Prof Bernard Bekker originally trained as an electronic engineer, working in banking as a systems and network analyst, before redirecting his career towards his two passions: green building and renewable energy. In 2017, after various roles within the solar PV and power electronics industries, he joined Stellenbosch University. He is a NRF C1-rated researcher, focusing on power system planning and operation, specifically related to the increasing prevalence of grid-connected distributed storage and generation. He holds the NRF SARChI chair in Power Systems Simulation and is a registered professional engineer with ECSA.