IEEE Joint New Zealand Life Members Affinity Group (LMAG) seminar on What is Resilience and Why is it so elusive in New Zealand?

What is Resilience and Why is it so elusive in New Zealand?

Abstract

The negative impacts of recent weather events have led to many questions being raised about the resilience of the critical infrastructure and services upon which we all rely. Subsequent speakers will consider the resilience of electrical power supplies, communication systems and the software that underpins much of modern life. This introductory presentation will provide an overview of the key concepts and definitions necessary to a discussion of resilience, including reliability, risk and exposure to rare but potentially devastating events.

The second speaker will consider the Resilience of the Fuel Supply for New Zealand’s Electricity Generation System. With the transition of the New Zealand electricity generation system to renewables, away from carbon rich fuels, the question needs to be asked is the renewables “fuel tank” adequate to keep the lights ON, during major long term (3 months and longer), system wide events, i.e.: droughts, DC Link failures, dam failures, etc?

The third speaker will address issues related to the resiliency of the telecommunications capability in New Zealand and whether it is adequate to meet public expectations for critical life, safety and wellbeing outcomes in the face of severe disruptive events. What are the lessons we can learn from lack of resiliency that has been demonstrated during recent disruptive weather events? Are there cost effective ways to ensure that a minimum capability is maintained during any adverse condition event?

Continuing with the resilience theme the forth speaker will address the issues related to resiliency in regard to the software that we all rely on in our daily lives. Should we expect systems and technology which depend on the use of software for their satisfactory operation to be capable of operation under severe adverse conditions? Is software inherently resilient or what can we do to make it more resilient?

After the presentations, there will be ample time for the audience to ask questions of the presenters either from the floor or via the chat function.

Speakers

The panel of speakers will consist of the following in order of presentation:

Professor Bob Hodgson, Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ
Kieran Devine, Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ
Dr Murray Milner, Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ
Duncan Hall, Life Member IEEE, Distinguished Fellow ENZ