Edward
Benning is Smart Grid Integration & Security Lead for EMEA at OMNETRIC Group.
In this role, he leads a team focused on helping utilities asses the IT/OT convergence opportunity, create strategic integration roadmaps and implement solutions to optimize performance and fine-tune control of an increasingly complex grid.
Edward has almost 20 years’ experience in the utilities consulting industry across Europe. He has worked in all facets of the utility industry including customer care and billing, smart metering, grid balance settlement, grid operations and analytics. His key strength is breaking down complex IT/OT challenges into achievable steps that deliver results. He has extensive experience in initiating and executing large scale IT/OT transformations as well in small innovation programs.
What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?
IT/OT integration is incredibly important to the utilities industry but its not easy, and while most are actively engaged in it, there is a wide variation in the progress that’s been made to date. My colleague, Jon Longstaff, and I are looking forward to explaining to the audience how to overcome the security concerns, interoperability challenges and cultural barriers that so often prevent utilities from reaping the benefits that integration can bring.
Why did you decide to do a webinar with Business Review Webinars?
TSOs and DSOs know that IT/OT integration is foundational to operating the distribution business of tomorrow, however there are many who are still at the strategy stage and have not got any further. At OMNETRIC Group we want to share what we’re doing to make integration easier, and talk about how to get a roadmap in place to help integrate processes, technology and information.
How did you get into the industry and what do you most enjoy about your role?
I started out in the utilities consulting industry almost 20 years ago, and have worked across all facets including customer care and billing, smart metering, grid balance settlement, grid operations and analytics. I joined OMNETRIC Group from Accenture at its inception in 2014.
I particularly enjoy breaking down complex IT/OT challenges into achievable steps that deliver results. I also enjoy working with my team to initiate and execute anything from large scale IT/OT transformations to small innovation programs.
What are you hoping to achieve in the future in your personal and professional life?
I grew up, from a business perspective, in an IT world at Accenture. Then, when I started at OMNETRIC Group 3 years ago, I met electrical engineers and security experts with a deep knowledge and understanding of the operational technology that runs the grid.
Working with these folks has instilled in me the belief that, in the context of the smarter grid, systems integration should be approached from an operational perspective, and I want to build a team and a business to do just that.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Work means that I currently spend most of my time in the UK, Belgium and Netherlands… so I’m happy to go to hotter climates for holidays towards the East.
Join Edward Benning and Omnetric Group in their webinar “Let’s Get Real: IT/OT Integration Approaches” on 21st March at 1PM London/9AM New York.