We are pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abu-Siada as the new Section Editor-in-Chief of Section “Automation in Energy Systems” in Automation (ISSN: 2673-4052).
Name: Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abu-Siada
Affiliation: Discipline of Electrical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
Interests: condition monitoring; fault diagnosis; asset management; power electronics; power system stability, quality, and control; renewable energy; smart grids
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abu-Siada holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Curtin University, Australia. He is an internationally recognised leader in power systems, renewable energy, asset management, and fault diagnosis. He has supervised more than 40 Higher Degree by Research students to completion and published over 350 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers. His innovative work has led to several patents in condition monitoring, fault diagnosis, and building-integrated photovoltaic–thermal panel technologies.
Prof. Dr. Abu-Siada has delivered keynote addresses at numerous IEEE and international conferences and has played a pivotal role in the profession through his leadership of the Electrical Engineering Discipline at Curtin University as the IEEE WA section chair, the General Chair of key international conferences, and the Founding Editor-in-Chief of two international journals.
We are confident that his vision and leadership will steer the “Automation in Energy Systems” Section of Automation towards new heights of success.
The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abu-Siada, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area and open access publishing:
1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Section Editor-in-Chief?
What appealed to me most about Automation is its unique focus on bridging cutting-edge research with real-world applications in automation, control, and intelligent systems—fields that are transforming industries and reshaping our future. The journal’s broad, interdisciplinary scope allows for the integration of advancements in power systems, renewable energy, asset management, and fault diagnosis—areas that align closely with my expertise and research vision. Serving as Section Editor-in-Chief provides an excellent platform to shape the research agenda, foster collaboration across disciplines, and support the publication of innovative work that has the potential to deliver significant societal and technological impacts.
2. What is your vision for the journal?
My vision for Automation is to position it as a premier global platform for innovative, interdisciplinary research that bridges academic excellence with industrial impact. I aim to expand the section’s scope to include emerging fields such as AI-driven automation, renewable energy integration, smart grids, and sustainable manufacturing, while maintaining the highest standards of rigorous peer review and open access knowledge sharing. Through strategic engagement with leading researchers and industry partners, I see Automation becoming a definitive reference for shaping the future of automated systems worldwide.
3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
The future of automation lies in intelligent, self-optimizing systems that seamlessly integrate AI, digital twins, and cyber-physical networks. These technologies will enable automation to move beyond efficiency, becoming a driving force for sustainability, resilience, and innovation across energy, manufacturing, and transportation.
4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
The open access model particularly benefits researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in developing regions, ensuring that critical advancements are accessible to all. When managed with integrity and quality, open access offers a sustainable, equitable future for publishing, amplifying the reach, influence, and impact of research worldwide.
We wish Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abu-Siada every success in his new position, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.
