Industry PhD project title:
Distributed edge intelligence for faster restoration and anomaly detection in smart grid distribution operations.
RACE University and Industry partners:
Monash University and PT PLN (Persero)
Previous education and work background:
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and a Master’s degree in Engineering and Management of Information Security from ITB. I have worked at PT PLN (Persero) for more than six years, mainly in electricity distribution operations, including distribution planning, power loss reduction, metering, energy transactions, HSSE, and customer services. My professional experience has given me a strong interest in combining electrical engineering, data, AI, and digital technologies to improve power system operations.
What attracted you to the RACE Industry PhD?
What attracted me most is the opportunity to work on research that has a direct connection to real industry problems. I like the idea that the research is not only about producing academic knowledge, but also about developing solutions that can potentially be implemented in the electricity distribution system. The collaboration between Monash University and PLN also gives me the opportunity to learn from both academic and industry perspectives.
When you were young, what did you want to be when you were older?
When I was young, I wanted to become an engineer. I was always curious about how things worked, especially machines, electricity, and technology. Becoming an electrical engineer eventually became a natural choice for me (as I wanted to contribute to society in a more meaningful way).
What do you hope to achieve?
I hope to develop research that can contribute to making electricity distribution systems more intelligent, resilient, and efficient. Personally, I also hope to grow into someone who can bridge the gap between academic research and practical challenges in the energy industry.
What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to learning new things, working with researchers from different backgrounds, and seeing how my research can develop from an idea into something that could create real value for PLN and the wider energy sector.
What innovation/change would you like to see in 5-10 years’ time?
I would like to see electricity distribution networks become much more intelligent and proactive, where data from sensors and field devices can be analysed in real time to detect problems early and support faster restoration. I hope AI and edge intelligence can become practical tools that help utilities improve reliability while keeping the system safe and affordable for customers.
Fun fact about you:
I was a swimming athlete when I was young, and I still really enjoy travelling whenever I get the chance. Over the past six years at PLN, I have also had the opportunity to work in six different roles/assignments, which has given me a lot of diverse experiences and perspectives.
Favourite quote:
“Stay hungry, stay foolish.” — Steve Jobs
