The CIGRE UK Joint B5/D2 Technical Liaison Meeting will be led by John Wright, UK Regular Member for Study Committee B5 (Protection and Automation), and Jianing Li, UK Regular Member for Study Committee D2 (Information Systems, Telecommunications, and Cybersecurity). This meeting will provide an overview of ongoing Study Committee and Working Group activities, feature insightful technical presentations, and offer valuable opportunities for professional networking among industry peers.
📅 Date: Friday 5th December 2025
🕐 Time: 10:00 – 15:30
📍 Location: WSP, The Mailbox, Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RQ
💳 Fee: There is a small fee of £10+VAT to secure your place.
Travel Information: This is a face-to-face event taking place at the offices of WSP, The Mailbox, Birmingham.
Traveling via train: The Mailbox is a short walk from Birmngham New Street Railway Station.
Traveling via Car: Q-Parking can be found at the Mailbox. Q-Park Mailbox, Royal Mail St, Mailbox B1 1RD
Agenda
10:00 | Arrival & Registration
10:30 | Welcome & Opening Remarks
10:45 | Updates from B5/D2
11:15 | Working Group Updates -D2
11:30 | Architecture, standards and specification for metering system in a digital substation and protection, automation and control (PACS) environment: Joao de Jesus – GE Vernova
11:45 | SC D2 Country Trends
12:00 | Lunch Break
13:00 | Digital Resilience – a synonym for cyber security in practice: Betty Helienek – WSP
13:15 | AI-Powered Cyber Intrusion Detection and Zero Day Defence: Haiyu Li – University of Manchester
13:30 | Innovating Grid Reliability through Fibre Health Monitoring: Ibukunolu Oladunjoye – National Grid Electricity Transmission
13:45 | First Panel Session – Cybersecurity, AI & Advanced Telecommunications: Chaired by John Wright – CIGRE UK B5 Regular Member
This session will explore emerging challenges and enabling technologies in the context of reimagining a resilient power system to support the UK’s net zero future. We aim to foster a dynamic and insightful discussion on; Infrastructure protection and cyber security strategies; The role of AI in system management and decision-making; Telecommunications advancements for grid modernisation.
14:00 | Break
14:15 | Design, implementation, and continuous adaption of WAMPAC functions using software- and hardware-in-the-loop simulations: Narasimham Arava – Siemens
14:30 | Transmission – Distribution Data Sharing using both ICCP and Modern Web APIs: Tim Manandhar – UK Power Networks
14:45 | Data Sharing Infrastructure (DSI): Jonathan Barcroft – NESO
15:00 | Second Panel Session
15:15 | Summary
15:30 | End
REGULAR MEMBERS
John Wright, CIGRE B5 UK Regular Member: Has worked in the Protection and Control Industry for over 30 years. He is presently; Europe, Central Asia & Sub Saharan Africa Regional Technical Applications Engineer Leader for GE Grid Automation, GE Senior Fellow and IET Fellow. John has been involved in CIGRE for over 15 years and currently UK Regular Member for B5 and convenor of Working Group B5.81.
Jianing Li, CIGRE D2 UK Regular Member: Is a WSP UK Director leading its Midlands Power Systems team. With a strong background in transmission and distribution systems, grid compliance and network design. He has been instrumental in working with networks and investors to develop advanced models and analyses that enhance grid flexibility and resilience. Jianing’s technical expertise encompasses power system planning, optimisation, grid compliance studies, and power system protection. His experience extends to delivering complex grid compliance assessments and designing innovative solutions that meet the evolving requirements of modern energy systems. In recent years, he’s been facilitating key industry processes with T&D network partners. As a leader, Jianing has successfully overseen complex projects, providing strategic recommendations to stakeholders across the energy sector. His ability to anticipate future system needs and deliver practical, technically sound solutions makes him a trusted expert in the field. Professionally active, Jianing serves as the UK Regular Member for CIGRE Study Committee D2 on Information Systems, Telecommunications, and Cybersecurity and held leadership positions within CIGRE UK and the IEEE Power and Energy Society.
B5 – Protection and Automation
Mission
To facilitate and promote the progress of engineering and the international exchange of information and knowledge in the field of protection and automation. To add value to this information and knowledge by means of synthesizing state-of-the-art practices and developing recommendations.
Technological field of activity
Power system protection, substation control and automation, remote control systems and equipment, metering systems and equipment.
Scope
Within its technical field of activity, Study Committee B5 addresses topics throughout the asset management life-cycle phases; from conception, through research, development, design, production, deployment, operation, and end-of life. At all stages, technical, safety, economic, environmental and social aspects are addressed as well as interactions with, and integration into, the evolving power system and the environment. All aspects of performance, specification, testing and the application of testing techniques are within scope, with a specific focus on the impact of changing interactions and demands due to evolution of the power system. Life cycle assessment techniques, risk management techniques, education and training are also important aspects.
Within this framework additional specific areas of attention include:
- Theory, principles and concepts, functionality, technological development, design, performance and application of materials, efficiency.
- Manufacturing, quality assurance, application guidance, planning, routing and location, construction, erection, installation.
- Reliability, availability, dependability, maintainability and maintenance, service, condition monitoring, diagnostics, restoration, repair, loading, upgrading, uprating.
- Refurbishment, re-use/re-deployment, deterioration, dismantling, disposal.
D2 – Information Systems, Telecommunication & Cybersecurity
Mission
To facilitate and promote the progress of engineering and the international exchange of information and knowledge in the field of information systems and telecommunication. To add value to this information and knowledge by means of synthesizing state-of-the- art practices and developing recommendations.
Scope
Within its technical field of activity, Study Committee D2 addresses topics throughout the application of current and future information and communication technologies (ICT) to the evolving end-to-end value chain of the electric power system. ICT equipment, architectures, security and governance including consideration of fundamental principles, design, specification, testing engineering, commissioning, performance, operation and maintenance aspects.
Areas of attention include:
- ICT applied to digital networks throughout the end-to-end power system including smart meters, energy management systems (EMS), Internet of Things, big data
- Communication solutions for information exchange between all participants in the electrical power system
- Interoperability and data exchange (file format, frequency, etc.) between all participants in the electrical power system including network operators, market players, off-grid premises
- Cyber security issues at all levels from field equipment through to corporate IT including governance constraints, system design, implementation, testing, operation and maintenance
- Technologies and architectures to ensure business continuity and disaster recovery IT systems to support the decision-making process in Asset Management