Enabling the Future Grid

CIGRE UK Women in Energy, in collaboration with Imperial College London, is delighted to invite you to a one-day event exploring the technologies, stability challenges and governance frameworks required to enable the future grid and accelerate renewable integration.

As the energy transition accelerates, power systems are becoming increasingly complex, with greater volumes of renewable generation, expanded use of power electronics, new HVDC infrastructure, and evolving requirements for stability, resilience, security, and regulation. This event will bring together researchers, engineers, industry professionals, and energy-sector leaders to discuss how future grids can be developed and operated safely, securely, and sustainably.

Through a combination of technical presentations, panel discussions, poster sessions and networking, attendees will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experience, and build professional connections across academia and industry. The event will also include a dedicated career-development session focused on mentorship, networking, volunteering, visibility, and leadership in the energy sector.

The event will also include a dedicated poster session during the lunch and networking period, providing undergraduate, MSc and PhD students, as well as early-career researchers, with an opportunity to present their work to academic and industry audiences. Three poster prizes will be awarded at the end of the event.

This event is ideal for professionals, researchers and students working in power systems, electricity networks, and the wider energy sector. It will be particularly relevant to those involved in HVDC, renewable integration, system stability, asset management, risk, policy, regulation, innovation, and energy transition planning.

Attendees will gain insight into the technical and governance challenges shaping the future grid, hear from academic and industry speakers, engage with emerging research through the poster session, and build connections across the CIGRE UK and Imperial College London networks.

The event also supports professional development through sessions on mentorship, networking, volunteering, and leadership, making it valuable for both technical learning and career growth.

09:30 | Welcome and Refreshments

10:00 | Opening Remarks: Dr Biljana Stojkovska – Chair CIGRE UK Women in Energy

10:10 | Presentations

• The Evolution of Power System Stability in Great Britain: Xiaoyao Zhou – Senior Technical Leader at NESO
• System Stability & Renewable Integration: Yunjie Gu – Associate Professor at Imperial College
• Risk, Security & Policy Frameworks: Jianing Li – Technical Director (Head of Power systems) at WSP

11:10 | Networking Break

11:20 | Panel session: Fatima Amara – GE Vernova, Yunjie Gu, Xiaoyao Zhou, Jianing Li

• Powering the Energy Transition: Technology, Risk, and Regulation in Future Grids.

12:20 | Networking Lunch & Poster Session

13:20 | Accelerating your career with a portfolio of key people skills: Professor Vince Pizzoni – Career Mentor & Advisor

13:50 | Panel Session: Moderator Angela PP – Lead Asset Lifecycle HVDC Engineer at National Grid, Biljana Stojkovska, Vince Pizzoni, Alison Orsi – Executive Coach

• Coaching and mentorship in the workplace

14:50 | Networking Break

15:05 | Poster Awards

15:20 | Closing Remarks from Imperial College and CIGRE UK WiE

15:30 | Networking Drinks Reception

16:30 | End

Meeting Details

📅 Date: Friday 5th June 2026 | 09.30 – 16:30

📍 Location: Imperial College London, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ

Registration Fees

There is a modest charge of £20+VAT per person to secure your place to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. There will also be an opportunity to network with attendees at the end of the event over a drink.

Registration is free for students as long as they do so with a valid .ac.org email address..

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