We’re proud to announce the international achievements of Nika Piekut, Power Electronics Engineer at Nidec Drives, who has been selected to represent the UK at the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) , a global organisation that sets the benchmark for electrotechnical standards.

As part of the IEC Young Professionals Programme, Nika joined 96 emerging engineers from around the world at the IEC General Meeting, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The event brought together over 2,000 experts from more than 100 countries to address some of the most pressing challenges in building a sustainable future.

Nika’s role at Nidec Drives spans the full product design cycle for variable speed drives in industrial automation, from component selection and schematic design to PCB layout, prototype testing, and full production. Her work ensures products are safe, reliable, and globally compliant.

Through the Young Professionals Programme, launched in 2010 to engage the next generation in standards development, Nika gained first-hand insight into how international standards are created and how she can contribute to shaping them.

“Every electrical device you own, from your phone and laptop to your washing machine and hairdryer, was developed according to IEC standards,” Nika explains.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have been selected to represent the UK at the IEC General Meeting. I had the opportunity to dive deep into the processes behind standard development and learn about conformity assessment. Speaking in front of the General Assembly and networking with professionals from 96 countries was an unforgettable experience.

As a standard user, I hadn’t realised the tremendous amount of work done by thousands of volunteers behind the scenes. I’m now planning to become one of those volunteers. A huge thank you to BSI, BEAMA, and GAMBICA for selecting and supporting me, and to Nidec Drives for giving me the time to take part in this amazing opportunity. It was fantastic, both professionally and personally.”

Nika's achievement highlights the impact of young engineers in shaping tomorrow's technologies!