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2025 WIRED Grid Resilience Symposium

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Keynote Speaker

Greg Van Tighem

Retired Fire Chief & Director of Protective Services - Municipality of Jasper

Greg Van Tighem

Retired Fire Chief & Director of Protective Services - Municipality of Jasper
Greg Van Tighem is the retired Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services for the Municipality of Jasper. With over 25 years of experience leading emergency management and fire/rescue operations in Jasper National Park, Greg is a recognized leader in wildfire preparedness. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management with distinction. Greg now serves as a training consultant with FireSmart Canada, FireSmart Coordinator for the Municipality of Jasper, and Fire Department Training Officer with the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Fire Department. On July 22, 2024 over 25,000.00 people from the town of Jasper and Jasper National Park were evacuated due to threatening Wildfires south and north of the townsite. On July 24, 2024 the south fires having formed into one tremendous fire front overwhelmed the town of Jasper. 358 structures were destroyed in under 4 hours, over 35,000 hectares of forest destroyed in under 30 days. Join Chief Van Tighem as he talks about this catastrophic event, the fire, the damage and the long road to recovery.

Symposium Speakers - More to come!

Margaret McCarthy

Acting Deputy Director, Strategic Partnerships Division, Research and Technology Partnerships - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Dr. Paul RATERRON

Program Director, National Science Foundation (NSF)

Jamie Calderon

Director, Standards Development - NERC

Dede Subakti

Vice President, System Operations- California ISO

Branden Sudduth

Vice President, Reliability Planning and Performance Analysis - WECC

Dr. Hamidreza Zareipour

Killam Professor and Schulich Research Chair in Power Grid Transformation - The University of Calgary

Adela Kincaid

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Art, University of Calgary

Alex Palomino

Senior Consultant - Energy Strategies

Ali Bidram

Associate Professor, The University of New Mexico

Amber Fletcher

Professor, University of Regina

Andrew Wilson

Senior Consultant - Guidehouse

Anton Matveyuk

Transmission Integrated System Planning - Senior Engineer - Enmax

Brian Kelly

Emergency Response Program Manager - AltaLink

Claude Kaddissi

Chief Research and Innovation - System Resilience - Hydro Quebec

Channa Perera

Vice President, Regulatory and Indigenous Affairs - Electricity Canada

Connor Wollis

Wildfire and Land Management Specialist - Government of Alberta

Dan Kell

Global Director - eGRID - Hatch

Divya Chandrasekhar

Associate Professor, University of Utah

Everett Stuckless

Manager of Operational Resilience & Incident Management, ENMAX

Evgeniy Gorelov

Director, Asset Management and Wildfire Mitigation - Fortis Alberta

Ilkay Altintas

Chief Data Science Officer, San Diego Supercomputer Center

John Braun

Professor, UBC Okanagan

John Horel

Professor, University of Utah

Jeff Griffiths

Director – Skills, Innovation and Productivity Centre, Canada West Foundation

Keaton Wheeler

Principal Engineer, Advanced Power Systems - Fortis Alberta

Kevin Hanna

Associate Professor, UBC Okanagan

Mahdi Hajian

Principal Engineer, System Resiliency - AESO

Michela Taufer

Professor, The University of Tennessee

Nathalie Voisin

Chief Scientist – Regional Climate-Energy Dynamics – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Affiliate Professor – University of Washington

Nicholas Coops

Professor, UBC

Nick Moller

Field Technology Researcher - ATCO

Peyman Pournabi

Power Delivery Team Lead - HDR

Robert Baker

Director - Renewable and Alternative Energy - Alberta Innovates

Roland Stull

Professor, UBC

Stephen Tao

Senior Manager, Asset Management - ATCO

Shivani Nathoo

Demand & Conservation Planner - IESO

Valerio Pascucci

Professor, University of Utah

William Chow

Real Time Manager – Operations, Grid & Market Operations - Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)

Ahsan Upal

Director, Canadian Business Development - Burns & McDonnell

Symposium Agenda

August 7, 2025

Morning

  •  8:15-8:45 am – Opening Speeches
    • Dr. Hamid Zareipour, Canadian Co-Director of WIRED NSF Global Center: Welcome and WIRED Center Introduction
    • Dr. Margaret McCarthy, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    • Paul Raterron, Program Director, NSF Global Centers
  • 8:45–9:30 am – Keynote Speech
    • Greg Van Tighem, Lessons in Resilience from the Jasper Wildfire Complex of 2024
  • 9:30–10:00 am – Fireside Chat with Greg Van Tighem
    • Moderator: (Connor Wollis) 
  • 10:00 - 10:30 - Networking & Coffee Break
  • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm – Grid Resiliency Regulatory Landscape (Moderator: William Chow)  
    • Branden Sudduth, WECC
    • Connor Wollis, Government of Alberta
    • Jamie Calderon, NERC
    • William Chow, AESO
  • 12:00 - 1:00pm – Lunch

Afternoon

  • 1:00 – 2:30 pm – Pioneering Utility Solutions for Wildfire and Extreme Weather Challenges (Moderator: Robert Baker)
    • Claude Kaddissi, Hydro Quebec 
    • Dan Kell, Hatch 
    • Evgeniy Gorelov, FortisAlberta 
    • Stephen Tao & Nick Moller, ATCO 
    • Evertt Stuckless, Enmax 
  • 02:30 – 03:00 pm - Networking & Coffee Break
  • 3:00 – 4:30 pm – Grid Resilience Vulnerabilities (Moderator: Keaton Wheeler)
    • Michela Taufer, UTK 
    • Robert Baker, Alberta Innovates 
    • Dede Subakti, CAISO 
    • Keaton Wheeler, FortisAlberta
    • Mahdi Hajian, AESO 

Evening

  • 05:00 - 09:00 pm - Networking Reception Dinner at The Banquet (University District)

August 8, 2025

Morning

  • 08:00 - 08:30 am - Poster Setup
  • 08:30 - 10:00 am - AI and Big Data Revolution for Grid Resiliency (Moderator: John Horel)
    • Alex Palomino, Energy Strategies 
    • Valerio Pascucci, UUtah 
    • Andrew Wilson, Guidehouse
    • Ilkay Altintas, UCSD
    • Nathalie Voisin, PNNL, UWashington
  • 10:00 - 10:30 - Networking & Coffee Break
  • 10:30 - 12:00 pm - Workforce and Community Engagement Considerations for Grid Resilience (Moderator: Abraham Burge)
    • Amber Fletcher, URegina  
    • Channa Prera, Electricity Canada
    • Jeff Griffiths, Canada West Foundation
    • Adela Kincaid, University of Calgary 
    • Brian Kelly, AltaLink 
  • 12:00 - 01:30 pm - Lunch & Poster Session

Afternoon

  • 01:30 - 03:00 pm - Innovation PitchFest: Technology Providers Shaping the Grid Resilience
    • Solartility (Kelly Tallas)
    • Current Crisis (Tristan Ziegler)
    • Engineered Intelligence (Damien Quentin) 
    • Synoptic (Melanie Scott)
    • Arcus (Anuj Subbaiah)
    • Iron&Earth (Jodie Hon)
    • Wired Center Data Portal (Alireza Esmaili, UofC)
  • 03:00 - 03:15 pm - Coffee Break
  • 3:15 – 4:30 pm – Powering Critical Infrastructure: Data Centers and Large Loads in Grid Resiliency (Moderator: Ahsan Upal)
    • Shivani Nathoo, IESO 
    • Anton Matveyuk, Enmax 
    • Nima Safari, AESO
    • Ahsan Upal, Burns & McDonnell
    • Payman Pournabi, HDR 
  • 04:30 - 05:00 pm - Closing Ceremony

 

Scenic Adventures to the Rockies: Grassi Lake Hike, Town of Banff, and Lake Minnewanka Visit

August 9, 2025

Enhance your WIRED Resilience Symposium 2025 experience with an optional full-day excursion into the heart of the Canadian Rockies on August 9.

Itinerary Details
8:30 AM – Departure from Alt Hotel(University District) Entrance
We’ll embark on our journey to the Grassi Lakes Trailhead near Canmore, Alberta.		 Date: August 9, 2025
10:00 AM – Grassi Lakes Trail Hike
This self-guided hike, accompanied by local committee members, offers two routes: an easier path with a gentle incline and a more challenging trail featuring a waterfall and panoramic views of Canmore and the Bow Valley. Both lead to the stunning turquoise Grassi Lakes. The hike typically takes about 1 to 1.5 hours return.		 Cost: $40 (includes transportation and park entrance fees; food is not included)
11:30 AM – Leisure at Grassi Lakes
Enjoy an hour to relax, take photos, and immerse yourself in the serene environment.		 What to Bring: Comfortable hiking attire, sturdy footwear, water, snacks, and a camera to capture the stunning landscapes.
12:30 PM – Departure to Banff
After returning to the trailhead, we’ll proceed to the charming town of Banff.		 Note: The Grassi Lakes Trail is popular and can be busy during peak times. Participants are advised to stay on designated paths to preserve the area’s natural beauty and ensure safety.
1:00 PM – Lunch in Banff
Participants have two hours to explore Banff’s diverse culinary scene at their leisure.		 More Information:
Grassi Lakes Trail
Lake Minnewanka
3:00 PM – Visit to Lake Minnewanka
Experience the majesty of Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park. This glacial lake stretches over 21 km and reaches depths of 142 meters, offering breathtaking mountain vistas.		 We look forward to sharing this adventure with you!
4:00 PM – Return to Calgary
We’ll depart Lake Minnewanka, aiming to arrive back in Calgary by 6:00 PM.

A waiver needs to be signed for this tour at the time of registration.

Accommodation and Hotel Information for Out-of-Town Attendees

August 6 - 10

ALT Hotel Calgary University District

482 McLaurin St NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6K3

We are pleased to recommend Alt Hotel Calgary University District for our out-of-town attendees. Conveniently located within walking distance of our event venue, this modern and stylish hotel offers comfortable accommodations with excellent amenities. Guests can enjoy a vibrant neighborhood, easy access to local attractions, and a welcoming atmosphere perfect for both business and leisure stays.

Rooms are currently available on a discounted price ($175 CAD/night + Taxes), expiring on Thursday, July 10 (by 3:00 pm), 2025.

Click here to book your stay.

To Get There

Click here for map and other transportation information. 

 

Alternative Accommodation Option

Hotel Inn Express & Suites, University Area by IHG, Calgary.

2373 Banff Trail NW, Calgary, AB T2M 4L2

For an additional accommodation location, guests may consider Hotel Inn Express & Suites, University Area with an easy access to the University via C-Train.

Rooms are currently available on a discounted price ($195 CAD/night + Taxes), expiring on Sunday, July 6 (by 3:00pm), 2025.

Click here to book your stay.

To Get There

Click here for map and other transportation information.

 

 

 

Register for the 2025 Symposium

Click here to Register for the Event

Industry Expo and Career Fair

Organizing Committee

Hamidreza Zareipour

Co-Director WIRED Global Center | Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary | General Symposium Chair

Masood Parvania

Co-Director of WIRED Global Center | Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah | General Symposium Co-Chair

Branden Sudduth

Vice President, Reliability Planning and Performance Analysis - WECC | Honorary Industry Chair

Mostafa Farrokhabadi

Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary | Technical Program Chair

Nazia Maqsood

Administrative Lead

Fatemah Shakeri

Poster Session Coordinator

Ala'a Al-Sharif

Digital Logistics Student Lead

Irtaza Sohail

Social Event Student Lead

Sherry Gao

Career Expo Coordinator

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