International Young Humanitarian Speaker Series
Driven by compassion, inspired by Alma Mater. Celebrating global Illinois alumni leaders.
Established in 2024, the International Young Humanitarian Speaker Series is a signature Illinois International event held annually in an intimate, fireside chat-style environment.
Illuminating the accomplishments of fledging global Illini alumni leaders, the International Young Humanitarian Speaker Series features the most recent recipient of the Charles C. Stewart International Young Humanitarian Award, which recognizes the international service of an Illinois alum whose dedication to the welfare of communities outside of the United States exemplifies the highest ideals of selflessness.
While the primary focus is to connect current students interested in careers in international and/or humanitarian work with alumni, the event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Upcoming International Young Humanitarian Speaker Series
The 2026 Speaker Series will feature Luis Jaimes-Illanes, a 2022 Gies College of Business alum, engineer, and international social impact leader whose work focuses on expanding connectivity, educational access, and development opportunities for communities in Latin America. Co-founder of Conecta Mentora — a program that brings together youth from urban, rural, and Indigenous communities with world-class mentors and institutions — he is also a Senior Network Engineer at Altaeros, a leading aerospace company.
Meet the 2026 Speaker: Luis Jaimes-Illanes
Luis Jaimes-Illanes is an engineer and international social impact leader whose work focuses on expanding connectivity, educational access, and development opportunities for communities in Latin America. He is the co-founder and director of Conecta Mentora, a nonprofit mentorship and leadership initiative that supports the development of emerging leaders through academic growth, entrepreneurship, career development, and civic engagement.
Professionally, Luis works across aerospace, telecommunications, and autonomous systems, contributing to advanced connectivity solutions in the Americas and abroad. A proud graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Fulbright Scholar, he remains actively engaged in international education and service-oriented initiatives.
Event Details
- Date: November 19, 2026
- Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
- Location: Illini Union Bookstore Author’s Corner (Second Floor), 809 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL
- Admission: Free and open to the public. All are welcome!
Who Can Attend
We invite all members of our campus and surrounding communities to attend, including:
- Students
- Faculty and Staff
- Alumni, Donors and Friends of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois System
- Community Members
Past Events
