Dear Ms. Bertha Dlamini and the rest of the Gen-X team

I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude for being given the opportunity to present my project at the Gen-X theatre. Initially when I was given the option to present a project at the Gen-x theatre I was doubtful of doing so as I had very limited time to prepare for the presentation and presenting to professionals who have been in the industry for a long time seemed like a daunting task.

But since completing my presentation I have no regrets and I am very pleased that I was given this opportunity. I presented my final year undergraduate project at the Gen-X theatre which was part of PowerGen Africa 2018. Through this presentation I had the opportunity to share my project with other students as well as many seasoned professionals within the industry. I got to share my views on the future of the power industry and was pleasantly surprised at how well my ideas were received by the audience and adjudicators. This gave me a renewed sense of excitement for the power industry and reinforced my decision of joining the power industry.

Through the presentation process combined with the adjudication of both my fellow presenters and my own I gained some insight to the direction the power industry is moving towards. It also allowed me to better understand some of the challenges we are currently facing and some of the unique challenges Africa will face in the future.
Through this I now have a better understanding of what is expected within the industry and through this I can better prepare myself and to shape my foundation within the power industry to look towards the future. It showed me that as a predominantly ICT minded engineer, I can positively contribute towards the power industry.

Through the Gen-X initiative I also got the chance to attend the PowerGen Africa conference for the first time. This gave me the opportunity to attend various presentations and learn about the latest trends in the power industry. I also got to see the innovation that is taking place within both Africa and the rest of the world. It also allowed me to network with various people within the industry which I feel is very valuable at this stage of my career.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to Ms. Dlamini who was particularly helpful in the lead up to the conference and addressed any questions I had which greatly assisted in my preparation.

Finally, I would like to thank ABB South Africa who allowed me to take this opportunity and gave me all the support I required to attain the success that I achieved. The Gen-x programme is a great initiative for students and young professionals and It provided me with a platform to showcase my project, a platform I would not have otherwise. I would highly recommend the Gen-X programme to all students and young professionals in the power industry so that they get the same exposure and insight to the industry in Africa and the rest of the world.

Many thanks Kind regards Abdur-Rahmaan Loonat B.Eng. Electrical and Electronic Engineering (I.T Endorsed) BSc Information Technology EIT ABB South Africa abdul.loonat1@gmail.com
Abdur-Rahmaan Loonat
POWER-GEN Gen X THEATRE AFRICA 2018