportunities to present, which gives us a great deal of advantages in the evaluation for circle award. 

 
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