Who should attend?
Engineers and technical specialists involved in substation design and engineering, from senior/principal engineers through to graduates and early-career professionals.
The forum is primarily focused on distribution networks and large energy users (and their consultants) but will also be highly relevant to those working in transmission.
Purpose
- Lift visibility and alignment on current challenges facing substation design and engineering across Aotearoa
- Promote standardisation, consistency, and continuous improvement in how substations are designed, engineered and managed
- Identify and prioritise areas for a long term, sector wide work programme coordinated through the EEA’s new national substations working group
Overview
- Morning – Panel sessions and guest speakers providing industry perspectives, challenges, emerging risks, and opportunities.
- Afternoon: An interactive workshop to confirm priority issues, capture practical insights, and shape the forward work programme
- Flexible attendance – Morning sessions will be particularly valuable for young engineers and those seeking sector context; participants are welcome to attend the morning only.
Substation Forum Flyer – 26 March 2026
Expressions of interest: Speakers
We are inviting expressions of interest from participants willing to share insights, experiences, and perspectives as part of our morning panel sessions.
Email to admin@eea.co.nz
Proposed Panels
Opening Panel: The challenge and the opportunity
- A sector-level conversation on the key challenges facing substation design and engineering today and the collective opportunities to lift performance through alignment and collaboration
Standardised Substation Design Templates (Primary Systems)
- Exploring how national design templates for common substation types can streamline delivery, improve quality, and reduce duplication across the industry
Secondary Systems & Protection
- A focused discussion on modern protection philosophies, interoperability, digital substations, and cybersecurity requirements to support safe, future-ready system operations
Resilience and Climate Adaptation
- Examining how substation design can better address climate risks, resilience expectations, and redundancy needs to ensure long-term network reliability
Capability and Workforce
- Identifying the skills, training pathways, and capability-building initiatives needed to develop the next generation of substation engineers
Registration
Follow the link below to register for this course.
