Prof. Johan Enslin, President elect, IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS)
Dr. Johan Enslin is currently serving as a Program Director for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) at the US Department of Energy (DOE). His main research and development focus is to decarbonize electric power generation, transmission, distribution and active loads. He uses power electronics and sustainable energy resources to fulfill this quest. Prior to joining ARPA-E, Johan came from Clemson University as Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and was the Duke Energy Endowed Chair in Smart Grid Technology, leading the large Power Center in Charleston SC. Dr. Enslin combines a balanced industry and academic career with more than 44 years of leadership experience in industry, academia and government throughout the USA, Europe and South Africa. He has served as a C-suite executive for several private business operations and a full-professor in electrical engineering at several universities. Dr. Enslin received BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), South Africa, in 1981, 1983 and 1988 respectively. He has authored more than 350 technical papers, several book chapters and holds 25 patents. Johan has served in the IEEE Power Electronics (PELS), as well as Power and Energy Engineering (PES) Societies and CIGRE Working Groups for decades and is currently the President-elect (2025-2026) for PELS. He is a Fellow of the IEEE.
Professor Pierluigi Mancarella, University of Melbourne, Australia
Pierluigi Mancarella is Chair Professor of Electrical Power Systems at The University of Melbourne (Australia) and Professor of Smart Energy Systems at The University of Manchester (UK). His key research interests include techno-economic modelling and analysis of multi-energy systems, grid and market integration of renewables and distributed energy resources, energy infrastructure planning under uncertainty, and security, reliability and resilience of low-carbon networks.
Pierluigi is the Energy Systems program leader at the Melbourne Energy Institute, a Fellow of the IEEE, an IEEE Power and Energy Society Distinguished Lecturer, the Convenor of the Cigre C6/C2.34 Working Group on “Flexibility provision from distributed energy resources”, the technical chair of the 2022 International Microgrids Symposium, and the Australian Director of the US-UK-Australia Global Centre on Climate Change and Clean Energy “Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society” (EPICS). He also holds the 2017 veski Innovation Fellowship for his work on urban-scale virtual power plants and is a recipient of an international Newton Prize 2018 for his work on power system resilience in Chile. Currently he is actively involved in a number of research and consultancy projects with industry, policy makers and regulators in Australia and internationally, particularly in the areas of integrated infrastructure planning under uncertainty and reliable and resilient planning of future energy systems.
Pierluigi is author of several books and over 400 research papers and reports. He is a Senior Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and of the Oxford Open Energy journal, and an Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Energy Markets, Policy and Regulation. He has been visiting researcher/professor in a number of international institutions, including NREL in Colorado, Tsinghua University in China, Ecole Centrale de Lille in France, the Universidad de Chile, and NTNU in Norway.
Professor Hua Geng, Tsinghua University, China
Hua Geng received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2003 and the Ph.D. degree in control theory and application from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, in 2008. From 2008 to 2010, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada. He joined Automation Department of Tsinghua University in June 2010 and is currently a full professor.
His current research interests include advanced control on power electronics and renewable energy conversion systems, AI for energy systems. He has authored more than 300 technical publications and holds more than 30 issued Chinese/US patents. He was the recipient of IEEE PELS Sustainable Energy Systems Technical Achievement Award (https://www.ieee-pels.org/awards/tc-administered/tc5-award). He is the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Trans. on Sustainable Energy. He served as general chair, track chairs and session chairs of several IEEE conferences. He is an IEEE Fellow and an IET Fellow, convener of the modeling working group in IEC SC 8A.
Professor Frede Blaabjerg, Aalborg University, Denmark
Professor Frede Blaabjerg of Aalborg University, Denmark, has made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering. His career began at ABB-Scandia, Randers, Denmark, where he worked from 1987 to 1988. He went on to earn his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from Aalborg University in 1995. Starting as an Assistant Professor in 1992, he advanced to become an Associate Professor in 1996, and then Professor of power electronics and drives in 1998. Since 2017, he has held the prestigious position of Villum Investigator.
Blaabjerg’s research interests primarily focus on power electronics and its various applications, including wind turbines, PV systems, reliability, harmonics, and adjustable speed drives. His contributions to the field are reflected in his extensive publication record, with over 600 journal papers. He is the co-author of four monographs and has served as the editor of ten books on power electronics and its applications.
Throughout his career, Blaabjerg has been recognized for his exceptional work. He has received numerous accolades, including 30 IEEE Prize Paper Awards, the IEEE PELS Distinguished Service Award in 2009, the EPE-PEMC Council Award in 2010, the IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award in 2014, and the Villum Kann Rasmussen Research Award in 2014.
Professor Blaabjerg has also played key roles in various professional organizations. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS from 2006 to 2012. He was a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Power Electronics Society from 2005 to 2007 and for the IEEE Industry Applications Society from 2010 to 2011, as well as from 2017 to 2018. In 2019-2020, he held the position of President of the IEEE Power Electronics Society. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences. His expertise has led to his recognition as one of the most cited researchers in Engineering worldwide, as nominated by Thomson Reuters for the period of 2014-2018.
Seán McGoldrick Chief Executive Officer, TasNetworks, Australia (Potential Industry Speaker)
Seán McGoldrick is a visionary leader in the energy sector, known for his unwavering commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and reliability within the industry. With a career spanning several decades, Seán has continuously demonstrated his expertise and dedication to the field, culminating in his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of TasNetworks in August 2021.
As the CEO of TasNetworks, Seán McGoldrick has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Tasmania’s energy landscape. Under his leadership, TasNetworks has not only maintained its reputation as a trusted and dependable energy provider but has also embraced cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking strategies to ensure a sustainable and resilient energy grid for the future.
In November 2021, McGoldrick was honoured with a prestigious position as a Director on the Energy Networks Australia Board, a testament to his profound influence and expertise in the energy sector. This role has enabled him to contribute significantly to the broader energy industry, working collaboratively with industry leaders to address critical challenges and explore opportunities for growth and improvement.
Seán McGoldrick’s dedication to the energy sector extends beyond his role at TasNetworks and the Energy Networks Australia Board. He currently holds several key positions on relevant Boards and Committees, further solidifying his commitment to advancing the industry. Notably, he serves as the Chair of CIGRE, where he actively champions international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge in the field of energy.
Additionally, McGoldrick is a valued Director of the Transmission Committee, where he plays a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of this critical sector of the energy industry. His expertise and insight are also reflected in his position as a Director of Grid Australia, where he contributes to discussions and initiatives aimed at enhancing the stability and efficiency of Australia’s electricity grid.
Seán McGoldrick’s impressive career and his tireless dedication to the energy sector have earned him a well-deserved reputation as a visionary leader, fostering innovation and sustainability in the pursuit of a more resilient energy future. His multifaceted roles and responsibilities within the industry continue to make a significant impact, and his influence is poised to shape the energy landscape for years to come.
Professor Gerard Ledwich, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Prof Ledwich has been at QUT since 1999 and is currently Discipline leader for Power Engineering as well as Theme Leader in the Institute for Future Environments. The Power Engineering Discipline covers the fields of power system with studies in risk managed distribution planning , wide area controls for transmission and in demand management and this is a strong focus for Prof Ledwich’s research. The power electronics area of his research covers the control of microgrids, power hardware in the loop. The other aspect of his power engineering research is in the equipment area where there is research on the on-line condition monitoring of oil-paper insulation. The power engineering group led by Prof Ledwich is a leading winner of ARC funds nationally and has established good relations with many industries nationally and other universities worldwide.
Professor Anurag K. Sirvastava, West Virginia University, USA
Anurag K. Srivastava is a Raymond J. Lane Professor and Chairperson of the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department at the West Virginia University. He is also an adjunct professor at the Washington State University and senior scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Lab. He received his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2005. His research interest includes data-driven algorithms for power system operation and control including cyber-resiliency analysis. Dr. Srivastava high impact research projects resulted in tools installed at the utility control center supported for more than $60M by US Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Siemens Corporate Research, Electric Power Research Institute, Schweitzer Engineering Lab, Power System Engineering Research Center, Office of Naval Research and several National Labs. In past years, he has worked in a different capacity at the Réseau de transport d´électricité in France; RWTH Aachen University in Germany; PEAK Reliability Coordinator, Idaho National Laboratory, PJM Interconnection, Schweitzer Engineering Lab (SEL), GE Grid Solutions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Mississippi State University. He has delivered 30+ keynotes/ tutorials/ IEEE distinguished lecture in more than 15 countries. He is an IEEE Fellow and the author of more than 360 technical publications including 3 books and 3 patents.
Professor Sukumar Kamalasadan, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
Sukumar Kamalasadan is a Professor and Distinguished Scholar of electric power engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and the Director of power energy and intelligent systems lab (PEISL) within the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNCC. He received his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Toledo, OH in 2004. His research interests include inverter-based resources modeling and integration, data-driven approaches to power grid modernization, power system operation and optimization, and power system dynamics, stability, and control. Prof. Kamalasadan’s research for the last 20 years has resulted in tools and methods that have a high-level impact on electric utility modernization with a fleet-wide deployment of his tools that enabled modern grid management and control towards 100% integration of renewable energy. His research work has secured more than $14M in grants and contracts notably from the US Department of Energy, National Science Foundation (NSF), Siemens Energy, Duke Energy Corporation, Schweitzer Engineering Lab, and several other industries. He is the chief architect of Duke Energy Smart Grid Laboratory at UNCC, a $5M facility, and has led multi-institutional research grants with partners from industries, universities, and the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories. Prof. Kamalasadan has co-authored more than 250 refereed journal and conference articles including 4 patents and has received several awards from IEEE and NSF including the National Science Foundation CAREER award and multiple IEEE prize paper awards. He has delivered more than 100 talks in the form of tutorials, keynotes, panels, and webinars/workshops at various international IEEE conferences.
Dr. Bronwyn Evans AO Commissioner, Independent Planning Commission NSW; Chair, Building 4.0 CRC, Australia
Topic
Engineering needs you! Why getting more women into engineering is vital to ensure a successful energy transition – and so much more
Biography
Dr Bronwyn Evans AM has 40 years’ experience in engineering. She has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an Honorary Doctorate from Swinburne University
She is the Chair of Building4.0 CRC, a Director of Standard Communications (GME), a Director of ACOR Consultants and a Director of EBR Systems Inc (ASX EBR). She is also a Commissioner in the NSW Independent Planning Commission.
She has held the positions of CEO of Engineers Australia and CEO of Standards Australia and has been a senior executive at medical technology companies Cochlear and GE Healthcare. She started her career working on power generation and power distribution projects at the Electricity Commission of NSW.
In 2021 she received an AM in the Queen’s Birthday honours for significant service to engineering, to standards, and to medical technology.
Mr. Luke Jenner, Chief Operating Officer, Essential Energy (Potential Industry Speaker)
Luke is an experienced executive with engineering and operational expertise in the energy and mining industries. Luke has been a member of Executive Leadership Team since 2012.
Luke has spent much of his career in the energy and mining sectors in senior management roles, including as Executive Manager Engineering, General Manager Customer and Network Services and General Manager People and Services with Essential Energy, and various Engineering Management roles with DBT (now HBT GmbH), a global mining equipment supplier, and Royal Dutch Shell’s underground coal division.
Mr. Andrew Kingsmill, Executive Director of Technical Advisory Services, EnergyCo, NSW, Australia (Potential Industry Speaker)
Andrew Kingsmill is Executive Director, Technical Advisory Services. Andrew is responsible for the NSW Network Strategy, REZ network solutions, REZ optimisation, access scheme technical design and timely and effective connection processes.
Andrew has extensive experience in electricity infrastructure planning, operations regulation, and asset management. At Transgrid, he led the planning and economic evaluation of new transmission with a total value of $3 billion and managed technical due diligence for connection of new generators and customers totalling five gigawatts. Andrew provides technical leadership, ensuring successful and optimal integration of REZ infrastructure as part of an integrated and coordinated NSW Network Strategy – working closely with the Consumer Trustee, AEMO, Transgrid and the Distribution Network Service Providers.
Mr Anisur Rahman, Digital Systems Centre Manager, ABB, Australia (Potential Industry Speaker)
Anisur Rahman joined ABB in 2007 and is Digital Systems Manager within ABB Australia’s Electrification Distribution Solutions business.
In this role, he oversees digitalisation and automation products and solutions across multiple segments including utility, transport, mining, data center and oil & gas. His areas of interest and expertise include smart substation control & protection, ultra-fast earth switching, smart grids, wireless networks, high-speed auto transfer systems, and low-cost load shedding management systems.
Anisur has 20 years of experience as an electrical maintenance engineer and over 15 years of experience in protection and control systems design, including load flow analysis, fault level calculation, primary and secondary equipment selection, protection relay configuration & coordination, and testing & commissioning of protection and communication systems.
Anisur holds a degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and a Computer Science degree from Auckland University, NZ.
Mr Matthew Webb, Head of Connections and Planning in Transmission Development and Growth, Ausgrid (Potential Industry Speaker)
Matthew Webb has played integral roles at Ausgrid, demonstrating expertise in strategic positions within the Transmission Development & Growth Group. Beginning as the Head of Asset Investment for nearly seven years, he transitioned into his current role as the Head of Connections and Planning. In this capacity, Matthew collaborates extensively with business experts, customers, and partners to streamline the integration and planning processes for large-scale renewable energy sources and battery systems .
Mr Doug Thomson, Manager/ Strategic Network Development, TransGrid (Potential Industry Speaker)
Doug Thomson is a highly experienced professional with more than 30 years in the electrical power sector. He has a strong background in transmission and distribution network operations, netwrok operations, maintenance, and planning, as well as electricity markets and regulation. Doug leads the planning and development of strategies for grid transformation, industry decarbonisation, and the integration of large-scale renewables.
Ms Emily Scivetti, Chief Operating Officer, Oceanex Energy (Potential Industry Speaker)
Emily Scivetti is the Chief Operating Officer of Oceanex Energy and former Chief Operating Officer of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. She has over 20 years of experience in developing major infrastructure projects across a number of industries including transmission, renewable energy, transport, urban development and education. Emily has led complex supply chain, local content and WHS strategies in both the public and private sectors.
Mr Cory Urquhart, Head of Network Strategy & Future Networks, Essential Energy (Potential Industry Speaker)
Cory Urquhart has spent over a decade and a half at Essential Energy, showcasing expertise across various key roles. Starting as a Graduate Engineer, Cory progressed through positions focused on demand management, innovation, technology, and forecasting. His journey led to managerial roles, culminating in his current position as Group Manager for Strategy and Future Networks. Based in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, his contributions have significantly influenced Essential Energy’s network optimization and asset management performance.
Ms Julie-Anna Smith, Market Leader Energy Transition & Sustainability Services, Bureau Veritas Australia & New Zealand
Julie-Anna Smith brings nearly 14 years of expertise to the Bureau Veritas Group, currently serving as the Head of Energy Transition & Sustainability Services. In this role, based in Brisbane, Queensland, she leads initiatives focused on steering the company towards sustainable practices and navigating the energy transition landscape. With extensive experience in the field, Julie-Anna plays a pivotal role in shaping the group’s strategies in sustainability and energy-related services.
Dr Aleksandar Staykov, Associate Professor and Principle Investigator, International Institute for Carbon-neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University
Staykov laboratory specializes in theoretical chemistry and computational materials science. We use computer simulations to understand the structure and properties of energy materials for solid oxide fuel cells, gas separation membranes, and catalysis. We apply the methods of classical and quantum mechanics to understand the electronic properties of solids and molecules. We develop novel artificial intelligence and machine learning methods for application in the materials design.
Ms Yuko Fukuma, Acting General Manager, Hydrogen Engineering Australia, Pty Ltd. (HEA)
Yuko Fukuma leads hydrogen technology initiatives at Hydrogen Engineering Australia Pty Ltd, drawing from nearly 15 years at Kawasaki Heavy Industries. As Acting General Manager in Melbourne, she brings extensive expertise in project development and corporate technology, driving advancements in the hydrogen engineering sector.
Mr Ben McGruer, Head of Engineering, Endua (Potential Industry Speaker)
An experienced research and design engineer with a background in high-precision, high-performance systems. With experience in start-ups and established high-technology companies, leadership and teamwork has been demonstrated under challenging conditions. Innovative problem solving abilities are complemented by very strong computer-aided design and analysis skills including 3D modelling, finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics.
Mr. Tony Morton, Vysusgroup, Australia (Potential Industry Speaker)
Tony Morton is a leader in Electric Power Engineering within the Vysus Group Renewable Energy and Power business stream. With a focus on technical excellence, he coordinates teams across Australia, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Based in Melbourne, he spearheads the local electrical engineering team, aiding clients in grid connection for new generation projects, assessing power system upgrades, and enhancing dynamic models for transmission plants. His expertise spans power system dynamics, congestion analysis, wind turbines, and PSS/E software, offering invaluable insights into network performance and transport planning, along with providing commercial and regulatory guidance.
Dr. Henry Liu, Sungrow, Australia (Potential Industry Speaker)
Henry Liu is a seasoned professional at Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd., where he serves as the Technical Director. Over his tenure, he has held key roles focused on utility-scale energy storage and grid connection management. With extensive experience spanning project management for utility-scale solar and energy storage projects, he brings valuable skills in coaching, mentoring, and technical leadership. His expertise lies in facilitating grid connections, managing energy storage projects, and providing guidance in utility-scale energy storage initiatives.
Prof. Michael Negnevitsky, University of Tasmania, Australia
Dr Michael Negnevitsky is Professor, Chair in Power Engineering and Computational Intelligence, Director of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Power Systems. Professor Michael Negnevitsky has been active in initiating and conducting research in power system security, power quality, reliability, distributed and renewable power generation, demand response management and smart grids. His research also involves the development and application of intelligent systems in power systems.
A/Prof. Rukmi Dutta University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Australia
Associate Professor Rukmi Dutta holds a distinguished position in the field of Energy Systems at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Renowned for her pioneering research in electric machines and drive systems, electric and hybrid vehicles, renewable energy, and power electronics, she is a driving force in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
Dutta’s recent research endeavours have focused on the design and control of permanent machines, particularly in the automotive and renewable energy sectors. Her work in this area has not only advanced the efficiency and performance of electric propulsion systems but has also contributed significantly to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
In addition to her groundbreaking research, Dutta is a dedicated educator and mentor. She is passionate about nurturing the next generation of engineers and scientists, instilling in them the knowledge and enthusiasm needed to tackle the world’s most pressing energy challenges. Her commitment to teaching excellence has made her a beloved figure among her students, who benefit from her deep expertise and guidance.
Dutta has authored numerous scholarly publications that have earned her recognition and respect in her field. Her work not only informs and inspires fellow researchers but also informs the development of cutting-edge technologies in the energy sector.
As an Associate Professor at UNSW, Rukmi Dutta continues to make invaluable contributions to the advancement of sustainable energy systems. Her unwavering dedication to research, education, and mentoring has solidified her status as a leading figure in the pursuit of a greener and more energy-efficient world.
Prof. Galina Mirzaeva University of Newcastle, Australia
Galina Mirzaeva is an Associate Professor in sustainable energy solutions at the University of Newcastle, Australia. With an unwavering commitment to tackling climate change, she combines boundless optimism with a pragmatic approach. Galina’s research centers on advancing switched power electronic converters, the backbone of efficient energy conversion. Mirzaeva’s mission is to enhance this process and lead us toward eco-friendly energy solutions: To focus on developing technologies that conserve energy, harness replenishable resources, and reduce emissions.
Switched power electronic converters are vital to modern industries, optimizing energy conversion efficiency. Mirzaeva’s expertise lies in crafting control systems that leverage fractions of milliseconds to achieve peak converter performance. Her research lays the groundwork for cleaner, more efficient energy sources, displacing outdated, environmentally harmful technologies.
Mirzaeva’s work resonates within industries such as mining, power, and transport manufacturing and aligns her research with technology end-users’ needs. Her collaboration with RestTech, supported by ACARP, not only improved electric safety in underground mining but also advanced research in matrix converters, model predictive control, and optimal switching design.
Mirzaeva’s vision also extends to the skies. Her partnership with More Electric Aircraft, Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory, and the Aerospace Technology Institute is poised to revolutionize global air travel. Supported by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science, her team aims to reduce flight times, potentially realizing direct flights from Sydney to London within a few years.
Taking her expertise to the seas, Galina has joined forces with local companies to develop an Australian-made integrated hybrid electric system, democratizing access to this technology.
Galina’s impact isn’t limited to industries; it touches the lives of everyday Australians. She has played a crucial role in the proliferation of rooftop solar installations and inverters, making solar energy more affordable and accessible to millions of households.
As a trailblazer in sustainable energy solutions, A/Prof. Galina Mirzaeva embodies innovation, collaboration, and environmental stewardship. Her relentless pursuit of cleaner and more efficient technologies leaves an indelible mark on our planet, empowering future generations in the quest for a greener, brighter future.
