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Opening Plenary Session

Powering the Digital Era: AI, Infrastructure, and the Transformation of Energy Systems

MONDAY, 20 JULY

9:30AM
Location: Room 710

As the electric power industry undergoes rapid transformation driven by digitalization, artificial intelligence, electrification, and accelerating demand growth from large-scale data centers, utilities and system operators are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. This opening plenary session brings together global industry leaders to discuss how the grid is evolving to support a more connected, data-driven, and resilient future while advancing reliability, affordability, and energy security. Drawing on perspectives from utilities, global power system organizations, and energy strategy leaders, the panel will explore the role of AI in power system planning and operations, transmission and distribution modernization, infrastructure needs for the digital economy, and strategies to strengthen grid resilience in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.

Panelists

Surekha Deshmukh

Domain Consultant,
Tata Consultancy Services

Bio
Dr. Surekha Deshmukh

Domain Consultant, Tata Consultancy Services

Dr. Surekha Deshmukh with masters in Power Systems and PhD in Electrical Engineering, has 29 plus years of professional experience in the field of Energy and Sustainability. She contributes as a Domain Consultant at Industrial Autonomy and Engineering Unit of TATA Consultancy Services (TCS), India. She leads consulting engagement in the field of Energy Transition, Decarbonization, Sustainability-driven business transformation for Oil, Gas and Utility Industry with AI powered digital interventions.

Dr Surekha is a senior member of IEEE and currently a Vice Chair of IEEE Technology for a Sustainable Climate Matrix Organization (TSCMO). She also supports many responsibilities at IEEE Pune Section, IEEE India Council, R10 MGA, IEEE Standards Association, IEEE Smart Cities.

She is conferred upon with many national as well as international awards and recognition. She contributes to World Federation of Engineering Organization, ISGF, IEEMA. She has 35 plus papers, and book chapters sharing her expertise in AI led Operation, Control and Safety of Smart Grid, Climate Resiliency, Energy Transition, Decarbonization and Sustainability.

 

Maxime Lajoie

Senior Director,
System Planning and Asset Management, Hydro-Québec

Bio
Maxime Lajoie

Senior Director, System Planning and Asset Management

Maxime Lajoie is a results-driven executive known for mobilizing large, multidisciplinary teams to deliver on complex, high-stakes objectives. With over 25 years of experience, he has built deep expertise across the full energy value chain, spanning the design, planning, and operation of energy and telecommunications systems, including renewable and distributed energy resources.

He currently leads a team of more than 500 professionals at Hydro-Québec, where he oversees investment planning and expenditures to ensure the reliability, growth, and affordability of one of North America’s largest power systems. At the forefront of the energy transition, he drives the integration of emerging technologies, including data analytics and artificial intelligence, to address evolving system challenges, climate pressures, and the rapid transformation of the energy sector.

Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles across operations, technical expertise, environmental management, commercialization, and regulatory affairs - bringing a unique, end-to-end perspective on building resilient, future-ready energy systems.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke as well as a master’s degree in engineering management from the same institution. His background is complemented by a certificate in management from HEC Montréal.

 

Bruno Meyer

Bruno Meyer

Secretary General,
GO15

Bio
Dr. Bruno Meyer

Secretary General, GO15
IEEE Life Fellow

Bruno Meyer has a background in industry in the fields of energy and telecom.

Since 2021, Meyer has been Secretary General of GO15. GO15 is a global association of power grid operators which shares experience and best practices to ensure power systems reliability in the context of the energy transition.

He worked for EDF Group in France for over 35 years holding senior executive positions. He is a former CEO of Arteria, a telecom subsidiary of RTE.

Meyer now runs his own consulting firm in the field of energy.

Meyer is an IEEE Life Fellow, recipient of 2025 IEEE Richard Emberson Award. He was IEEE 2022 Vice President Technical Activities and member of the Board of Directors of the IEEE in 2018, 2019 and 2022. At IEEE he launched a program on Climate Change.

 

Philippe Dunsky

Philippe Dunsky

President,
Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

Bio
Ambrish Chandra, LFIEEE

Professor, École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Canada

The innovative technologies and engineering solutions proposed by Dr. Chandra have brought key and enabling differentiation because of their simplicity and practicality. The primary focus of his work is related to the advancement of new theory and control algorithms for power electronic converters for the power quality improvement in distribution systems and for the integration of renewable energy sources. He is a co-author of 500 research articles, and of John Wiley book ‘Power Quality – Problems and Mitigation Techniques’. His work has had a significant impact and is now extensively referred by engineers and researchers around the world, as evident by Google Scholar citations. He has been General Chair/Finance Chair of many International IEEE conferences. He has been the member of many IEEE committees, including the Chair of prestigious International IEEE Nikola Tesla Award Committee. He is a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Power and Energy Society and has been Distinguished/Prominent Lecturer for IEEE Industry Application Society. He has given Distinguished Lectures/Keynote Speeches in more than 30 countries.

He is Fellow of many organizations, including Life Fellow IEEE, Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE), Engineering Institute of Canada (FEIC), Institute of Engineering and Technology, U.K. (FIET), Institution of Engineers, India (FIE), and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India (FIETE), and registered as a Professional Engineer in the province of Quebec.

He is the recipient of ‘IEEE Canada Inaugural P. Ziogas Electric Power Award 2018’, ‘IEEE Power and Energy Society Nari Hingorani Custom Power Award 2021’, ‘Distinguished Alumnus Award 2022’, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India, ‘IETE – Bimal Bose Award 2024’, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India, and IEEE Montreal Gold Medal Award 2024 for Life-Time Achievements.

Dr Chandra received bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Roorkee, M. Tech. from IIT Delhi, both in India, and Ph.D. from University of Calgary, Canada, in 1977, 1980, and 1987, respectively.

 

Moderator

Ambrish Chandra

Ambrish Chandra

Professor,
École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Canada

Bio
Dr. Ambrish Chandra, LFIEEE

Professor, École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Canada

The innovative technologies and engineering solutions proposed by Dr. Chandra have brought key and enabling differentiation because of their simplicity and practicality. The primary focus of his work is related to the advancement of new theory and control algorithms for power electronic converters for the power quality improvement in distribution systems and for the integration of renewable energy sources. He is a co-author of 500 research articles, and of John Wiley book ‘Power Quality – Problems and Mitigation Techniques’. His work has had a significant impact and is now extensively referred by engineers and researchers around the world, as evident by Google Scholar citations. He has been General Chair/Finance Chair of many International IEEE conferences. He has been the member of many IEEE committees, including the Chair of prestigious International IEEE Nikola Tesla Award Committee. He is a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Power and Energy Society and has been Distinguished/Prominent Lecturer for IEEE Industry Application Society. He has given Distinguished Lectures/Keynote Speeches in more than 30 countries.

He is Fellow of many organizations, including Life Fellow IEEE, Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE), Engineering Institute of Canada (FEIC), Institute of Engineering and Technology, U.K. (FIET), Institution of Engineers, India (FIE), and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India (FIETE), and registered as a Professional Engineer in the province of Quebec.

He is the recipient of ‘IEEE Canada Inaugural P. Ziogas Electric Power Award 2018’, ‘IEEE Power and Energy Society Nari Hingorani Custom Power Award 2021’, ‘Distinguished Alumnus Award 2022’, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India, ‘IETE – Bimal Bose Award 2024’, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India, and IEEE Montreal Gold Medal Award 2024 for Life-Time Achievements.

Dr Chandra received bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Roorkee, M. Tech. from IIT Delhi, both in India, and Ph.D. from University of Calgary, Canada, in 1977, 1980, and 1987, respectively.