The Legend of the API’s formation
As shared by Richard Bevan – who was involved at the very beginning of the API - to current API CEO David Pointing (with minor edits): The genesis of what is now known as the Australian Power Institute (API) can be traced back to a CIGRE Australian National Committee (ANC) meeting that was being held in Fremantle WA in 2002.
The issue of Power Engineering Education (PEE) had been a topic for CIGRE at both a National and International level for many years, with a degree of frustration and concern about the health of the ‘development pipeline’ for Australia’s power engineering workforce.
So, over drinks in a bar in Fremantle, the discussion led to the conclusion that unless the attendees, as senior Power Industry representatives, did something about it, nothing was going to change. Some of the people involved in this discussion included David Croft (MD TransGrid), Gordon Jardine (MD Powerlink), Doug Aberle (MD Western Power), Richard Bevan (MD Transend), Nino Ficca (SPI Powernet), Peter Tyree (MD Tyree Industries), Robert Wilson (MD Wilson Transformers), and Mike Dureau (CEO Alstom). Others possibly in attendance were Simon Bartlett (COO Powerlink), Ralph Craven (Transpower NZ), Ian Stirling (Electranet).
Mike Dureau took a lead role in the next steps, securing financial commitments from power industry organisations for seed funding. The organisation was initially called the Australian Electric Power Institute (AEPI), but the word Electric was subsequently dropped to enable a broader focus for any engineering discipline involved in the Power Industry, such as mechanical and chemical engineering. And so the API was born, and duly registered with ASIC on 7 October 2004.
How we are celebrating 20 years of impact!
Of course we will be celebrating such a momentous occasion as 20 years of energising power careers and shaping the future of the industry! Here’s what we plan on doing:
1. Profiles on program alumni through the years
Have you been among the 1,000+ professionals who participated in our Bursary/Scholarship Program, Summer School, or POWERful Woman Programs? We are reaching out for photos and stories highlighting your experiences and career growth since your involvement. We plan to share some of these profiles with our community throughout the year.
2. Capital City Community Catch ups
We started our alumni catchups this year with full intent on continuing them into 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with our huge community of power undergraduates and professionals across Australia. Cities and dates to be announced in early 2025.
3. Highlighting the achievements of the API, our Partners, members and their staff through our communication channels
In addition to highlighting our alumni profiles, we aim to display the innovation and growth achieved in the power industry by our industry partners, members, and the remarkable staff through news articles, videos and photos.
4. The big one – Gala dinner at the end of Summer School 2025, Melbourne
You heard it here first – MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Thursday, May 22, 2025! Our renowned Summer School gala dinner is set to be even more spectacular, featuring additional guests, VIPs, extra entertainment, and, of course, the classic hosting flair of CEO David Pointing.
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