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Each year, the IEC Young Professionals (YP) Programme brings together young professionals from around the world to learn more about how they can contribute to standardisation and conformity assessment. During the YP workshop, participants meet peers, IEC Officers, and technical experts worldwide. It offers the opportunity to see the IEC in action. This is a unique platform as YPs can actively contribute to yearly projects and attend a series of in person and/or online sessions focused on developing leadership skills and exploring key topics in the field of electrotechnology led by IEC experts.

IEC Young Professionals are encouraged to continue their engagement in standardisation and conformity assessment at the international and national levels by contributing to the technical work of the IEC and the IEC National Committees (NSAI). IEC YPs are regularly invited to participate in IEC groups and dedicated YP activities as well as provide input on how the IEC can attract the next generation of experts and leaders.

NSAI have an evolving programme within Ireland to develop new standardisation leaders, if you are interested in getting involved, please contact Amanda-jane.gainford@nsai.ie or join NSAI's LinkedIn group for more information.  

 

The IEC YP Programme was established in 2010 to engage with young professionals throughout the world and foster increased participation and involvement in IEC standardization and conformity assessment activities. The goals are to expose and educate young professionals on the various aspects of work done by the IEC, showcase the inner workings of the IEC through management and technical meetings and promote future involvement in standardization and conformity assessment. Through the programme, participants become familiar with how standards are created and how conformity assessment is accomplished.

For more information about IEC and the YP Programme, please click here

Past Locations

NSAI's Emerging Professionals have had the chance to travel around the world since 2010, experiencing different cities and their cultures. Below is a list of some of the past locations that our participants have visited:

Year 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
City Cairo (Virtually) San Francisco Dubai (Virtually) Geneva Shanghai Busan Vladivostok
Country Egypt USA United Arab Emirates Switzerland China Korea Russia

Our Previous Representatives

In 2023, there were two representatives chosen to represent Ireland in Egypt: 

  • Catherine Gorton, H&S Manager with Ward and Burke
  • Ahmed Sheikh, Senior Power Systems Engineer with EirGrid

 

When talking about her experience, Catherine had this to say:

“I think the YP programme provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a diverse network with passionate and experienced industry contacts.

The YP programme created opportunities to work within various teams, creatively collaborate and develop innovative solutions to international challenges.

My positive involvement in the IEC Young Professional Programme, particularly as a lead speaker in team presentations and a participant in "Standard in a Day," has been a fulfilling and enriching experience. The activities have hugely added to my knowledge but also gave me a better understanding of the importance of leadership and communication during the standardisation process. I feel this knowledge has also enhanced my professional capabilities. International standards play a critical role in shaping the future of all industries. I am grateful for the opportunities provided by the NSAI and IEC Young Professional Programme, I hope to continue to contribute to NSAI national committees and the global standards community”.

In 2022, NSAI chose two people to represent Ireland in San Francisco:

  • Sweta Malik, Senior Power Systems Researcher at UCD
  • Christopher Cano, Senior Connection Contract Specialist at EirGrid

 

When asked why should someone apply to the Young Professionals Programme, Christopher had this to say:

“Participating in the program and the workshop has been one of the most enriching experiences I have had in my career. I got from this event knowledge on new technology, how standards work and why they are important and the impact and reach the IEC has in the world.

In addition to the knowledge you obtain from participating and getting involved, meeting so many bright professionals within the age group required to participate added incredible value to my network. It is very uncommon to meet such a diverse group of professionals and interact with them both in a collaborative manner and for social events after the schedule of the day.”

In 2021, three candidates were successfully chosen to represent Ireland virtually in Dubai:

  • Neale Dalton, Safe Electric Electrical Inspector with SGS
  • Eamonn O’Malley, Safety Development and Technical Lead within the ESB
  • Aidan Heffernan, Chartered Electrical Engineer working in the ESB

 

When asked about his experience, Eamonn had nothing but praise for the opportunity:

“I am honoured to have represented Ireland at such a highly recognised event in the world of standardisation and conformity.

Although attending virtually, I have met some inspiring Young Professionals from all around the world, with a vast variety of backgrounds, and I look to strengthen these connections so that we can all lead the world towards a safer, digital and sustainable future.

The IEC Young Professionals programme was a fantastic opportunity to learn and understand how standards are being developed and implemented within the electrotechnical industry.

The workshop itself offered great educational and networking opportunities with the standard in a day bootcamp being one of the standout sessions during the 5 day workshop.

I would encourage anyone with an interest in electrotechnical standardisation to apply for the programme next year and hopefully you will be lucky enough to get selected to attend the workshop.”

In 2019, two people were successfully chosen to represent Ireland in Shanghai:

  • Rebecca Bennis, ESG Implementation Team Lead at Diligent
  • Shane McHugo, Senior R&D Engineer at WhiteSwell,

 

Rebecca described her experience in Shanghai as a great opportunity to learn and make new contacts:

“The IEC Young Professionals programme was a fantastic opportunity to learn and understand how standards are being developed and implemented within the electrotechnical industry. The workshop offered great educational and networking opportunities. The discussions among the 88 IEC Young Professionals from 41 different countries were very valuable to me from both a professional and personal standpoint.

The opportunity to network with individuals throughout all levels of IEC was invaluable and I got the chance to make some social connections that I know will last a lifetime. Not only that, but it was an excellent means to learn what’s going on in other areas globally. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing ideas, hearing from others about the challenges and opportunities they see in the technology world, and learning different culture.”