Overview of Our Work

This section describes the formal structures under which CIGRE and CIGRE Australia undertake their work, and how you may choose to be involved.

The Study Committees are the main contributors towards the international technical activities of CIGRE.  They have two basic responsibilities:

• They carry out studies on topical issues of their domain and publish their results
• They play a leading part in the sessions and symposia organised by CIGRE, such as the selection of papers and the running of the meetings. Study Committees also organise their own events: colloquia, tutorials and workshops.

Membership of the Study Committees from Australia must be nominated by the Australian National Committee. Each country normally only has one representative on each Study Committee. The nominated member also serves as the convenor of the relevant Australian Panel which mirrors the Study Committee.

The activities of the Study Committees are co-ordinated by the Technical Committee.  Study Committees select the studies to be commenced, specify their terms of reference, monitor the progress of the work and approve the publications.  To carry out its work, a Study Committee relies on two working bodies:

• Advisory Groups – which advise the Chairman of the Study Committee
• Working Groups – which perform the studies, in accordance with the terms of reference which have been approved by the Technical Committee Chairman.  Presently, there are more than 250 active Working Groups in CIGRE

All nominees to Working Groups require the approval of the Australian National Committee following the endorsement by the convenor of the relevant Australian Panel. There is no fee payable to be a member of a Working Group. Members are expected to periodically report progress back to the relevant Australian Panel.

Australian Panels mirror each of the CIGRE Study Committees. Meetings of the Panels provide an important communication structure for CIGRE and its members.  The Panels take work from the Study Committees and provide a local context for it. They also provide information to the Study Committees to form the basis for future international CIGRE work. Additionally, the panels provide important networking opportunities for technical experts in the same domain of work. A fee is payable for membership of an Australian Panel.