Speakers

Dr. Emma Stewart is a leading expert in power systems and critical infrastructure security, specializing in electric distribution, grid resilience, modeling and simulation, and operational cybersecurity. She is the chief power grid scientist at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and serves as the director of the Center for Securing the Digital Energy Transition. In these roles, Dr. Stewart leads cutting-edge initiatives to strengthen the security and resilience of the power grid, addressing the critical challenges facing modern energy systems. ' With over two decades of experience, Dr. Stewart has worked with international utilities, U.S. national laboratories, and organizations across the globe. Before joining INL, she served as chief scientist at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), where she oversaw a multimillion-dollar research and development portfolio and led programs focused on workforce education, information sharing, and incident response for over 900 rural electric cooperatives, supporting their efforts to provide reliable and secure electricity across the United States. ' Dr. Stewart holds a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and a master'''s degree in electrical and mechanical engineering. She is the author or co-author of more than 120 peer-reviewed papers, has been awarded three patents, and chairs several technical conference committees and boards. Her research spans power distribution systems, consequence analysis for cyber and physical events, and microgrid technologies. ' Recognized for her expertise and leadership, Dr. Stewart'''s work lies at the intersection of secure power grid development, critical infrastructure resilience, and cybersecurity. Today, she continues to advance national and global energy priorities by driving innovation in emerging technologies, power grid modernization, and digital assurance for energy systems. '