Grid of Tomorrow Consortium Event 2026-11-12

4th Grid of Tomorrow Consortium Event

Nov 12–13, 2026

Building on the momentum of previous workshops, members and friends of Purdue’s Grid of Tomorrow Consortium will gather again on November 12–13, 2026. We are grateful to MISO and AES Indiana for hosting this year’s event at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel in Carmel, Indiana.

Agenda Presenters

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Event Details

Date: November 12-13, 2026

Co-hosted by Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and AES Indiana

Hotel Recommendations

Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel
11925 N Meridian St
Carmel, IN 46032

Hotel Overview

Hotel Reservation Link

Location

Forum Goals

The program will feature plenary presentations from industry leaders; panel discussions with experts from industry, academia, and the technology sector; Purdue-led research presented through posters and lightning talks; and ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Thematic discussions will focus on:

Innovative approaches to grid planning and operations amid rapid load growth.
AI solutions for enhancing grid performance and accelerating grid studies.
Flexibility solutions across large loads, transmission systems, distribution networks, and distributed energy resources.

View Recordings from Previous Events

4th Grid of Tomorrow Consortium Event Agenda

Thursday, November 12, 2026 Public-Facing Event
Masters of Ceremonies: Dominique Davis, Senior Manager Strategic Insights, MISO Carmen Clarke, Director of Client Services and Readiness, MISO
8:00-8:30 (all times EST)	Arrival/Breakfast/Networking Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel 11925 N Meridian St, Carmel, IN 46032
8:30-8:50	Welcome and Opening Remarks Mark Lundstrom, John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, Chief Semiconductor Officer, Don and Carol Scifres Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University Brandi Davis-Handy, President, AES Indiana
8:50-8:55	Grid of Tomorrow Consortium and Forum Outline
8:55-9:20	Keynote: DL Oates Executive Director of Markets and Grid Research, MISO
9:20-9:25	Break
9:25-10:30	Spotlight Panel #1 – Grid Operations with Large Loads Moderator: Bryan Little, Assistant General Counsel, NiSource Mark Lauby, Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Tim Aliff, Executive Director of Market Operations, MISO Avnaesh Jayantilal, CTO Applied Grid Innovation, Grid Software, GE Vernova Xiaonan Lu, Associate Professor, School of Engineering Technology, Purdue University
10:35-10:40	Break
10:40-11:45	Spotlight Panel #2 – Flexibility as a Grid Resource Moderator: John McDonald, Founder and CEO, JDM Associates, LLC TJ Winter, VP of Strategic Technologies, Fluence Energy Mila Hunt, Global Strategy Director, Grid Solutions, GE Vernova TBD, NTT Data Sai Gopal Vennelaganti, Manager, Global Power System, Tesla Junjie Qin, Assistant Professor, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University
11:45-12:10	Keynote: Chris Shelton, AES Senior Vice President - Chief Product Officer - President, AES Next
12:00-1:00	Lunch
1:05-1:35	Keynote: Andy Ott, Head of Technical and Partner Operations, X Tapestry
1:35-1:40	Break
1:40-2:45	Spotlight Panel #3 – Grid Planning with Large Loads (Interconnections, Transmission Improvement, Investments) Moderator: Andrew Liu Associate Professor, Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering William Jefferson, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Safety Officer, NiSource Sammy Roberts, General Manager of Grid Operations and Planning, Duke Energy Brandon Oyer, Director of Energy and Water, AWS Patrick Jehring, Director Systems Planning, GridLiance
2:50-3:40	Poster Session Purdue graduate student present their research
3:45-4:50	Spotlight Panel #4 – AI for Grid Operations Moderator: Jason Pretzlaf PG&E Josh Wong, Chief Executive Officer, ThinkLabs AI TBD, Schneider Electric TBD, Hitachi Energy Siva Seetharaman, Assistant Professor, Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University Vassilis Kekatos, Associate Professor, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University
4:55-5:05	Closing Remarks Todd Ramey, Senior Vice President, Markets and Digital Strategy, MISO
5:00	Adjournment & Light Refreshments

Friday, November 13, 2026 Members-Only Event and Student Outreach Event
This members-only event will be held at MISO’s facility. The Advisory Board Meeting and Career Event will take place concurrently in the morning, with both groups coming together for lunch at 12:30 PM.
Advisory Board Meeting Attended by executive and technical-level representatives for the GoTC industry members and Purdue GoTC faculty. The purpose is threefold: i) Purdue faculty report 2026 research activities; ii) Purdue faculty propose 2027 research activities; and iii) GoTC industry members vote for 2027 research activities. Purdue faculty will submit 2027 research proposals to industry members before the event, giving members time to consider new projects. Career Event This is an opportunity for Purdue undergraduate and graduate students to discuss internship and employment opportunities with GoTC industry members.
Advisory Board Meeting
8:00	Arrival/Breakfast/Networking
8:30	Opening Remarks
8:45	2026 Project Reports
9:30	Break
9:40	2027 Research Proposals
10:40	Discussion
11:30	Deliberation
12:30	Lunch with Career Event Attendees
1:30	Adjourn
Career Event
9:30	Arrival
10:00	Welcome
10:15	Career Event
12:30	Lunch with Advisory Board Meeting Attendees
1:30	Adjourn

Presenters

Tim Aliff

Executive Director Market Operations

MISO

Joe Bentley

President, Bentley Consulting Services,

Former Senior Vice President, Electric Engineering

Pacific Gas & Electric

Carmen Clark

Director of Client Services and Readiness

MISO

Dominique Davis

Senior Manager Strategic Insights

MISO

Nicholas Domich

Principal, Innovation Partnerships - Large Load/Capacity Strategy

Pacific Gas & Electric

Brandi Davis-Handy

President

AES Indiana

Mila Hunt

Global Strategy Director, Grid Solutions

GE Vernova

William Jefferson

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Safety Officer

NiSource

Patrick Jehring

Director Systems Planning

GridLiance

Vassilis Kekatos

Associate Professor, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Purdue University

Mark Lauby

Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

Bryan Little

Assistant General Counsel

NiSource

Andrew Liu

Associate Professor, Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering

Purdue University

Xiaonan Lu

Associate Professor, School of Engineering Technology

Purdue University

Mark Lundstrom

John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, Chief Semiconductor Officer, Don and Carol Scifres Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Purdue University