Engineers Without Borders USA's 2026 Annual Conference set for February in Portland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2026
Portland, OR — Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is calling its global community together. The organization’s 2026 Annual Conference, Building Tomorrow Together, will take place February 26–28, 2026, in Portland, Oregon, convening students, professionals, and partners committed to advancing infrastructure equity through engineering.
The three-day, in-person experience will bring together EWB-USA volunteers, national and international NGO partners, academic institutions, and industry leaders for hands-on learning, collaboration, and connection. Attendees can expect 48 confirmed sessions, including immersive workshops in water testing, solar energy, GIS, advocacy, and leadership designed to deliver skills participants can immediately apply in their EWB-USA projects and careers. The conference will include engaging keynote speakers, including Andrea Johnson, Executive Director of Green Empowerment, and Olga Morales Pate, CEO of Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc (RCAP).
Building on the success of last year’s event, the 2026 conference is expected to be even larger. The 2025 EWB-USA Annual Conference welcomed nearly 600 attendees, including students, professionals, recruiters, and national and international partners representing over 100 EWB-USA chapters across the country.
This year's conference will continue this momentum with expanded programming, including a major job and opportunity fair where volunteers can connect with representatives from leading engineering firms, companies, and graduate programs. Confirmed participating organizations include the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), CDM Smith, CU Boulder's Mortenson Center, Frontier Precision, RTX, Terracon, Trimble, Purdue University, MITRE, UC Berkeley's Development Engineering Program, GEI, Olsson, Indian Health Services, Colorado School of Mines Humanitarian Engineering, Hydraulic Institute, with additional partners to be announced.
The 2026 Annual Conference represents a significant milestone for the organization. As EWB-USA prepares to commemorate its 25th anniversary in 2027, the conference in Portland will serve as a stepping stone toward a landmark anniversary gathering that is scheduled for March 2027 in St. Louis, Missouri. This event will celebrate 25 years of community-driven impact all across the globe. We hope you can join us in Portland to be inspired and help EWB-USA make a difference.
Together, EWB-USA’s community will turn uncertainty into possibility, ideas into infrastructure, and shared purpose into lasting impact. Learn more about the 2026 Annual Conference and register today: ewb-usa.org/conference
About Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA)
Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a nonprofit organization advancing sustainable, community-driven engineering solutions that meet basic human needs. Since 2002, the organization has completed more than 1,200 projects in over 700 communities, improving the lives of more than 5.2 million people. In 2025 alone, EWB-USA reached over 800,000 people, with a majority of projects focused on expanding access to safe water. EWB-USA is committed to developing globally-minded leaders who will continue shaping a more sustainable and equitable world.
Connect with EWB-USA by visiting their website: ewb-usa.org or by following them on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
Media Contact:
Kellianne McClain
Marketing and Development Strategist, EWB-USA
kellianne.mcclain@ewb-usa.org