Industry Sessions
IoT Solutions for the Digital World
Industry session 1
Time: 10:20am–12:00pm
Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Location: Library Building – Library Lecture Hall – LIB72
Synopsis:
Our world is becoming more digital due to key developments in cloud, big data, AI etc. The digital economy is being powered by the IoT-enabled system architecture and platform. Converging the world of information and the world of operation simply by bringing together energy, automation, and software to get a greater level of efficiency. Hear Schneider Electric talk about their internet-of-things (IoT) solutions for this digital transformation and Burns & McDonnell about the security implications.
Also, Lorri Rowlandson will provide a practical view of how cities/ecosystems are becoming ‘smarter’ by leveraging technology, what the solutions are that are being applied vs. talked about, what the barriers are to success, and how we can affect progress faster.
Schedule:
- Opening remarks
Ahsan Upal - Technology enabled smart ecosystems
Lorri Rowlandson - IoT solutions for the digital world
Pratap Revuru - Securing the digital dimension
Jerome A. Farquharson - Q&A
Speakers:
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Ahsan Upal, P.Eng. PMP IEEE Industry Chair and Regional Manager of Business Development, Burns & McDonnell |
Ahsan is the national business development leader with Burns & McDonnell, an EPC engineering firm specializing in all aspects of power generation, transmission and distribution, storage and renewables as well as in aviation, water and pipelines with 42 offices globally including in Calgary and Toronto.
Ahsan has 17 years of experience in Canada/US in engineering and projects leadership roles with an electrical transformer manufacturer, major electric and oil/gas pipeline utilities and consulting firms executing major infrastructure projects in power, pipelines and utility telecommunication networks. Ahsan worked with AltaLink managing transmission projects in northern Alberta, with Enbridge leading development and execution of Canadian pipeline expansion projects and then consulted with the AESO during the procurement stages of the 500kV Fort McMurray West Transmission project before joining Burns & McDonnell three years ago.
Ahsan is an electrical system engineer and serves on board at The Alex Community Health in Calgary and is the national chair of Industry at IEEE Canada. Ahsan is an active member of the Canadian Electricity Association, Ontario and Calgary Chambers and IPPSA where he actively participates in energy policy and emerging trends discussions.
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Lorri Rowlandson Global Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, BGIS |
Lorri Rowlandson is Global Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation at BGIS. She works globally with clients and BGIS team members to identify and implement high-value real estate solutions. She is an advisor to C-Suite real estate executives, consulting on a wide variety of topics to define and drive the best outcome for clients.
Lorri is a highly sought-after industry expert and popular speaker on emerging trends, innovation and thought leadership in real estate and outsourcing. Lorri’s influence across the real estate sector and beyond is further demonstrated through her presence across social media channels with over 25,000 followers across Twitter and LinkedIn.
Prior to joining BGIS, Lorri was a senior consultant at one of Canada’s most respected public-private partnership and real estate consulting firms and has previously worked at both a prominent financial institution and multinational technology company. Lorri has degrees and accreditations from several universities and associations, including University of Tennessee, and Harvard University, as well as a Masters in Corporate Real Estate and an Accredited Outsourcing Practitioner.
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Pratap Revuru, M.Eng,P.Eng. Senior Manager, IoT Solutions and Partnerships, Schneider Electric |
Pratap Revuru is Senior Manager, IoT Solutions and Partnerships at Schneider Electric. Pratap focus areas include developing and leading IoT Solutions for various customers using the EcoStruxure platform, building partners for IoT and microgrid offers and broadening expertise in solutions for EcoStruxure domains.
Prior to this role, Pratap was Smart Grid Solution Architect who led a team of professional engineers in delivering electrical engineering projects, asset performance management consulting and power engineering studies. Project leader in establishing Schneider Electric Smart Grid Laboratory (SESG Lab) with smart grid solutions for a collaborative space for Utilities, academia and industry. Pratap is leading the efforts to build Smart Building Analytics Living Lab at Ryerson University.
More than two decades of extensive experience in power system analysis, renewable energy projects, business development and tender management. Held progressive positions and directed engineering teams, planning and implementing strategic and operational goals of the organization.
Certified as Solution Architect Professional – Electric Utilities and Energy Management Professional. Ryerson University- CUE Honorary Fellow. Masters in Power Systems Engineering and a registered Professional Engineer in the provinces of Ontario. Actively involved in Engineering Professional Associations – Senior Member in IEEE, NSERC Energy Storage Technology Network (NEST) Research Steering Committee Member.
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Jerome A. Farquharson, CISSP, CRISC Director & Global Practice Manager, Burns & McDonnell |
Mr. Farquharson, who is currently the Principal Director of the Compliance and Critical Infrastructure Group, has spent the past eleven years as a compliance and cyber security specialist for both medium and large sized utility environments. He has presented educational papers at numerous industry conferences and forums to address transmission and generation operational compliance issues. He has performed numerous compliance audits for large investor-owned utilities to determine the level of regulatory exposure and define mitigation strategies to minimize penalty. He is also an experienced Security Network Engineer with 20 plus years Information Technology (IT) & Compliance experience that includes experience in Network Design & Implementation, Regulatory Advisement, Risk Assessment, Program Management and Strategic Planning. An innovative, solutions-driven Compliance and Cyber Security specialist with well over 15 years directing the planning, design, deployment and integration of secure high-availability network infrastructure, engineering, compliance and risk assessment, project management, systems and network security, incident analysis and recovery. He is actively involved with the North American Electric Reliability Council subcommittees, Smart Grid Interoperability Panel and regional Information Systems Audit and Control Associations. His initiatives have helped define security, regulatory compliance and utility technology solutions for critical infrastructure organizations such as electric utilities, government facilities and process industries.
Building Blocks of a Smart City
Industry session 2
Time: 10:20am–12:00pm
Date: Thursday, October 11, 2018
Location: Library Building – Library Lecture Hall – LIB72
Synopsis:
The convergence of multiple technologies has created the potential for communities to get much more out of public and utility assets. No one knows city infrastructure better than the local utilities. That puts them in a unique position to help develop smart cities that connect basic neighborhood infrastructure to synergistically improve operational excellence, revenue potential and sustainable lifestyles.
Schedule:
- Opening remarks and smart cities explained
Ahsan Upal - Operating and controlling a microgrid smart supply
Alex Nassif - Role of HV gas insulated switchgear in building smart cities
Colin Clark - Q&A
Speakers:
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Ahsan Upal, P.Eng. PMP IEEE Industry Chair and Regional Manager of Business Development, Burns & McDonnell |
Ahsan is the national business development leader with Burns & McDonnell, an EPC engineering firm specializing in all aspects of power generation, transmission and distribution, storage and renewables as well as in aviation, water and pipelines with 42 offices globally including in Calgary and Toronto.
Ahsan has 17 years of experience in Canada/US in engineering and projects leadership roles with an electrical transformer manufacturer, major electric and oil/gas pipeline utilities and consulting firms executing major infrastructure projects in power, pipelines and utility telecommunication networks. Ahsan worked with AltaLink managing transmission projects in northern Alberta, with Enbridge leading development and execution of Canadian pipeline expansion projects and then consulted with the AESO during the procurement stages of the 500kV Fort McMurray West Transmission project before joining Burns & McDonnell three years ago.
Ahsan is an electrical system engineer and serves on board at The Alex Community Health in Calgary and is the national chair of Industry at IEEE Canada. Ahsan is an active member of the Canadian Electricity Association, Ontario and Calgary Chambers and IPPSA where he actively participates in energy policy and emerging trends discussions.
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Alex Nassif, P.Eng., Ph.D Specialist Engineer, Planning and Operations, ATCO Electric |
Alexandre Nassif is a currently a specialist engineer in ATCO Electric. His career was focused in the areas of power quality, DER interconnection, microgrids, power system protection and stability. He has authored more than 50 technical papers in international journals, conferences and magazines. Before joining ATCO, he simultaneously worked for Hydro One as a protection planning engineer and Ryerson University as a post-doctoral research fellow. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Alberta, is a Professional Engineer in Alberta and a Senior Member of IEEE.
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Colin Clark, P.Eng Application Engineer, Siemens Canada Limited |
Mr. Clark received his B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from Queen’s University, Canada, in 2010 and a M.A.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from The University of British Columbia, Canada, in 2012. Since 2012, Mr. Clark has been employed at Siemens Canada in the Energy Transmission division, where he has been chiefly involved in the oversight and execution of high voltage projects with applications of modular electrical buildings for gas insulated switchgear, high voltage cable, and mobile substations. His expertise is established primarily in GIS design and application, high voltage cable layout and configuration, engineering coordination, equipment layout, and project coordination. Mr. Clark is an active member of the IEEE and is a licensed engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario.