Page 53 - CARILEC CE Journal Nov 21

AUTHOR BIOS
AUTHOR BIOS

Niebert Blair is the Capacity Dr. Krumdieck studied
Building Advisor for the 11th Mechanical and
European Development Fund Aerospace Engineering
(EDF) Technical Assistance at UC Boulder, and
Programme for Sustainable worked on wind turbine
Energy in the Caribbean control systems and
(TAPSEC) where she coordinates solar system testing
the implementation of the and certification. She
TAPSEC Component 2: Information and Capacity earned a Masters
Building. She supports the CARIFORM regional and Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1989 at
international exchange on specific solutions, focusing Arizona State University in the field of Energy
primarily on issues related to the application of Systems Engineering. After working as an energy
innovative technologies, financing models and consultant she was a contract researcher for
regulatory mechanisms to Renewable Energy and NREL characterizing the combustion of biomass
Energy Efficiency sectors within the CARIFORUM. Dr. derived oil. She earned the PhD from University of
Blair advises on the implementation of the Long-range Colorado at Boulder in 1999 in high temperature
Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) regional materials for energy systems and fuel cells.
training, CXC virtual Teacher training workshops, Dr. Krumdieck joined the Mechanical Engineering
Sustainable Energy Training & Train-the-Trainer Department at the University of Canterbury in
Programme, and the Regional Universities Network 2000 to pursue her interests in energy systems
(RUN). In addition, Dr. Blair renders support to the and sustainability. Susan received a prestigious
regional institutions (CROSQ, CARICOM Secretariat, RSNZ Marsden Fund Research Grant in 2003.
CARILEC, CDB, CDF and CCREEE) in implementing the She is a member of the Royal Society and was
Regional Energy Apprenticeship Programme (REAP). appointed a member of the RSNZ Energy Panel in
She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from 2005. She serves on the board of ASPONZ and on
the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and the UC Vice Chancellor’s Sustainability Committee.
a MPhil in Industrial Systems Manufacture and She is also a founding member of NERI and serves
Management from the University of Cambridge, on the NERI Management Committee.
United Kingdom. Dr. Blair has experience in the Susan’s energy research focuses on innovations
power utility and manufacturing entities working on aimed at continuity of human activities and
design, implementation, and management. She has wellbeing within the constraints of environment
developed power engineering systems utilizing various and resource availability. The work aims to
energy sources such as Solar, Wind, Hydro, Natural develop sustainability metrics, engineering
Gas, Geothermal and Heavy fuel oil. fundamentals for low-fossil energy systems, and
bridging technologies and control systems to
manage the transition to sustainable systems.
Dirk John Pons is the This is a truly innovative approach with new ideas
Associate Professor at the receiving acclaim at international meetings and
University of Canterbury conferences. She has a good record of attracting
in New Zealand. He holds funding for her novel research ideas, garnering
a PhD (Eng), MScMedicine, more than $2.5 million NZD in research funding to
M.Leadership, BScEng(Mech), date. She has published 55 peer reviewed papers,
Fellow Engineering NZ (IPENZ), has three patents, and has been an invited
Tohunga Wetepanga, Chrtrd. keynote speaker at more than 40 workshops,
Prof. Eng (CPEng, NZ), International Professional conferences and seminars in the past four years.
Engineer (Int. PE. EngNZ). Visit here to learn more She also has a large group of research students
about Dr. Pons. (10 PhD’s currently) and two brilliant children.

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