Meet the judging panel for the 2024 Misties Awards

Born from a vision from MistyWest cofounder Leigh Christie to foster a vibrant community of industry peers at the forefront of technology, the Misties Awards are entering their 3rd year of searching for the Top 20 Individual Leaders in Intelligent and Connected Devices.

With 40 winners having already been recognized, the Misties are gaining a reputation as an amplifier of the "unsung heroes" of commercialized product development who don't normally receive the accolades they deserve.

While nominations for the Misties are submitted by the public, a panel of 30 judges down-selects them to the Top 20 winners. Hardware industry experts, tenured product leaders and designers, startup founders and venture capitalists make up the judging panel, who also receive an invitation to attend the exclusive in-person Misties After Party in Vancouver, BC on July 18.

With that, MistyWest and 2024 co-host SOLIDWORKS are pleased to present this year's judges of the Misties Awards, including seven previous Misties honourees who will also be providing their invaluable time and expertise to help select the winners.

Past Misties winners on this year's judging panel.

• Nader Elm is the Co-Founder of Exyn Technologies , championing the world’s most advanced autonomous aerial scanning system and the world’s most rapid mobile geospatial reality capture system.

• Matt Mickelson is a Lead Systems Engineer of New Vehicle Platforms at CRUISE AUTOMATION LTD . He has played a crucial role in many game-changing products, such as the original Microsoft Surface, and has partnered with M-Kopa Solar in Kenya to help further the goal of affordable and clean energy.?
• Brett Byer is a Senior Hardware Engineer at Hala Systems, Inc. , where he creates robust solutions that bridge the gap between data and actionable insights, empowering users in even the most remote or unreliable areas.
• Ibrahim (Brian) Elchami is a principal at Mostar Defence + Security Ventures , a defence and security operational VC firm in BC, and a researcher at UBC where he builds IoT and AI solutions as a part of the UBC-Rogers 5G campus initiative - including projects related to installing sensors on trees to study tree health.
• Raj Seelam is an entrepreneur who has created the world’s only commercially available low-cost air quality monitor with AI/ML capabilities, Piera Systems Inc. , helping to improve air quality and reduce global air pollution costs.
• Ian Stadler is a principal firmware engineer at Semios , where he develops novel devices for growers to help manage pests and their farms so that we can sustainably help feed our growing population.

• Jordan Ruderman is an experienced test engineer with a long history of developing and testing world-class products from Apple, Amazon/Lab126, Fitbit, and is currently leading wireless connectivity test for Cruise /GM - the only self-driving company with fully integrated manufacturing at scale.

The full list of Misties judges

• Eric Migicovsky , Founder of Pebble and Co-Founder & CEO at Beeper ?
• Adam B. , CXO at Edge Impulse
• Sherry Huss , Co-Founder of Maker Faire and Head of Community at Freeman Company
• Chuck Martin , Editorial Director of AI & IoT at Informa Tech
• Meiz Majdoub , Senior Engineering Officer at Royal Canadian Navy
• Avi Rosenthal , Partner at BlueConnect Partners
• Athena Demos , Co-Founder of Big Rock Creative (BRCvr)
• Jake Blair , Senior Sales Engineer at Memfault
• Alex Marley , Partner at Lux Capital
• Daniel Myers , Founder & CEO at Flair
• Derek Disanjh , Engineering Physicist
• Linda Megerdichian , Digital Hardware Design Engineer at Extron
• Chris Massot , Director of Co-Innovation at 微软
• Oleha Riden , Co-Founder & Creative Director of Stealth Creative Agency
• Naomi Hamels , Global Director at Altium?
• Alex Gudilko , CEO at AJProTech - IoT Product Development
• Jeanette Numbers, IDSA , Founder & CEO of Nova
• Thomas Soederholm , VP of Business Development at Nordic Semiconductor
• Terry Arbaugh , VP of Sales & Marketing at SEACOMP
• Sarah Muzquiz of Particle
• Melanie D. , Founder of Prairie City Solutions
• Luc Martens , Professor at Universiteit Gent
• Sarah Muzquiz , Alliances Manager at Particle

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our judges for their help fostering meaningful connections within the hardware industry and recognizing the individual leaders who are shaping the future of technology.

Nominate someone by April 30

Nominations for the Misties Awards are open until April 30, and you can download our entry kit to learn more about the criteria. The Top 20 winners of 2024 will be announced in the Misties virtual awards ceremony on Thurs, July 18th.