New Zealand Central Section IEEE Day 2024

The IEEE Day organised by the New Zealand Central Section will be a combination of the Life Members, Young Professional, and Women in Engineering Affinity Group events. All are welcome!

Date & Time:  4:00-7:30pm, 2 October

Venue: LT301, Kirk Building, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn 6012

Zoom link: https://vuw.zoom.us/j/96595912795

Details:

• The New Zealand Joint Life Members Affinity Group will host a seminar on “What is Resilience and Why is it so elusive in New Zealand?” We will invite four very senior speakers to give a short presentation each, followed by a Q/A session.

• • Professor Bob Hodgson (Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ) will consider the resilience of electrical power supplies, communication systems and the software that underpins much of modern life, and given an introductory presentation to provide an overview of the key concepts and definitions necessary to a discussion of resilience, including reliability, risk and exposure to rare but potentially devastating events.
  • Kieran Devine (Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ) will consider the Resilience of the Fuel Supply for New Zealand’s Electricity Generation System. With the transition of the New Zealand electricity generation system to renewables, away from carbon rich fuels, the question needs to be asked is the renewables “fuel tank” adequate to keep the lights ON, during major long term (3 months and longer), system wide events, i.e.: droughts, DC Link failures, dam failures, etc?
  • Dr Murray Milner (Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ) will address issues related to the resiliency of the telecommunications capability in New Zealand and whether it is adequate to meet public expectations for critical life, safety and wellbeing outcomes in the face of severe disruptive events. What are the lessons we can learn from lack of resiliency that has been demonstrated during recent disruptive weather events? Are there cost effective ways to ensure that a minimum capability is maintained during any adverse condition event?
  • Duncan Hall (Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ) will address the issues related to resiliency in regard to the software that we all rely on in our daily lives. Should we expect systems and technology which depend on the use of software for their satisfactory operation to be capable of operation under severe adverse conditions? Is software inherently resilient or what can we do to make it more resilient?

• The Young Professional Affinity Group will host a panel discussion on “Research life and experiences related to career progression”. We will invite junior faculty, postdocs, and PhD students to discuss about multiple aspects of research life and experiences related to career progression, while keeping the floor open for questions.
• The Women in Engineering Affinity Group will host a panel discussion on “Empowering Women in Engineering: Challenges, Experiences and Opportunities”. This panel discussion brings together a diverse group of women in engineering, representing various stages of the career journey – from students to early-career professionals to seasoned experts. The hour-long session will explore the unique experiences, challenges, and opportunities faced by women in the engineering field. Panellists will share personal insights, discuss strategies for success, and address current issues affecting women in Engineering. Topics will include mentorship, work-life balance, overcoming barriers, and fostering inclusivity in the workplace. This engaging dialogue aims to inspire, inform, and empower current and future women engineers, while also highlighting the importance of diversity in driving innovation and progress in the field.

Registration link: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/event/register/434608