NGNs in Action: CIGRE 2025 International Symposium in Montréal

By Aine NurAizza Nuruddin, Aman Virani, Linda Zhao & Ryan Maltais

Montreal - Canada
29 September - 3 October 2025

Among the many attendees, the NGN (Next Generation Network) members from around the world made a strong impact, with 259 NGN delegates representing 29 countries across 6 continents. This global presence underscored the shared commitment of more than 40 NGN groups worldwide, each dedicated to advancing CIGRE’s mission!

NGN Canada led several key events, all proudly sponsored by AtkinsRéalis, showcasing leadership, creativity, and a commitment to the future of the industry.

Throughout the week, the NGN Booth served as an interactive space, attracting delegates who were eager to learn about the NGN and its global initiatives. Led by Aman Virani, CIGRE Canada NGN Treasurer, the booth showcased NGN’s mission, opportunities for engagement, and upcoming events. It played a key role in encouraging new membership and strengthening CIGRE’s growing network of young members.

The NGN event series began on Monday, September 29th, with the first Knowledge Sharing Session titled “Mind the Gap: Lessons from Experienced Professionals to the Next Generation”. This opening event set a collaborative and inspiring tone for the week, offering a platform for experienced CIGRE leaders to share their knowledge and experiences with emerging energy professionals.

The introductory remarks were delivered by the following speakers:

• Konstantin Papailiou, President of CIGRE, initiated the session by admiring the incredible growth of the NGN community worldwide. He emphasized the importance of bridging generational gaps and ensuring the continued transfer of knowledge within the power systems industry.
• Dr. Vinod Batta from AtkinsRéalis, followed with practical advice, encouraging young professionals to see the bigger picture by developing both technical and project management skills, particularly in understanding the scope and budget of projects. He highlighted the value of site experience and noted AtkinsRéalis’s commitment to developing new talent through the hiring of recent graduates.

Building on these initial insights, the session continued with a series of talks from industry experts:

• Mohamad Rashwan, representing CIGRE Canada, shared reflections on his extensive experience with CIGRE and the technical evolution of the industry over the years. Among his many contributions, he played a pivotal role in establishing the NGN, internationally and in Canada.
• Anthony Giacomoni from CIGRE US, described his journey from joining as a graduate student to coordinating multiple working groups and serving on the NGN International Executive Committee. He also discussed several ways young members can get involved in CIGRE, which the audience found very useful.
• Jana Breedt of CIGRE South Africa mentioned about generational shifts in the power sector, emphasizing adaptability, collaboration, and the importance of cross-regional knowledge exchange to navigate an increasingly dynamic energy landscape.

A moderated Q&A led by Conor Mulholland, International NGN Chair, encouraged audience engagement and was followed by closing reflections. The insights shared during this kickoff event left a lasting impression and reinforced CIGRE’s commitment to supporting the NGN.

On Wednesday, October 1st, Symposium delegates gathered in the Plenary Room during lunch for the NGN Panel, themed “Driving Innovation in the Energy Industry: Lessons from the Past & Opportunities for the Future”.

Moderated by Aine NurAizza Nuruddin, NGN Canada Chair and Electrical Engineer at Candu Energy (AtkinsRéalis), the panel brought together five distinguished speakers from across North America and Europe to share insights on leadership, innovation, and the evolving power sector:

• Frida Ceja-Gomez, Chief Engineer, HVDC and FACTS Solutions, AtkinsRéalis (Canada)
• Conor Mulholland, Senior Project Engineer, EirGrid (Ireland) and International NGN Chair
• Madjer Santos, Managing Consultant, T&D Engineering, RMS Energy (Canada)
• Logan Rolles, Assistant Department Manager, Substations, Burns & McDonnell and NGN Chair (USA)
• Sabrina Mercer, Head of Strategy, UK & Ireland, Siemens Energy (UK)

The discussion brought together a blend of technical, strategic, and leadership perspectives, offering a holistic view of how the energy industry is evolving. Panelists reflected on lessons learned from past projects, ranging from large-scale transmission developments to renewable integration, and how these experiences can guide the next wave of innovation. They spoke about the importance of bridging engineering and project management, embracing new technologies such as HVDC, FACTS, and digital design tools, and fostering collaboration across regions and disciplines. Mentorship and knowledge transfer emerged as key themes throughout the Panel. Overall, the conversation reinforced that the future of the energy industry depends on both technical excellence and a shared commitment to continuous learning.

On Thursday, October 2nd, the second Knowledge Sharing Session, titled “NGNs Around the World”, showcased how young professionals are shaping the future of the global power industry.

Introduced by Conor Mulholland and Aine NurAizza Nuruddin, the session opened with an overview of international NGN activities and goals, followed by inspiring presentations from Canada, Brazil, and Australia.

• Linda Zhao and Ryan Maltais highlighted how NGN Canada has grown since its founding in 2018 into a vibrant national network, which connects emerging engineers through webinars, university chapters, and local events. Flagship initiatives such as the NGN spotlight series, best paper awards, and student scholarships for the annual local conference reflect Canada’s commitment to fostering leadership and professional excellence.
• Barbara Duarte shared how NGN Brazil has expanded its reach through major events like the University and Research Center Engagement Program (UNICENP) and a pilot mentorship program pairing young engineers with seasoned professionals. Supported by leaders such as Dr. Sidnei Martini and Dr. Solange David, the group continues to build strong connections between academia and industry.
• Jony Kaushik from NGN Australia presented the impact of the NEXTGEN Power Professionals Seminar at the 2025 CIGRE Australia Conference in Adelaide. He also highlighted the series of technical webinars hosted by the group, which support members at every stage of their careers. These initiatives continue to foster professional and personal growth across the Australian NGN community.

This forum provided a platform to exchange ideas on advancing CIGRE’s mission through collaboration, mentorship, and innovation. Across continents, NGNs demonstrated a shared passion and optimism for the future of energy. As the proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. The enthusiasm and commitment of NGNs worldwide show that CIGRE’s journey forward will go far, driven by collaboration, curiosity, and a collective purpose.

As the Symposium drew to a close, the NGN Reception offered the perfect opportunity to relax, celebrate, and connect one last time. Held on Thursday evening at the Intercontinental Hotel, the reception welcomed both NGN members and experienced professionals, reflecting CIGRE’s commitment to bridging generations through networking. The evening began with opening remarks from Léo Tanguay, NGN Representative from Hydro-Québec and member of the Symposium Organizing Committee, followed by a sponsor address from Céline Rachdan, Protection and Control Engineer-in-Training (EIT) at AtkinsRéalis. She spoke about her inspiration to pursue electrical engineering and emphasized the company’s continued support for emerging talent in the energy sector.

An important part of the evening was recognizing technical excellence and innovation through the NGN and Student Best Paper Awards, which celebrated a total of 22 outstanding papers within the various Study Committees (SCs) that were represented at the conference. Presented by Joanne Hu and Pierre Van Dyke, Technical Co-Chairs of the Symposium, the awards celebrated the innovative ideas, creativity, and rigorous research of young professionals and students. Aine NurAizza Nuruddin, NGN Canada Chair, offered a concluding address, expressing gratitude to all attendees for their engagement and contributions throughout the Symposium week.

The night then shifted into a lively celebration, with music and plenty of energy on the dance floor. Delegates embraced the “work hard, play hard” spirit, sharing laughs and enjoying a well-deserved moment of fun after a week of intense learning!