High Voltage Conference 2026

Conference Overview: 13 Years of Bringing High Voltage Industry Together

(Conference Update: The program will be released on Thursday, 26th March 2026.)

High voltage systems sit at the heart of modern industry. From transmission networks and utilities for mining operations, manufacturing plants, and critical infrastructure, these systems power the assets that keep Australia operating.

For engineers responsible for designing, maintaining, and protecting this infrastructure, the work is complex, and the consequences of failure are significant. Understanding how equipment behaves in the field, how systems fail, and how engineers resolve these challenges is essential. Thirteen years ago, IDC Technologies, an Australian-owned engineering training company, identified the need for a dedicated forum where high voltage engineers could come together to exchange knowledge and practical experience. As a small-to-medium-sized Australian enterprise working closely with industry, IDC Technologies recognises the importance of ongoing professional development and technical training in just two days. The High Voltage Conference was established to provide a platform where engineers can learn from leading experts, gain practical insights, and stay up to date with the rapidly changing technologies shaping the industry.

First launched in Brisbane, the conference has grown into a well-respected technical gathering for the engineering community. A defining feature of the conference is its speaker program.

The speakers are not simply presenting theory; they are engineers and specialists who work directly with high voltage systems every day. Drawing on experience from utilities, industry, research organisations and leading equipment manufacturers, they share current stories, technical investigations and lessons learned from the field. Presentations examine practical challenges, including equipment failures, testing and diagnostics, commissioning experiences, emerging technologies, and strategies to enhance reliability and safety in high-voltage systems. This year’s programme also includes two international experts, offering global insights and perspectives on the evolving challenges and innovations in the high-voltage sector, how Australia compare, what we are doing well, and what can be done better.

Beyond the technical presentations, the conference offers a valuable opportunity to connect with like-minded colleagues from across Australia and around the world, share experiences, and build relationships within the community.

After thirteen years, the objective remains the same: to provide a high-quality environment where engineers can upskill, share knowledge, and strengthen the reliability of high voltage assets and systems across the industry.

Key technical topics include:

• Transformer diagnostics and reliability, including oil analysis, dissolved gas analysis, and electrical testing techniques
• Integrated condition monitoring of high-voltage assets, combining online and offline diagnostic methods
• Protection coordination and modern digital protection systems
• Arc flash hazard assessment in complex HV/LV networks
• Risk modelling for transformer explosions and arc discharge events
• Designing condition monitoring into new high-voltage assets
• Mapping and inspection of buried high-voltage infrastructure
• Decarbonisation of networks through SF₆-free switchgear technologies
• The role of standards and regulatory frameworks in Australia’s high-voltage sector

The program also features a panel of Australian energy safety regulators, providing a unique opportunity to hear directly from regulatory authorities about emerging safety priorities, policy developments, and industry expectations.

Throughout the conference, presenters will share practical case studies, diagnostic techniques, engineering methodologies, and lessons from current projects, helping delegates better understand how to manage risk, extend asset life, and improve the reliability of critical electrical infrastructure.

What You’ll Gain From Attending:

• Gain practical knowledge from real-world engineering experience – Hear case studies and technical presentations from engineers working directly with high-voltage systems in utilities, mining, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure.
• Improve transformer reliability and diagnostics – Learn how techniques such as dissolved gas analysis (DGA), oil testing, and electrical diagnostics can provide early warning of faults and help extend the life of critical assets.
• Understand modern approaches to condition monitoring – Explore how integrated monitoring techniques, including partial discharge diagnostics and advanced testing methods, are helping organisations move from time-based maintenance to condition-based strategies.
• Strengthen asset management strategies – Discover practical approaches to improving asset management, identifying the most effective investments, and shifting from reactive maintenance to structured, long-term reliability planning.
• Enhance safety and risk management – Gain a deeper understanding of arc flash hazards, transformer explosion risks, and protection coordination strategies that directly impact worker safety and system reliability.
• Learn about emerging technologies shaping the sector – Hear about the role of IoT sensors, AI analytics, and SF₆-free switchgear in modernising power infrastructure and supporting the transition toward more sustainable energy systems.
• Understand regulatory expectations and industry standards – Hear directly from Australian energy safety regulators and learn how evolving standards and regulatory frameworks influence engineering practice and operational decision-making.
• Connect with industry peers and experts – Engage with fellow engineers, utilities, manufacturers, and industry specialists to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and build valuable professional networks

From the United Kingdom, the keynote presentation “Beyond Maintenance: Driving Value at Every Stage” will examine how to move beyond reactive maintenance and develop structured asset management strategies that create value across the entire lifecycle of high-voltage infrastructure. The session will focus on practical steps organisations can take to improve decision-making, prioritise investment, and optimise long-term asset performance. Plus a dedicated workshop on Day 3.

From Norway, delegates will hear a highly specialised presentation on Risk Analysis for Transformer Explosion and Arc Discharge Modelling. This session will explore how high-energy electrical faults can lead to arc discharges and transformer explosions, and how advanced modelling techniques can be used to assess risk, improve facility design, and enhance worker safety in high-voltage environments.

Together, these international contributions bring valuable global experience and proven engineering approaches, complementing the strong line-up of Australian experts and industry practitioners.

This conference will unveil case studies and technical papers to support the industry in new ways of working. We are excited to share them with you very soon. 

The IDC Technologies High Voltage Conference has become a key fixture on the industry’s professional development calendar. Now in its 13th year, the Conference returns in July 2026 at Rydges South Bank, Brisbane, offering an essential platform for professionals working with high voltage (HV) systems across sectors such as mining, industrial plants, oil and gas, and utilities.

This conference will feature cutting-edge technologies, research, and real-world case studies in HV design, testing, installation, commissioning, maintenance and earthing.

Discussions will cover a broad spectrum of HV components and equipment, including substations, cables, transformers, and switchgear. With a strong focus on sustainability and reliability, the event will address key challenges in HV equipment maintenance and present forward-thinking solutions aligned with industry standards, regulations, and strategic maintenance programs.

Interested in sponsorship? Contact conferences@idc-online.com. Please review our Sponsorship Prospectus.

This conference provides sponsors with the opportunity to build strong business networks with engineering and technical professionals. It offers a valuable platform for companies with relevant products and expertise to connect directly with key decision-makers in their target market.

Highlights from the 2024 and 2025 High Voltage Conference