CIGRE Medal 2026: Nikos Hatzargyriou
Receiving the CIGRE Medal at the 2026 Paris Session marks a special milestone in Nikos Hatzargyriou’s long-standing involvement with the CIGRE community. A member since 1990, he reflects on a journey shaped by technical collaboration, shared knowledge and friendships across borders. In this personal contribution, he looks back on some of the experiences that have marked his career and on what more than three decades within CIGRE have meant to him.
Nikos Hatzargyriou (left) and Konstantin O. Papailiou, President of CIGRE (right)
I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive at the 2026 CIGRE Session in Paris, the CIGRE Medal, which is CIGRE’s highest recognition. I am sincerely grateful to the CIGRE Greek National Committee, to the distinguished colleagues who supported my nomination, and to the Award Committee for selecting me for this prestigious distinction.
This recognition means a great deal to me, not only because of what it represents, but also because it comes from an international technical and scientific community whose expertise, collaboration, and commitment have profoundly shaped my professional journey.
I joined CIGRE in 1990 as a member of Study Committee 38, later becoming involved in Study Committees C4 and C6. Within SC C6, I had the privilege of serving as Chair and as a member of the Technical Council. Over the years, I have participated in many Working Groups and Task Forces, attended numerous Colloquia and Symposia around the world, and taken part in every CIGRE Session in Paris since joining the organization.
Among the most rewarding experiences of my involvement with CIGRE have been collaborating on the Green Book Energy Systems of the Future and contributing to the establishment of Study Committee C6, “Distribution Systems and Distributed Energy Resources” in its first steps. I am very pleased to see the recent “OneGrid” initiative promoting a holistic view of the power system, i.e. one that encompasses all voltage levels in a balanced and integrated way.
CIGRE has given me invaluable opportunities to learn from internationally renowned technical leaders who helped pave the way for modern power systems. It has enabled me to exchange knowledge, experience, and perspectives with professionals from around the world and to acquire a wealth of technical knowledge. This knowledge has been an invaluable resource throughout my professional life, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity both to apply it in industry and to pass it on to my university students.
Equally important has been the collegial spirit cultivated among the CIGRE experts from more than 90 countries. Meeting so many interesting and knowledgeable people, developing lasting professional relationships, and forming true friendships have all contributed to a deep sense of belonging to the CIGRE family.
We owe our gratitude to CIGRE’s Presidents, Technical Council members, Study Committee Chairs, National Committees, and the many dedicated members and volunteers whose efforts make this remarkable work for the benefit of energy systems and whole society, possible.
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