G&W Electric is proud to recognize Andres Laso, Research Engineer III, for receiving the 2026 CIGRE Next Generation Network (NGN) Significant Contribution Award.
CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems) is a global community dedicated to sharing knowledge and advancing expertise in power systems. Through technical working groups, publications, conferences, and professional networks, CIGRE brings together experts from across the electricity industry.
Presented during the 2026 CIGRE Session in Paris, the award recognizes outstanding contributions by NGN members to CIGRE activities. Six members from around the world received the distinction this year, with Andres serving as the sole recipient from the United States.
The nomination-based, peer-reviewed award recognizes sustained contributions that go beyond participation, including technical work, publications, leadership, and efforts to strengthen the NGN community. Andres has contributed across each of these areas through his involvement with CIGRE.
His work has included serving as an NGN Study Committee Lead, helping connect early-career professionals with CIGRE technical committees, and co-chairing webinars for CIGRE USNC-NGN from 2023 to 2025. During that time, he helped host more than 12 webinars, including a joint CIGRE US-NGN and IEEE PES Young Professionals webinar that attracted a record 200 attendees.
Andres has also contributed to several international technical working groups, including work on non-SF6 gases and gas mixtures in substations, assessing the toxicity of used SF6 gas, and developing a global database for circuit breaker testing data. His contributions reflect a commitment to advancing the power industry while helping foster the next generation of engineering professionals.
Andres’s recognition reflects his continued involvement in CIGRE technical activities and his efforts to support collaboration and knowledge sharing across the power engineering community. His work contributes to both the advancement of industry practices and the development of the next generation of engineering professionals.
