Speakers

SGT26 CONFERENCE SPEAKER LINE UP

Infrastructure Investment Plenary

Mihkel Härm

CEO

Elektrilevi

Mihkel Härm has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Elektrilevi, Estonia’s largest Distribution System Operator (DSO), since 2021. Elektrilevi is responsible for managing over 95% of the country’s electricity distribution network. Prior to his current role, Mihkel was the Partner Relations Manager at Eesti Energia, Estonia’s national energy company. He also has extensive experience in international energy policy, having held the position of Secretary General at the World Energy Council Estonia from 2010 to 2018. Mihkel earned his PhD from Tallinn University of Technology.

Petr Lang

Head of Strategy

CEZ Distribuce, a.s.

Petr Lang is the Head of Strategy at ČEZ Distribuce, the largest DSO in the Czech Republic. With a background in engineering, economics, and management, he began his career as a digital strategist, a role that in 2015 catapulted him into the energy sector—just as it was undergoing a digital revolution. Over the past 10 years, including 7 in senior leadership, Petr has been on a mission: to challenge the status quo and transform the utility industry by replacing gut feelings with data-driven decision-making. At ČEZ Distribuce, he leads the company’s strategic vision, driving the energy transformation in alignment with shareholder goals. He believes the future belongs to those who harness data—not just collect it.

Michael Weixelbraun

Managing Director

BE Energy

Dr. Michael Weixelbraun studied electrical engineering at the Technical Universities of Vienna and Graz. After working as a research assistant at Graz University of Technology, he joined Austrian Power Grid AG (APG) in 2012, focusing on stability, oscillation analysis, and grid restoration. From 2014 he served as assistant to the board and, between 2018 and 2024, headed APG’s department for plant operation and maintenance, ensuring secure electricity supply and supporting renewable integration and European market development. Since October 2024, he has been Managing Director of BE Energy GmbH and contributes to international committees as a conference speaker.

Kristofer Fröjd

SVP Strategy & Business Development

Ellevio

Kristofer Fröjd is Senior Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at Ellevio, where he leads corporate strategy, new business development, M&A, and innovation initiatives that drive the energy transition. He works closely with customers, partners, and start-ups to accelerate electrification and decarbonization. Kristofer serves on the boards of Triangelbolaget AB, Flower Technologies AB, and Power Circle, strengthening collaboration across the energy ecosystem. Previously Swedish Trade Commissioner to Canada, he has held senior roles in management consulting and holds MSc degrees from KTH and Stockholm University.

Fun fact: Kristofer’s first project in the utility sector was implementing SAP at a major Swedish state-owned energy company — more than 20 years ago. 😊

Tomasz Rodziewicz

Head of Innovation & New Technologies

TAURON Dystrybucja

Experienced manager and expert in the power sector. Responsible for driving innovation, research, and development initiatives, with a focus on smart grids, digital twins, e-mobility, energy storage systems, microgrids, and enhancing grid resilience with renewable energy sources. Tomasz Rodziewicz has supervised a diverse portfolio of projects in collaboration with both local and international partners.

Co-author of TAURON’s Intelligent Grid Infrastructure study and Strategic Research Agenda. Co-author of the study for Polish Electricity Committee “Digital Twin of the European Electricity Grid”. Head of Innovation Committee at Polish DSOs association. Member of International Task Force on Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan at EU DSO.

Ádám Tóth

Head of Network Innovation & Funding Management

E.ON Hungária

Ádám Tóth is a seasoned electrical engineer with 15 years of experience in energy and automotive industries. Currently leading Network Innovation and Funding Management at E.ON, he drives strategic innovation, manages a diverse team, and oversees high-value EU-funded projects. His work focuses on integrating cutting-edge technologies into distribution networks and fostering cross-organizational collaboration. Ádám thrives in dynamic environments, combining technical expertise with agile leadership and transparent communication. His commitment to continuous development and flexible problem-solving makes him a key contributor to shaping the future of energy infrastructure.

Torsten Röglin

Managing Director

Stadtwerke Frankfurt

Torsten Röglin has served as the Managing Director of Stadtwerke Frankfurt (Oder) GmbH since April 2019. Prior to this role, he spent nearly 20 years with the E.ON Group, holding various positions in trading, generation, networks, and the energy industry both domestically and internationally.

Born in 1965 in Staaken, Torsten Röglin holds a Dipl.-Ing. in Nuclear Energy Technology from TU Dresden and an EMBA in European Utility Management from JUB, Bremen.

His career began at TÜV Bayern, where he worked as a Risk Analyst from 1992 to 1999. He then joined E.ON Konzern, where he held several key positions from 1999 to 2018. These roles included Manager Generation Portfolio Germany (1999-2005), Energy Industry E.ON Kraftwerke (2005-2008), Head of Portfolio Optimization CEE (2008-2010), VP Energy Economics E.ON Generation (2010-2013), and CEO Delgaz Grid and COO E.ON Romania (2013-2017).

Jan Petráček

Chief Transformation Officer

ČEZ Distribuce, a. s.

I graduated from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Faculty of Electrical Engineering. I began my professional career in 2014 when I joined the ČEZ Group. At that time, I held the position of substation technician at ČEZ Distribution Services, a.s. Since 2018, I have been working at ČEZ Distribution, a.s., where I have gradually advanced to the position of Chief transformation officer. For the past four years, we have been contributing to the transformation of company and the successful transition of the energy sector.

Jonas van den Bogaard

Digital Strategy Lead

Alliander

Jonas van den Bogaard is Digital Strategy Lead at  Alliander, a Dutch DSO responsible for delivering reliable, affordable, and accessible energy across large parts of the Netherlands. In this role, Jonas provides strategic into what drives value in the evolving digital energy system, the digital energy market, and the transformation toward a digitally enabled grid operator.

He specializes in identifying opportunities for collaboration and partnerships that drive digital transformation and foster open innovation. Jonas plays a leading role in  Alliander’s Open Source Program Office, where he leads open source collaboration and the adoption of open source technologies. He also represents Alliander on the  LF Energy  Technical Advisory Council, contributing to the global energy transition through open source collaboration.

George Andreakos

Grid Operations Director

HEDNO

George Andreakos holds the position of Grid Operations Director at HEDNO since July 2023. Prior to this, he lived in the United Kingdom for over 20 years, where he worked at Electricity North West across all areas of the company, starting on the graduate program, then as an engineer and a manager specializing in protection systems, construction, and maintenance of electrical systems.

He has participated in research programs of distribution network operators both in the USA and the UK. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE, a Chartered Engineer with the IET, and also a member of the Working Group on Climate Risks and Adaptation of the E.DSO Policy & Regulation Committee, a member of the CIRED Networks Advisory Group on Network Components, and for years served as Chair of the Executive Committee of the IET Manchester Network. He is a reviewer for international scientific journals and organizations, and his work has been published in them.

His interests include smart grid technologies and resilience

Andrea Szeiler

Group CISO

MVM

Andrea Szeiler is the Group CISO of MVM Ltd and President of Women4Cyber Hungary. She actively contributes to the cybersecurity community as a mentor, speaker, and member of several professional associations. Her mission is to empower women in IT security and support organizations in building risk-based, cost-effective security frameworks. Andrea is known for leading high-performing teams and fostering strategic partnerships across business and compliance domains. She believes cybersecurity is essential for all companies, regardless of size, and works to ensure resilient, secure operations.

Vīgants Radzins

Chief Development Officer

AS Sadales tikls

Vīgants Radziņš is the Development Director and Member of the Management Board at Sadales tīkls AS, Latvia’s electricity distribution system operator. With nearly 30 years of experience in telecommunications and energy, he leads innovation, resilience, and digital transformation initiatives. His focus lies in strengthening grid reliability through smart technologies, risk mitigation, and cross-sector collaboration. Vīgants actively promotes strategies that address the growing challenges of climate change, cybersecurity threats, and geopolitical uncertainties. His leadership supports building stronger partnerships across Europe’s smart utility networks, driving resilience and secure energy transition.

Gergely Pethő

Head of Grid Control and Operational Technology

E.ON Hungária

Gergely Pethő is a senior leader in grid control and operational technology at E.ON Hungary, with over 16 years of experience in energy distribution and network development. As Head of Grid Control and Operational Technology, he oversees the operation and strategic development of Hungary’s electricity and gas networks, ensuring reliability across all voltage levels. His background in lean management, regional operations, and power grid development supports his holistic approach to infrastructure modernization. Gergely combines technical depth with strategic vision, driving innovation and resilience in critical energy systems.

Digital Substations Track

Maxime Pelletier

R&D Engineer, Virtual Protection Automation & Control Programme

RTE

With 20 years of experience at RTE, Maxime Pelletier has held a variety of roles, from his beginnings as a network dispatcher to his current position as an R&D engineer specializing in PAC System virtualization. He has served as a national dispatcher, managed PAC maintenance teams in Lyon, and founded the RTE FabLab. Deeply committed to technical innovation and the energy transition, Maxime is passionate about teamwork and ongoing learning, and continues to take on new challenges for the future of the French power grid.

Mika Loukkalahti

Leading Expert

Helen Electricity Network

Mika Loukkalahti, born in Finland in 1969, earned his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Tampere University of Technology in 1996. He began his career at Helsinki Energy (Helen) in 1997 as a Protection Engineer, later focusing on substation and network automation as well as power supply reliability. Currently, he leads technological and planning principle development at Helen Electricity Network Ltd. Mika has been involved with the CIGRE B5 Committee and has contributed to several CIGRE working groups and international technical papers, also giving presentations both domestically and internationally. He is married with two children and enjoys orienteering and cross-country skiing.

Wim De Maesschalck

Expert Assets & Grid Architecture - MV Substations

Fluvius

Wim graduated as a Master in Electro-mechanical Engineering at Ghent University in 2005.

Wim has been working at Fluvius for 20 years; first as a technologist on various assets in the Methods & Materials department. Since 2016 Wim is working as the Expert MV substations in the Assets & Grid Architecture department focusing on managing the functional requirements & asset policies for MV switchgears and primary / secondary substations (installation concepts, maintenance policies, grid concepts) and coordinating the implementation of these policies.

Bogdan Leu

Research & Innovation Project Manager

Transelectrica

Bogdan is  an energy professional with a background in power systems, digitalization, smart grids, and new technologies. He studied power systems engineering at the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest. In 2019, he finished a master’s degree with research on distribution networks at Grenoble INP – UGA (Institut d’ingénierie et de management). He also obtained a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering in 2023.

He is part of Transelectrica’s since 2017 and works as  a Research & Innovation  Project Manager for different pilot projects that are part of the company’s research & innovation portfolio of projects.

Bogdan is also the Chairman of CIGRE Next Generation Network Romania.

Davide Raposo

Innovation Project Manager

E-REDES

Davide Raposo is passionate about delivering impactful solutions through innovation and collaboration. With experience in managing cross-disciplinary projects, fostering innovation across global teams and aligning technology with long-term business goals, he brings a practical and insightful perspective to technical challenges. Based in Lisbon, Davide enjoys dynamic environments, collaborating with R&D institutions, scouting for startups for disruptive potential and engaging in conferences and innovation events where he can grow his network. He currently works as an Innovation Project Manager at E-REDES.

Erik Wejander

Technical Project Manager for Digital Substations

Svenska kraftnät

Erik Wejander leads the development of Svk’s new process bus based transmission substation concept aimed at simplifying substation implementation projects and leveraging the benefits of IEC61850 information model and process bus based functions. Erik has experience from many substation projects in Sweden and abroad, and also leads the development of IEC61850 for the Generation Domain as convenor of IEC TC57/WG18. At Svk Erik helps to interconnect different business areas to gain the benefits of using IEC61850, process bus networks, and SCL files.

Mohseen Mohammed

Lead PACI Engineer, Digital Substation

SSEN Transmission

Mohseen is the Lead Protection, Automation & Control (PAC) Engineer within the SSEN Transmission Networks team. He is heavily involved with the innovation team looking at the prospects of using emerging technologies for current and future projects of SSEN Transmission.

Currently working on the pioneering project of delivering first full digital substation implementation with process-bus and subsequently making this business as usual.

He took his career in Transmission sector after graduating from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen in 2002. He is a UK regular member for CIGRE B5.74 Busbar protection considerations when using IEC 61850 process bus.

SCADA Systems Track

Herman Carstens

Innovation Manager, Digital

Elia

Herman holds a PhD in electrical engineering focusing on smart algorithms applied to electricity data. He has worked with many TSOs across Europe on implementing machine intelligence projects. Herman now manages the digital portfolio within Elia Group Innovation (Elia Transmission Belgium, and 50Hertz, Germany), where he focuses on implementing AI projects in various departments of the business, ranging from system operation to HR.

Rui Almeida

Project Manager

E-REDES

Project Manager in the Mission Critical Department at E-REDES (an EDP company). He holds a degree in electrical engineering (1989, University of Porto). He began working in IT companies and joined Portuguese electrical DSO in 1993, focusing primarily on IT and process management. Since 2010, he has held the role of Project Manager in the IT/OT area, further enhancing his skills with an Executive Course in Project Management (2022, Católica Porto Business School). He has been involved in several automation projects related to Smartgrids, SCADA systems, and Control Centers. He currently serves as lead project manager, responsible for the implementation of the ADMS system at E-REDES Portugal.

Wojciech Szymczak

Head of Grid Operations Support Office

TAURON Dystrybucja

Experienced manager in the implementation, maintenance, and development of SCADA systems. Responsible for the maintenance and development of dispatch support systems including SCADA and other systems. Experienced in managing operations as a dispatcher. Responsible for implementing energy supply quality indicators.

Niall McDonald

Interim Director of Transmission Control Centre and Head of Technical Services

SSEN Transmission

25 years’ experience in the utility industry in both Distribution and Transmission disciplines, and both regulated and Regulator. Currently responsible for the control, monitoring, and protection of the SSEN Transmission system; includes all commissioning activities for new or modified sites and equipment on the network, real-time control room operations, the protection systems monitoring the network, RTS and SCADA operations and commissioning, and the Telecoms infrastructure supporting it all

Anders Ekberg

Vice President Operation and Maintenance

Ellevio

Anders Ekberg is Vice President of Operation and Maintenance at Ellevio AB, one of Sweden’s largest DSO:s. With nearly two decades of experience at Ellevio, Anders has held seven different roles, demonstrating deep expertise in electrical power systems and a strong commitment to sustainable energy solutions. His work is driven by a belief that electricity is a cornerstone of modern society and a key enabler in the transition to a fossil-free future.

Raphael Wickenhauser

Head of System Operator

Netz Niederösterreich

Raphael Wickenhauser completed his studies in Urban Renewable Energy Technologies at the University of Applied Sciences FH Technikum Wien and in Sustainable Energy Systems at the University of Applied Sciences FH Burgenland. His thesis, titled “Evaluation of Metering Point-Based Forecast Data in Distribution Network Operation”, was conducted in collaboration with Netz Niederösterreich GmbH. Since 2017, he has been employed at Netz Niederösterreich GmbH in the System Operator department, where he has held several expert positions related to the development and operational deployment of technical processes and systems like the Energy Management System (EMS). As project manager for the operational integration of the overhead line temperature monitoring system, he implemented the dynamic line rating (DLR) concept to enhance grid reliability and efficiency in the operation of the grid. Since the beginning of March 2025, he is responsible for the department “System Operator”, where the operating center of the electricity and gas grid, the SCADA – System and technical environment, and the clearing and forecast management is located.

Nuran Cihangir Martin

Grid Strategist, Control Engineer

Stedin

Dr Nuran Cihangir Martin is affiliated with the Grid Strategy Department of Stedin, a Distribution System Operator in the Netherlands. She is also a Guest Researcher at TU Delft, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG) Group. Her work focus is future grid operations and control. She is involved in innovative national and international projects with industry and academic partners, including TwinEU. She is also a member of the E-DSO Technology & Knowledge Sharing Committee, acts as a National Representative of the Netherlands for CIGRE C6 – Active Distribution Systems, and contributes to technical reports.

Antti Rokka

Programme Manager

Fingrid

With over 15 years of experience in the energy sector, I have primarily focused on power grid development and operational tasks within the electricity network. My background includes extensive work in control room operations, operational planning, and development projects. I have contributed to improving network reliability and efficiency through hands-on involvement in system monitoring, outage management, and strategic planning. My role has consistently bridged technical execution with long-term infrastructure development, ensuring safe and optimized grid performance across various operational environments

Leon Kuiper

Head of Data Science

Stedin

Leon leads a team of 14 overseeing close to 20 AI products, including grid forecasting and flex asset steering, image recognition, automated grid design and more.

Smart Metering Track

Hakan Daghan

Metering Systems Group Chief Engineer

TEİAŞ

Dr. Ismail Hakan Dağhan, born in 1980 in Turkey, is a Senior Electrical Engineer at TEİAŞ, where he has been working since 2007. He has served in various departments, including load dispatching, protection systems, and metering systems, with strong experience in measurement systems. His areas of expertise include High Voltage Engineering, Smart Grids, Smart Meters, FACTS Devices, Grid Flexibility, Optimization, Renewable Energy Systems, and Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Dr. Dağhan actively contributes to TEİAŞ’s R&D efforts and serves as a member and instructor in several technical working groups. He is married with two daughters and is committed to advancing Turkey’s electricity transmission infrastructure.

Markus Hofsäß

Strategic Development Broadband Powerline and Head of Project Team 'Smart Grid Network Development'

Bayernwerk Netz

Markus is head of the “Smart Grid Network Technology” project team. In this role, he is responsible for the introduction of communication technologies for the digitization of the power grids within the E.ON DSO in low and medium voltage.

Employed in Bayernwerk (E.ON DNO) he is responsible for the strategic development of BPL technology for whole E.ON Germany. This primarily affects the construction of a nationwide Powerline network.

He looks back on 10 years of development and supply chain experience in the semiconductor Industry. Since 2010 he has held various positions in the E.ON Group in which he took responsibility for the development and introduction of communication technology for the digitization and smartification of power grids. Further on Markus is representing E.ON in BPL standardization groups PRIME Alliance and Home Grid Forum. Markus holds a master’s degree in Telecommunications (University of Stuttgart) and a Master Professional in Technical Management (CCI).

Gergely Pethő

Head of Grid Control and Operational Technology

E.ON Hungária

Energy Storage Track

Marie Kalmet

Head of System Services

Elering

I have long-standing experience in electricity and gas market development, energy data utilization, renewable energy integration, and balance management services for energy systems. At Elering, I have led impactful initiatives such as market liberalization, the creation of electricity and gas Datahubs and a consumer portal, balance management reforms, contributing to the establishment of a regional gas zone, and Estonia’s synchronization with the Continental European grid. I hold a Master’s degree in Electrical Power Engineering and another Master’s degree from the Faculty of IT focusing on Digital Transformation in Enterprises.

Jeff Kartanegara

Programme Manager Integral Energy Systems

Alliander

Jeff Kartanegara is a civil engineer and Program Manager at Alliander, one of the Netherlands’ largest grid operators. With 20 years of experience at commercial firms such as STRABAG, Sacyr, Arcadis and CBRE, he has led major infrastructure projects, including the commissioning of 380 kV powerlines and substations for TenneT. He now develops scalable, market-driven solutions to grid congestion, inspired by DBFMO/PPP principles, combining strategic stakeholder management with hands-on execution while sharing insights through seminars and publications to drive the energy transition.

Ádám Tóth

Head of Network Innovation & Funding Management

E.ON Hungária

Renewable Integration Track

Michael Weixelbraun

Managing Director

BE Energy

Tim Slangen

Grid Strategist

Stedin

Tim Slangen is a Grid Strategist at the Dutch distribution system operator Stedin, where he is responsible for policy and strategy development on Power Quality and Network Protection. He obtained his PhD degree from Eindhoven University of Technology in 2023, researching the effects of electric vehicle charging on power quality in cooperation with ElaadNL. Tim now applies the research insights to address the emerging challenges caused by the integration of renewable energy sources in the network and actively contributes to several working groups and projects in this domain.

Sjors van der Heijden

Strategist, Grid Automation

Stedin

Sjors is grid strategist with a focus on automation in the distribution grid at the Asset Management department of the Dutch DSO Stedin. His responsibilities are policy regarding network services, operational technology/IoT, analytics and grid control. He has over 10 years experience on infrastructure automation. Mainly in the energy sector but also in water systems (canal locks, bridges and flood barriers). Which results in extensive insight and experience in system -engineering, -architecture, sourcing, standardization, asset management and (technology) roadmaps.

Oana Leu

Research & Innovation Project Manager

Transelectrica

Oana is an energy professional with a background in power systems, digitalisation and new technologies. She studied power systems engineering at University Politehnica of Bucharest and in 2019 she finished her master’s degree with a research on distribution networks at Institut Politechnique de Grenoble. She is part of Transelectrica’s team since 2017 and works as a Research & Innovation Project Manager. Oana develops the Company’s first projects on Dynamic Line Rating and tubular tower overhead lines, shaping the innovation portfolio on grid digitalisation.

Rihards Sirmais

Innovation Lead

JSC Sadales Tikls

Rihards Sirmais is Innovation Lead at JSC Sadales Tīkls, Latvia’s largest Distribution System Operator. With a background in environmental engineering and geomatics, he has extensive experience in infrastructure (construction and utility) projects, digitalization, and applied research. At Sadales Tīkls, firstly he leads innovation initiatives with grid resiliency in mind but non the less grid efficiency, EV charging solutions and predictive maintenance is kept in his line of sight.

OT Cybersecurity Track

Adrienn Kiss

OT Cybersecurity Specialist

MAVIR

I am a cybersecurity professional and doctoral student specializing in the protection of critical infrastructures, with both academic and practical experience. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Public Service on network-based analysis of critical infrastructures, I also hold the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP) certifications. Since 2022, I have worked as an OT cybersecurity specialist at MAVIR, focusing on substations. My background includes internships in IT security and cybersecurity, complemented by degrees in cybersecurity expertise and public administration. I am committed to continuous learning and teamwork-driven development.

Jonas van den Bogaard

Digital Strategy Lead

Alliander

Styrmir Geir Jónsson

CISO

Landsnet

Styrmir Geir Jónsson has over 32 years of experience in IT, beginning his career with nearly two decades of service in the United States Navy, where he led digital transformation initiatives. At the turn of the century, he shifted his focus to cybersecurity, bringing deep technical insight to the evolving threat landscape. In 2006, Styrmir transitioned into consulting, and by 2008, he joined Capacent, a Nordic consulting firm—where he remained until 2021. He then moved to KPMG, continuing to advise on security and infrastructure resilience. Since 2023, Styrmir has served as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Landsnet, Iceland’s transmission system operator, where he is responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure and advancing national cybersecurity strategy.

Örn Sölvi Halldórsson

Network Administrator

Rarik

Örn Sölvi Halldórsson is a Network Administrator at Rarik – Iceland State Electricity, where he helps keep the country’s electricity flowing safely and securely. He manages and protects RARIK’s network infrastructure, ensuring the stability and cybersecurity of systems that power homes and businesses across Iceland.

With a background in both IT and turf management—yes, he’s also a trained greenkeeper and a former national golf player—Örn brings a unique blend of precision, patience, and problem-solving to his work. Whether it’s keeping the power grid online or the golf course green, his focus remains on reliability, resilience, and a touch of humor when things get rough.