Judging Panel
The panel members are all BC residents. There is always at least one Technology for Living member on the panel. All other judges have a technical background and can be from a company, non-profit etc. Judges need to be familiar with the field of assistive technology and are advocates and/or users of technology and home automation. Check back at a later date for updates to the 2025 judges panel.
Roger B. Jones
Roger, known as “The Ability Guy,” is a quadriplegic since 1985 and a renowned expert on disability and diversity issues. As a passionate advocate for Individualized Funding, Self-determination, and inclusion, he has served on numerous boards, including the Federal Minister’s Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation and the Board of Governors at Douglas College.
Roger’s extensive work includes creating diversity seminars for Canada Revenue Agency, advising disability studies programs, and providing accessibility recommendations for various organizations. He established the Susan Marshall Fighting Spirit Award and played a crucial role in the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics accessibility efforts.
A proud descendant of the first African Canadian settlers, Roger has been instrumental in promoting Black history and culture. He co-founded several Black community organizations and spearheaded anti-Black racism campaigns. His historical research is preserved in Canadian museums.
As CEO of World Accessibility, Roger has been involved in various business ventures related to accessibility. He has motivated thousands of youth through the “Above and Beyond” program and addressed audiences including world leaders and UN executives. Although technically retired, Roger continues to conduct product accessibility assessments for corporations and non-profits.
Will Wang
Will Wang is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. As the founder of Leafi Home, Will spearheads innovation in smart home technology with products like the Nova by Leafi—a retrofit device that transforms existing blinds into smart, enhancing accessibility, convenience, while saving energy.
With extensive experience in product development, lean startup methodologies, partnership cultivation, and supply chain management, Will has a proven track record of bringing cutting-edge products to market. His professional journey spans collaborations with both industry leaders and startups, highlighting his commitment to leveraging technology to improve everyday life.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Will is passionate about mentoring the next generation of engineers. As a judge for the Simon Cox Student Design Competition, he contributes his expertise to evaluate assistive technology projects designed to enhance independence for individuals with physical disabilities.
Outside of work, Will enjoys hiking, snowboarding, photography, and creating innovative projects. He is honored to be part of the Simon Cox competition and looks forward to inspiring creativity and problem-solving among student engineers.
Daniel Behrner
I have been with Technology for Living (TfL) since November 2019, working as a Biomedical Engineering Technologist. I graduated from BCIT’s Biomedical Engineering Technology Diploma program in 2019. Before that, I acquired a Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Engineering majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Biomedical Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2015 and an Associate Certificate in Computer Aided Design at BCIT in 2017.
Throughout my educational experience, I have helped develop a wide range of fully functional engineering prototype projects at both UBC and BCIT. One of which is being utilized today at TfL, the Chameleon. In addition, I have helped develop an array of new assistive devices and 3D-printed components here at TfL.
I find the work here at TfL truly rewarding, and I always aspire to improve our members’ independence. Therefore, I am looking forward to examining all the devices developed for the competition and seeing how they could potentially help improve the lives of our members.
Jerzy Pacek
Jerzy was born in Poland. He came to Canada in 1991. After graduating from the BCIT Biomedical Engineering program in 2006, he was hired by Technology for Living, then called BCITS, as a biomed technician. In his spare time, he enjoys watching a good movie or reading an interesting book.
Kamil Shafizadeh
Kamil got his B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sharif Uni. of Tech in 1990.
His focus was speech synthesizer hardware design and utilization.
From 1990 to 2007, Kamil designed and developed adaptive hardware and software products such as Braille notetakers, Braille OCR, electronic magnifiers, tactile speaking maps and Braille displays. He also founded two start-ups and led the hardware and software development in two mid-size companies.
He joined RBC Royal Bank in 2007 and since then has been leading the Digital Accessibility Developement team.
Kamil actively follows developments in accessibility and accommodation. He keeps abreast of product innovations, attends relevant conferences, and participates in hackathons. Additionally, Kamil stays informed about the standards and legislation related to this field.
He loves hiking, cycling, watching documentary movies, classical plays and enjoys listening to music. He also eagerly participates in community building, intergenerational activities and other public discourses.
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