EmpowerHER: Navigating Leadership in Power and Energy
The Power and Energy Society (PES) provides the world’s largest forum for sharing the latest in technological developments in the electric power industry, for developing standards that guide the development and construction of equipment and systems, and for educating members of the industry and the general public. Members of the Power and Energy Society are leaders in this field, and they—and their employers—derive substantial benefits from involvement with this unique and outstanding association. Its mission is to “…be the leading provider of scientific and engineering information on electric power and energy for the betterment of society and the preferred professional development source for our members”; our Chapter executes this mission in the UK and Ireland region.
Imperial College London, PES Student chapter (including IEEE SB) together with UK and Ireland Power and Energy Society Chapter, UK and Ireland Power Electronics Society Chapter are cooperating to organise this IEEE seminar at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Imperial College London.
Dr. Julia Matevosyan and Dr. Vivien Foster will present an overview of their professional trajectories, tracing their careers from their academic beginnings to their current leadership roles. They will also explore the technical challenges they have encountered throughout their journeys.
This seminar will take place at Imperial College London at 5 pm on 14th February 2025.
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Location
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- Imperial College London
- South Kensington Campus
- London, England
- United Kingdom SW7 2AZ
- Building: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Room Number: 611
- Click here for Map
- Contact Event Hosts
- Co-sponsored by IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter Imperial College London
- Starts 30 January 2025 12:00 AM UTC
- Ends 15 February 2025 12:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Julia Matevosyan of Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG)
Biography:
Dr. Julia Matevosyan is the Associate Director, in addition to her current title of Chief Engineer at the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) .
Matevosyan specializes in the integration of wind, solar, and battery storage into power systems and transmission system planning and has spent her impressive career working with world-leading institutions and organizations. She has 25 years of experience, including at ERCOT as a Lead Planning Engineer and at several global consulting firms.
She holds both a PhD and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Riga Technical University. She is a senior member of IEEE and an active member of CIGRE, the International Energy Agency Wind Task 25. She leads a number of impactful industry working groups, such as the NERC Inverter-Based Resource Performance Subcommittee and the ERCOT Inverter-Based Resource Working Group. She is a member of the leadership team of the IEEE P2800.2 Working Group, among others.
Address:United States
Vivien Foster of Imperial College London
Biography:
Vivien is a Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, where she lectures on the Environmental Technology MSc. She is an infrastructure economist working on the economic, financial, environmental and social dimensions of energy and transport systems in low- and middle-income countries, and the associated implications for the climate transition. Vivien serves as International Partnerships Lead for the Climate Compatible Growth Initiative, a major FCDO research program harnessing the know-how of major UK universities to support decarbonization of energy and transport systems in the developing world. She is also affiliated with ODI, where she is a Senior Research Associate.
Previously, Vivien spent over 20 years at the World Bank where she played a variety of research-oriented leadership roles, including: Chief Economist for the Infrastructure Vice-Presidency of the World Bank (2018-2023); Global Lead for Energy Economics, Markets and Institutions (2016-18); Practice Manager of the Global Energy Anchor (2012-16); and Lead Economist for Infrastructure in the Africa Region (2006-11). Throughout, she has engaged on a wide variety of analytical, advisory and operational engagements with client governments in some 40 countries across Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Vivien has spearheaded several major policy research initiatives including: World Development Report 2021 – Data for Better Lives, outlining how improved data governance can leverage the development potential of data while managing risks; Rethinking Power Sector Reform (2019), evaluating developing country experience with adoption of Washington Consensus policies; Africa’s Infrastructure (2009), providing a path-breaking analysis of the continent’s infrastructure challenges; Building Bridges (2009), detailing China’s growing role as infrastructure financier for Africa; Water, Electricity and the Poor (2005), examining the distributional impact of utility subsidies. She has also created several high-impact data products, including: The Energy Progress Report (2012 onwards) and Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) (2016 onwards); global dashboards for respectively tracking progress towards SDG7 outcomes and adoption of supportive policies.
Address:United Kingdom
Agenda
The event will consist of the following sessions:
Introduction (25–30 minutes)
- Welcome and host introduction (1 min)
- Speaker introductions
Guided Discussion (25–30 minutes)
A panel discussion will explore key questions, including:
- What barriers did you face as a woman in the power industry, and how did you overcome them?
Or, what key experiences or challenges have shaped your journey? - How can young professionals cultivate leadership skills in the power and energy industry?
- For students interested in research-oriented work or industry careers, what are some key networking or mentorship opportunities they should explore?
- What emerging trends do you see shaping the future of power and energy, and how can young professionals prepare for these changes?
- If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self about navigating this industry, what would it be?
Audience questions will be encouraged.
Closing Remarks
Discussion on IEEE PES and upcoming activities.