A high-level seminar will explore advanced power grid technologies to enhance integration, performance, and resilience, with a focus on Asia’s evolving energy landscape. Topics include system security, digitalization, automation, and long-distance HVDC interconnections. Through technical presentations and case studies, the event will address regional challenges, innovative solutions, market frameworks, and international collaboration. It aims to foster dialogue among industry experts, institutions, and technical communities to support the future development of power grids.
Panelists
| Arman Derviskadic HVDC Capture Team Leader at Hitachi Energy |
Arman is an energy sector professional specialized in T&D systems, transmission substations, power transformers, HV and MV equipment and power cable systems. Prior to Hitachi Energy, where he supports the spread of HVDC technology worldwide, Arman served in key organizations of the Power Transmission Industry including Terna, DNV GL and Kema Labs. Arman is also Board Member at CIGRE Next Generation Network and Lecturer in High Voltage Engineering at Sapienza University in Rome. |
| Stefano Malgarotti Power Transmission Engineering Director at CESI Consulting |
Stefano Malgarotti, MSc in Electrical Engineering at Polytechnic of Milan, coordinates all CESI mandates globally relevant to Owner´s Engineering of complex HVDC and HVAC infrastructures. In this role, he advises both private and public players in the Power Transmission industry, including major TSOs worldwide. He is chairman of the CEI/IEC technical committee 115/122 "HVDC Transmission Systems above 100kV and HVAC Transmission Systems above 800kV" and Member of CIGRÉ study committee B4 "HVDC AND POWER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT". |
| Simona Benedettini Founder and CEO of RACE Consulting |
Simona Benedettini is the founder and CEO of RACE Consulting, a company specializing in regulation, advocacy, and communication for the energy sector. Simona is an energy economist with more than 15 years of experience specializing in the regulation and competition of the energy sector. Her areas of expertise concern the full legislative and regulatory spectrum of all the electricity and gas industry segments and technologies including market design, network tariffs, permitting, support schemes, competition policy, and State aid compliance. |
| Priyantha D.C. Wijayatunga Senior Director, Energy at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
Priyantha has over 35 years of professional experience including 17 years in ADB. He previously served as the Director, South Asia Energy Division and Chief of Energy Sector Group in ADB. Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He has extensively contributed in the areas of energy policy and regulation, energy planning and clean energy development. |
| Michele Pastore Power Distribution Director at CESI Consulting |
Michele Pastore is an experienced utility consulting professional serving both as Power Distribution Director in CESI Consulting and as President and CEO of Enernex, CESI subsidiary in the United States. In these roles Michele works with a diverse base of customers in the electric power industry in the U.S. and internationally. His experience includes engineering, design and operations of complex power distribution infrastructures and grid modernization programs. He has vast experience in USA, Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East. |
Moderator and Speaker
| Andrea Meola Global Markets and Business Development Director at CESI Consulting |
MSc in Mechanical Engineering with an MBA from Milan Polytechnic, Andrea Meola has more than 20 years of Energy sector specific experience covering technical, economic, financial and regulator aspects. Andrea has been actively contributing to the CESI Consulting mandate of supporting critical energy infrastructures around the world by providing high level technical consulting services with a focus on Power Interconnections, Grid Modernization programs and clean technologies deployments, accomplished in highly innovative fragile environments. |
