Mark | Bruintjies | ||
Carl | Worlmarans | ||
Sibusiso | Duma | ||
Athabile | Lukhele | ||
Raeesa | Khan | ||
Mark | Peffer | ||
Thomas | Magg | ||
Neo | Mapapanyane | ||
Jana | Breedt | ||
Nkosinomusa | Gumede | ||
Rudi | Kruger | ||
Andreas | Beutel | ||
Siju | Joseph | ||
Aradhna | Pandarum | ||
Matshediso | Phoshoko | ||
Thuthukani | Biyela |
Mark Bruintjies
A1
Mark Bruintjies is the Chief Technologist at Eskom, with an M.Sc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. A member of ECSA and IEEE, he boasts 35 years in the power industry, including 25 years at Eskom. His roles have included System Engineer and Chief Technologist, focusing on power plant operations, maintenance, and asset management. Mark leads generator failure investigations, design reviews, and high-voltage testing. An active Cigre member since 2012, he has contributed to influential publications and currently convenes WG A1.60, developing a guide on hydro generator refurbishment.
Carl Wolmarans
A2
Carl Wolmarans, holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has extensive experience in the power industry, having worked as a transformer engineer at Eskom in South Africa and as a development engineer and technical advisor at Nynas in Sweden. Currently, he serves as a Condition Monitoring Analytics Expert at GE Vernova. Carl is an active member of IEC TC 10 and CIGRE D1, and a recipient of the IEC 1906 award. His research focuses on pre-breakdown phenomena in liquids, heat transfer, and transformer diagnostics
Sibusiso Duma
A3
Sibusiso Duma is the Engineering Manager at ACTOM in Johannesburg, South Africa, a role he has held since May 2014. He also chairs CIGRE Southern Africa's SC A3: Tx & Dx Equipment since August 2022. His previous roles include Senior Design Engineer and Test Manager at ABB, QC Technician at Schneider Electric, and Commissioning Engineer at Commissioning Technologies Limited. Sibusiso holds a Pr Tech Eng certification and an MBA, highlighting his technical and leadership skills. His extensive experience in the power industry underscores his proficiency in engineering and management.
Athabile Lukhele
B1
Athabile Lukhele is the Design Engineering Manager at CBI-electric: African Cables, based in Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa, a role she has held since March 2024. With a strong background in electrical engineering, Athabile has developed expertise in cable design and manufacturing. Her role involves overseeing the design and development of electric power cables, ensuring they meet industry standards and client specifications. Athabile is known for her technical proficiency and dedication to quality, contributing significantly to the company's success in the power industry.
Raeesa Khan
B2
Raeesa Khan is a Professional Engineer registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa. She holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering (Honours) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Raeesa is currently the Chief Engineer at NTCSA in Johannesburg, a role she has held since September 2024. She has extensive experience in overhead powerline design, construction, and maintenance, and serves as the National Study Committee Representative for B2 (Overhead Powerlines). With a career spanning over a decade at Eskom, including roles as Senior Engineer and Electronic Engineer, Raeesa is passionate about driving positive change in the transmission and delivery of power.
Mark Peffer
B3
Mark Peffer is a seasoned Chief Engineer at Eskom, based in Cape Town, South Africa. With a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, Mark has over 18 years of experience in the utilities industry. He is skilled in engineering management, energy, project management, substation design, and 3D modeling. Mark has held various roles at Eskom, including Senior Engineer and Project Manager. Since July 2011, he has been serving as Chief Engineer in Substation Design Engineering. Additionally, Mark is the South African representative for CIGRE B3: Substations and Electrical Installations, contributing to international standards and practices.
Thomas Magg
B4
Thomas Magg is director and principal consultant of Serala Power Consulting. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa in 1989. He is registered professional engineer in South Africa with more than has 30 years’ experience in the electric power industry. Thomas has extensive experience in project management and project engineering of high voltage transmission systems in Africa, including specification, design review, testing and commissioning of HVDC and AC systems and FACTS devices. He has been an active member of CIGRE Study Committee B4 (HVDC and Power Electronics) since 2006.
Neo Mapapanyane
B5
Neo Mapapanyane is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). She holds a Master of Engineering (M.Eng) degree in Electrical from the North-West University. She is a Chief Engineer at Eskom, System Operator Business unit. Neo is well versed in the power system protection of the transmission and sub-transmission network in Eskom. She is a member of the CIGRE B5 Study committee, CIGRE Women in Energy and CIGRE Next Generation Network (NGN). In addition, Neo is the SAIEE Central Gauteng Centre committee member. She is the 2021 Eskom’s Millenial Leader, a young woman who makes an impact through her personal involvement in business, community projects and volunteering.
Jana Breedt
C1
Jana Breedt is a passionate and committed Industrial Engineer specializing in demand forecasting within the power industry. She began her career at Eskom, progressing through various roles in quality management, project management, and business analysis before focusing on forecasting in Eskom Transmission Grid Planning. Jana holds degrees in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pretoria and a Master's from the University of Stellenbosch. She is a registered Professional Engineer with ECSA and an active member of several professional organizations, including SAIIE, IIF, and CIGRE. Jana's research focuses on the integration of renewable technology and its impact on power system forecasting. She has contributed to numerous CIGRE workgroups and will convene a forecasting workgroup for the Paris 2024 session.
Nkosinomusa Gumede
C2
Musa Gumede is a seasoned engineer with over 13 years at Eskom. He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an MSc from the University of Witwatersrand. A registered Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA, Musa is currently a Chief Engineer in the System Operator, Ancillary Services department. He also serves as a Study Committee C2 representative and technical board member for CIGRE Southern Africa, an industry mentor at Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute (EPPEI), and convener of the inertial technologies work group. Musa has authored several publications on system inertia, frequency stability, and demand response, contributing significantly to innovation and efficiency in power transmission and delivery.
Rudi Kruger
C3
Rudi Kruger was born in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa, in 1964. He obtained a National Diploma in Land Survey from Pretoria Technicon in 1990, a National Higher Diploma from the same institution in 1990, and a Master's Degree in Environmental Management from the University of the Free State in 1999. Rudi is currently a Corporate Specialist at Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, where he has served for the past 40 years. He is the Environmental Business Partner for Eskom Distribution and Transmission and the South African representative for CIGRE C3: Power System Sustainability and Environmental Performance. Rudi co-founded the partnership between Eskom and EWT in 1996 and has presented numerous national and international papers on this partnership and environmental management.
Andreas Beutel
C4
Andreas A. Beutel, born in Johannesburg, holds BSc(Eng), MSc(Eng), and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is Chief Engineer at Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd and a registered professional electrical engineer. Andreas has led significant research projects, authored standards, and managed international partnerships. He chairs Eskom MV and LV Systems Study Committee and NRS work groups, and is the South African representative for CIGRE C4: Power System Technical Performance. He has published over 30 papers and co-authored key reports on network loss mitigation and fire risk. His expertise spans electrical distribution, insulation, safety, and surge protection.
Siju Joseph
C5
Siju Joseph has over 20 years of experience as a System Operator, specializing in power system protection and ancillary services. He has also taught power systems at various institutions in South Africa. Siju has managed the Ancillary Services department, overseen one of the world's largest Demand Response Programs, and addressed reliability issues during challenging times in South Africa. He has held roles such as Chair of the Eskom Blackout work group, member of the Southern African Power Pool Market Subcommittee, and alternate member of the Grid Code Advisory Committee (GCAC). Siju is passionate about the evolving energy sector and has contributed significantly to system resilience and renewable energy initiatives.
Aradhna Pandarum
C6
Aradhna Pandarum is the Acting Research Group Leader for the Energy Industry team at the CSIR's Energy Centre. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from UKZN and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering (Renewable Energy) from the University of Witwatersrand. Aradhna is a technical board member of Cigre South Africa, representing the country in the international C6 study committee, and is registered as a Professional Engineer with ECSA. She has extensive experience in renewable energy research, testing, and development, particularly on embedded generation. At CSIR, she manages research related to the Just Energy Transition, promoting social justice and innovation to combat poverty, unemployment, and inequality in South Afric
Matshediso Phoshoko
D1
Matshediso Phoshoko is the former Lead Engineer for the Oil and Gassing Research Group at Powertech Transformers Group Technology. She has extensive experience in transformer condition monitoring, research and development of design systems, and managing multi-disciplinary projects. Her expertise includes performance optimization, technical audits at international supplier facilities, and forensic investigations on transformers and shunt reactors. Matshediso began her career as an Engineer in Training in 2009. She is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and leads the high voltage (HV) research committee for the power and energy section (PES) of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineering (SAIEE). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical) degree and is the South African representative for CIGRE D1: Materials and Emerging Test Techniques.
Thuthukani Biyela
D2
Thuthukani Biyela is a Network Service Manager at Enel Green Power, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Cape Town. With over a decade of experience, Thuthukani has expertise in telecommunications, IoT, and power systems monitoring, protection, and control. He has served as a Digital Solutions Network Engineer and Communication Networks Engineer. Thuthukani is the South African representative and chair for CIGRE Study Committee D2 (Information Systems, Telecommunication, and Cybersecurity). He is recognized for his critical thinking, teamwork, and dedication to delivering reliable and secure electric power.