Amal Punchihewa
AIBD
Dr Amal Punchihewa is a researcher, educator, advisor and consultant in ICT, Media, and Broadcasting with close to four decades of experience in the industry, academia, and research. Amal graduated from University of Moratuwa   specialising Electronics and Telecommunications, Master of Electronics Engineering from Technical University of Eindhoven, the Netherlands and PhD from Massey University in New Zealand. He was a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Institution of Engineering Sri Lanka. He was member of Computer Society of Sri Lanka. Currently he is a life member of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science, a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of IET (UK), Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and a senior member of IEEE (USA). He is also a distinguished lecturer of the IEEE-Broadcast Technology Society.
Amal has served academia, research and the industry. During his four year secondment to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, he spear headed the introduction of NICAM stereo and multi-lingual sound broadcasting and the second programme channel. He was recipient of IESL Wimalsurendra award for on-the-job Research. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers in reputed journals and conference proceeding in addition to three books, five book chapters and many books edited.
Amal facilitates and advocates technical guidelines and standards, and provides expertise related to the convergence of media, and evolving technology needs. He advises professional communities and explains the trends that shape the media, to empower media & ICT stakeholders to continue to make good strategic decisions. Currently, he volunteers as the Chair of the Engineering New Zealand Manawatu Branch, STEM Ambassador and a Mentor of emerging engineers and the Deputy Chair of IET Wellington and South Island. He is also the Technical Advisor of the AIBD.
Amal is humbly proud and honoured to lead the AIBD sustainability work over the last three years in Asia-Pacific (APAC) and beyond and to function as an ambassador for the Broadcast and Media Sector. He has written concept papers and many articles for reputed and highly circulating publishers (APB+, IEEE-BTS, and AIBD) and presented at many conferences (SMPTE), summits, workshops, seminars, webinars etc. AIBD and Amal were delighted to be a Finalist in Best ESG Leadership/Ambassador at 2024 Corporate Star Awards during IBC2024.