Claudio Cañizares
Candidate Statement
I have unique expertise and broad knowledge of the PES and IEEE, given my multiple successful activities and leadership positions in almost 40 years of active member and volunteer, particularly as IEEE Division VII Director. Based on my wide experience and open and transparent approach as PES and IEEE leader, as members and volunteers with whom I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating would attest to, I believe that I can provide the required stewardship of the PES to serve its large academic, industry, and world-wide membership.
As in all my PES and IEEE roles, I will follow an inclusive, transparent, and generous leadership style if elected PES President. Furthermore, besides facilitating and supporting all the great ongoing work by PES members and volunteers, I will focus on enhancing the impact and relevance of PES to the world’s Net-Zero future for which the power grid will be the backbone, and will work on increasing the growing PES relevance and leadership role within the IEEE, which I have been encouraging and supporting as IEEE and PES leader.
Biography
I have been at the University of Waterloo since 1993, where I am a University Professor, Hydro One Chair, and WISE Executive Director. My highly cited research with industry and government partners has focused on relevant and practical aspects of power and energy systems in the context of decarbonization and grid-edge technologies. I am a former IEEE Trans. Smart Gird EIC and IEEE Division VII Director, as well as a Fellow of the IEEE, Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, and have received multiple awards and recognitions from the PES and various institutions.
I have been a very active member of PES since 1986, contributing significantly to its multiple activities and initiatives. I have played leadership roles and have been an active member of the PES Governing Board and Executive Committee, IEEE TAB and BOD, and multiple IEEE and PES committees.
IEEE Accomplishments/Activities
I have held 63 PES and IEEE membership and leadership positions, in particular:
- Chair, IEEE Fellow N&A Committee, 2025.
- Vice-Chair, IEEE Technology for a Sustainable Climate Matrix Organization, 2025.
- Chair, IEEE TAB Climate Change Program, 2025.
- Chair, IEEE Ad Hoc Committee on Technology for a Sustainable Climate, 2024.
- Member, IEEE N&A Committee, 2024-2025.
- Member, TAB N&A Committee, 2023-2024.
- Member, IEEE Fellow Committee Strategic Advisory WG, 2023.
- Director and Director-Elect, Division VII, 2021-2023.
- Member, IEEE Ad Hoc Committee to Coordinate ’s Response to Climate Change, 2022-2023.
- Member, IEEE Ad Hoc Committee on Fellows Processes, 2022.
- Editor in Chief, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 2020-2024.
- Chair, Electrification Magazine Steering Committee, 2019-2024.
- Past-Chair, Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, Power System Dynamic Performance Committee, 2013-2020.
- Chair, Task Forces “Microgrid Dynamic Modeling,” “Microgrid Stability Analysis and Modeling,” and “Microgrid Control,” Power System Stability Subcommittee, 2010-2023.
- Editor and Lead, Smart Grid Technical Activities Committee’s white paper “Microgrids: Utility Challenges and Opportunities,” 2018-2022.
- Editor in Chief, Proceedings of the IEEE Special Issue “Electricity for All: Access to Electricity Issues and Solutions for Energy-disadvantaged Communities,” 2018-2019.
- Technical Program Chair, ISGT Latin America, 2016-2017.
- Member, Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the IEEE, 2016-2021.
- Chair and Secretary, Power Systems Stability Controls Subcommittee, 2006-2011.
- Fellow (2007), Senior Member (2000), Member (1991), and Student Member (1986).
- Chair, Task Force “Impact of Industry Restructuring on System Dynamic Performance,” Power System Stability Subcommittee, 2005-2010.
- Chair and Secretary, Voltage Stability Working Groups, Power System Stability Subcommittee, 1997-2002.
I have received 20 IEEE and PES awards and recognitions, in particular:
- Best Paper Award, 2022
- Technical Council Outstanding Technical Report Awards, 2020 and 2005
- Technical Committee Service Awards, 2019 and 2017
- Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award, 2017
- IEEE Canada Electric Power Medal, 2016
- PowerTech Best Student Paper Award, 2015
- IEEE Fellow, 2007