The 35th IEEE PES Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC 2025) concluded last week at The University of Queensland, marking another impactful year for the region’s longest-running power engineering forum. Over four dynamic days, the event brought together academics, students, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of energy systems.
With themes ranging from renewable integration and grid resilience to electrification of transport, energy storage, and hydrogen systems, AUPEC 2025 offered a timely look into how technology, policy, and people are converging to deliver a sustainable energy transition.
“AUPEC continues to be a unique platform where research meets real-world challenges,” said Professor Tapan Saha, Chair of the Local Organising Committee. “This year, the focus was clear - collaboration is essential to delivering a sustainable, secure, and smart energy future.”
Where Research Meets the Real World
AUPEC 2025 hosted a full program of technical sessions, tutorials, and poster presentations, showcasing the latest research from across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region. Topics included inverter control, cyber-physical security, DER integration, hydrogen modelling, and more, reflecting the fast-evolving nature of the power engineering landscape.
Panels such as "Flexibility Unleashed" and "Large-Scale Renewable Integration" featured thought leaders from AEMO, Powerlink, Energy Queensland, Siemens Energy, Iberdrola, and other major organisations. These sessions offered practical insights into how research is informing market evolution, technology deployment, and long-term planning.
Celebrating Community and Connection
Beyond the technical program, AUPEC 2025 fostered a strong sense of community and collaboration. Networking events like the Welcome Reception, poster sessions, and the formal Conference Dinner at Brisbane’s Tattersall’s Club created valuable opportunities for participants to connect across disciplines and sectors.
Recognising Excellence
AUPEC 2025 proudly recognised outstanding contributions through a range of awards, celebrating research excellence, communication skills, diversity, and impact. These awards highlight not only technical excellence, but also the importance of diversity, mentorship, and cross-disciplinary engagement in driving the sector forward.
Award winners
| Best Paper Awards | Guan Shaokang Umberto Cella |
| Best Student Paper Awards | Ting Kai Chia |
| Best Paper – Women in Power | Junjia Yang Taraneh Ghanbarzadeh |
| Best Paper – Young Professionals | Sameera Samarasinghe Eranga Balasuriya |
| Best Poster Awards | Gian Reinier Malveda Jacob Gregg Amita Singha |
| Travel Awards | Venkata Silpa Borra Dinidu Jeewandara Mohammad Imamul Hossain Junhao Gong Sivasankari GS |
Emeritus Professor Mat Darveniza AO was also honoured with a standing ovation at the conference dinner. A Life Fellow of IEEE, Fellow of ATSE, and Foreign Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Mat is also a recipient of the IEEE Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education and an Officer of the Order of Australia. He has previously served on the Board of Energex Limited.
Empowering the Future Workforce
The Women in Engineering (WIE) Forum, focused on “Empowering Women’s Leadership to Drive Australia’s Renewable Energy Transition”. The session featured leaders from Powerlink, WSP, Monash University, UTS, and Energy Queensland, and provided valuable insights into leadership pathways, equity challenges, and the importance of diverse voices in the energy conversation.
On the final day, the Education Plenary, moderated by Professor Ian Hiskens, brought together educators, researchers, and industry representatives to discuss how to better prepare the next generation of engineers. The session explored strategies to equip students with the skills, adaptability, and interdisciplinary thinking needed for the energy transition.
Looking Ahead
AUPEC 2025 was a clear reflection of a sector in transition, technologically, socially, and structurally. It reinforced the critical role of collaborative research, industry engagement, and academic excellence in building a net-zero future.
As Professor Saha concluded,
“The path to net zero isn’t just technical, it’s about people, partnerships, and purpose. AUPEC is where those elements come together.”
