Guest Speakers
Alan Ritchie
Professor in High Voltage Engineering
University of Southampton
Alan Ritchie leads innovation at SSEN Transmission, where he is responsible for the strategy, governance, and delivery of innovation across the high‑voltage electricity network in the north of Scotland. He oversees a growing portfolio of projects spanning HVDC, AI and robotics, digital substations, and low‑carbon infrastructure. Alan works closely with regulators, supply chain partners, and academia to ensure emerging technologies move beyond concept and are safely integrated into live transmission systems, enabling faster, smarter, and greener progress in the energy transition.
David Adkins
Principal Engineer Electrical Plant
SSEN Transmission
David Adkins is Head of Network Architecture and Strategy at National Grid Electricity Transmission. He leads long‑term network design and strategy out to 2050, with a focus on enabling AI Growth Zones, data centre demand and strategic large loads, working closely with government and industry to unlock capacity and deliver a future‑ready electricity system.
Cornel Brozio
Professor of Electrical Energy System Infrastructure
The University of Manchester
Cornel Brozio works in the Network Planning & Regulation section of SP Energy Networks. After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Cornel started his career in Eskom's generation business before returning to the University of Stellenbosch for doctoral studies. He joined National Grid in 1999 and moved to SP Energy Networks in 2003, where he now heads up a team responsible for a broad range of network modelling and simulation activities. Cornel has contributed to a range of transmission projects, including HVDC and series compensation schemes. Cornel is a member of the IET and the IEEE.
Andrew Benjamin
Head of Engineering, Strategic Infrastructure
National Grid
A chartered engineer with nearly 30 years’ experience power system engineering, leadership and management. Andrew is a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and Chartered Managers Institute and hold certificates in Asset Management with the IAM. Andrew has led large investment portfolios with UK utilities and managed highly complex projects in both regulated and non-regulated businesses. He has held senior engineering management positions in various utilities, consultancies and contracting organisations and project management positions in a diverse range of energy projects. He is a champion of innovative technologies that accelerate society to a more sustainable future with influential roles in the UK’s HVDC ASTI programme and previously in UK nascent CCUS industry. Andrew is currently Head of Engineering in National Grid’s Strategic Infrastructure department. In his role he is redefining new transmission technologies and projects that help shape and deliver the UK’s The Great Grid Upgrade.
Anderson Ricardo Justo de Araújo
Research Associate
Cardiff University
Anderson received his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira Campus, Brazil, in 2012, 2014, and 2018, respectively, with scholarships funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). During this period, he completed two research internships (in 2014 and 2016) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Behzad Kordi at the University of Manitoba (UofM), Canada, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, supported by fellowships from the Research Internships Abroad Program (BEPE/FAPESP). From 2019 to 2023, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher and research collaborator at the High Voltage Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (FEEC), University of Campinas (Unicamp), with funding from FAPESP. Currently, he is a research associate at the High Voltage Laboratory, Cardiff University, UK.
Gordon Wilson
Lead Innovation Engineer
National Grid Electricity Transmission
Gordon manages substation innovation projects for NGET. He joined NGET in 1999 after completing a sponsored Ph.D. in chemistry. He has been involved in R&D for 25 years and has sponsored PhD students at various universities, including University of Southampton, where he is a visiting fellow. He is Secretary for CIGRE Study Committee D1 Materials and Emerging Test Techniques and Research Program chair for substations research (P37) at EPRI. Gordon has co-authored more than 100 journal and conference papers and is an Associate Editor for IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine.