CIGRE NGN: Discussion with Jana Toholj
CIGRE continues its focus on diversity and renewal within the Association through this ongoing series of interviews with Women in Engineering and Next Generation Network members. While much of our attention is often on senior experts, these Q&As shift the spotlight to emerging professionals. They offer personal insights into what CIGRE means to them, how they see their role in the energy sector, and what drives their involvement. Through these short conversations, we gain a fresh look at the future of our industry. Share them widely with young professionals around you — and inspire more to join and shape the future of CIGRE!
CIGRE Republic of Serbia
DEGREE, GRADUATION YEAR, YEARS IN INDUSTRY:
Bachelor with Honors in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad. Study Module - Electric Power Systems (Sept 2015 – Sept 2019)
Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad. Study Module - Distributed Power Resources (Oct 2019 – Oct 2020)
CURRENT POSITION: Relay Protection and SCADA Engineer at the EMS – Transmission System Operator of Serbia (May 2021 – Present)
What lead you to your present career or job?
Jana: In addition to being good at Math and Science in high school, I wanted to become a socially responsible engineer by solving challenging problems. Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) is Serbia’s national Transmission System Operator and this was a great company to start my engineering career as a Relay Protection and SCADA Engineer.
What are you working on now that would interest ELECTRA readers?
J.: Being a representative of NGN Serbia is something new for me. We have recently established the group, and so far, NGN Serbia has 23 members. Our goals are:
- To include students and young engineers in CIGRE NGN, both for their professional development and the sustainability of CIGRE Serbia
- To organize CIGRE NGN events
- To foster interaction and knowledge sharing with colleagues from other NGN communities around the world
- To motivate NGN members to write papers at CIGRE conferences
We are looking forward to new members and the challenges that await us!
What has been the biggest challenge with your work?
J.: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields. As I am the only woman in my department, perhaps the biggest challenge was to demonstrate my knowledge and gain the trust of my colleagues.
What has been your biggest challenge balancing work and personal life?
J.: My job involves working on substations in different locations and we often work overtime. For this reason, the biggest challenge has been balancing my private life. I believe that with good organization, anything can be achieved.
How did you get involved in CIGRE?
J.: My involvement with CIGRE began in 2023, when I wrote a paper for the CIGRE Serbia Conference. I was honored to receive the Most Notable Paper Award in Study Committee B5. This was a turning point that deepened my interest in becoming more involved with CIGRE.
In January 2025, CIGRE Serbia Next Generation Network (NGN) was founded by Nebojša Petrović, President of CIGRE Serbia and Maja Adamović, President of Women in Energy (WIE). I became a member of NGN Serbia because I believe this engagement will open doors for me to participate in CIGRE events, technical working groups, knowledge-sharing sessions, webinars, and more.
What do you feel is CIGRE’s ‘added value’?
J.: I believe CIGRE can be an integral part of everyone's professional development. CIGRE provides various opportunities such as collaboration with engineers around the world, and perhaps most importantly, it enriches and expands your knowledge in the field of power systems
Why would you recommend CIGRE membership to others?
J.: As I mentioned above, CIGRE provides an opportunity for all members to participate on a global level to achieve their individual and collective goals in improving the power system, spreading knowledge and networking with members around the world. CIGRE NGN is a great opportunity for students and young engineers who want to get into CIGRE.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
J.: In 15 years, I see myself as a successful Relay Protection and SCADA Engineer. I would also like to continue being a member of CIGRE.
Do you have one major goal or do you have a bucket list? Are you willing to share this information?
J.: I have many goals in both my professional and personal life. As far as work is concerned, my main goal is certainly to be a successful engineer, always ready to solve big problems related to Relay Protection and SCADA Systems.
As a member of NGN Serbia, I would like this group to find its place among other NGN communities and to be a successful in developing opportunities for students and young engineers.
What would you like to see change in our industry in the future?
J.: I think AI is something that binds us to the future. Innovation in the field of artificial intelligence is shaping the future of humanity in almost every industry. With the rise of digital assistants, companies can rely on AI to handle simple conversations with customers and respond to basic employee queries. In addition, AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data makes it easier for business leaders to use instant insights to make informed decisions. I would like to see many organizations adopt this innovation because it guarantees long-term success.
Renewable energy has also been a very popular topic in recent years. The potential for renewable energy resources is enormous because they can meet the world's energy demand by several times with reduced pollution. I hope this trend continues in the future.
If you are a WiE or NGN member and wish to be featured in an upcoming ELECTRA edition, please contact ELECTRA Editorial Team. If you are reading these and wish to join CIGRE, please visit this page.
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