Inaugural Electrotechnical Professionals Gathering highlights priorities for participation

The IEC YP is a scholarship and professional development initiative run by the IEC to foster emerging leaders and professionals in the early to mid-stages of their career. It also helps encourage succession and diversity of committee members.

Hybrid delivery connects those across NZ

Camilla Ojansivu, Standards New Zealand’s Senior Advisor International Engagement, collaborated with former IEC YP Thahirah Jalal, Analytics Practice Manager at Transpower New Zealand and Tom Brennan, Associate Electrical & Controls Engineer at Beca (soon to join Transpower), to run the event simultaneously both in person in Christchurch and Wellington as well as online.

Peter Berry, IEC New Zealand National Committee President and Chief Executive of the Electrical Engineers Association led the conversation, noting how the tide is shifting for those working with IEC standards. ‘We’re seeing changes in the sorts of standards we’re creating. There are traditional ones which focus on specifications or electrical safety, then there’s those dealing with emerging needs, like artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, and smart technology. As the next generation of electrotechnical professionals we have to ask how we can contribute to enabling that change in a positive way.’

Peter also emphasised that, ‘The word sustainability is something electrical engineers need to be mindful of. Now we have a responsibility to foster a more sustainable world especially with the level of electrification ramping up. So, there will be challenges around how standards can help to deliver both increased electrification and decarbonisation. This is a key role of the IEC. Indeed, for others like ISO too, to find, encourage and empower subject matter experts to come forward and step up to make the standards that will form part of the solutions.’

Global electricity demand is expected to increase by 80% by 2050 with the world population projected to reach 9.8 billion by mid-century. Today 800 million people are without access to electricity and as standards improve in other countries, and people gain access, so too do the challenges of associated decarbonisation, despite more than 150 countries having emissions reduction targets by 2030.

Consensus-made needs different viewpoints

Peter’s call to action is one echoed by Standards New Zealand. Standards development needs forward thinkers who can reflect macro issues into practical solutions and specifications, especially where those standards are international with the power to influence global interoperability and policy.

He raised the risk around proprietary standards, owned by businesses that don’t necessarily deliver on broader outcomes for society, instead being focused more on individual need. While they may be at times evolutionary, they may not be fit for purpose for a range of jurisdictions.

Thahirah painted a picture of the complexities of international standards development and promotion gained from experience overseas in Japan and Europe. She described how some nations have a more vested interest in their own standards being used like Germany and Japan whose economies are closely linked to manufacturing and exporting products, and how more voices at the table means standards are more likely to work across a broader user base.

A platform for future standards leaders

‘Our group,’ Peter reminded us, ‘are going to be here for the next 10, 20 years or more and represent future leaders of NZ Inc. So, NZ needs to support people who can contextualise how standards relate to reality,  and contribute towards how the global standards regime evolves. The younger generation professionals are at the point where they can turn observation into practice and applied knowledge.

‘Electrotechnical professionals, like many other professions, have diverse specialisms and mindsets. Some are entrepreneurial and innovative, others more focused on the specification of appliances and products and maintaining existing systems, but all have a role to play in shaping future practice, through both slower evolution and rapid revolution. We need those to make sure standards remain fit for purpose and the other to push the boundaries of standards. It also requires partnership between government and industry as there are great minds in both.’

New Zealand is fortunate to boast a number of nominated YP international leaders of their cohorts, selected each year at the IEC YP events that run during the annual  IEC General Meeting. ‘Within just 10 years New Zealand has had two leaders - Thahirah Jalal and Cameron Chapman – who were identified as future leaders in the IEC community. They demonstrate how New Zealand punches above its weight. These individuals put themselves at the front and show that NZ can make a difference.’

Cameron Chapman, an electrical power engineer who was nominated as YP leader last year, has worked on four standards already. He presented on his involvement in developing the strategy of the YP, part of which recognises the invaluable opportunity of succession. Encouraging diversity of thought also reflects the generational shift that younger standards developers embody.

Encouraging employers

One key point raised was how to communicate the importance of time spent on standards development to employers. Being largely voluntary, standards development relies on subject matter experts giving their time to contribute. This can be closely linked to benefits to an employer where participation links to the work of the organisation, or an individual gains professional development, insight or foresight as to changes ahead. Both Tom and Thahirah demonstrated how their employers are active advocates for participation through their support of standards committee involvement and encourage others to adopt the same mindset. Tom says, ‘start small, maybe as an observer on a committee to understand what they do and report back to your connections. This will demonstrate the value in the knowledge and help present a business case for more time and involvement.’

New generations, new thinking

Mitch Graham, part of the IEC YP for this year spent two days in Singapore with 41 other IEC Young Professionals Programme attendees from 30 different countries. The value of these programmes, of exploring other places and meeting other thinkers is that you get exposure to different ways of thinking, you get inspiration, you see how standards can be applied in innovative designs which also help address and promote the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. Singapore is a smart city that crams the same population as New Zealand into a tiny landmass, and they utilise flood controls to act as reservoirs for drinking water and they operate smart city systems.

Peter wrapped up highlighting that, ‘Young Professionals are going to be the future leaders. With more voices speaking on the importance of standards and participation on the global stage, we can influence politicians and industry to say we need change here and this can be reflected in the standards everyone is using.’