Standard Registrations for Summer School 2026 Are Closing Soon!

Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of one of Australia’s most respected professional development experiences in the power sector. 

Standard registrations for the Australian Power Institute Summer School 2026 close on 1 February 2026. This is the final call for professionals, developing professionals and students to secure their place in a program recognised for shaping future leaders across Australia’s energy sector. 

API Summer School (professional program) participants in Melbourne in May 2025 at the Wilson Transformer Company site tour

Running in Brisbane in May 2026, API Summer School offers immersive, residential programs designed for: 

• Power professionals with 7+ years’ experience 

• Developing professionals with 4–6 years’ experience 

• Undergraduate women studying power sector–related degrees, including Electrical Engineering 

Whether you attend the two-week or four-day format, Summer School provides a rare opportunity to step away from day-to-day work and engage deeply with the challenges and opportunities shaping the energy transition. 

Register your interest now and explore the 2026 programs

Register your interest – explore Summer School 2026  

Learning that brings the power system to life 

Participants consistently describe Summer School as unlike any other learning experience. Rather than traditional coursework, the program focuses on real-world application, exposure to live projects, and learning directly from the leaders delivering Australia’s energy future. 

API Engagement Manager, Stephanie Somerville, leading the Solar Buddy workshop at API Summer School 2025

As past participant Cassandra Ellis shared: 

“I have learnt so much. I have learnt more than I probably learn at uni, because it’s real-world application. It’s seeing what’s happening out there and being inspired by the projects companies across the sector are delivering to support communities and the energy transition.” 

This practical, system-wide perspective is at the heart of Summer School. Participants explore the entire electricity value chain, hear from leaders across generation, transmission, distribution, system operations and policy, and collaborate with peers on real sector challenges, building insight, capability and connections that last well beyond the program. 

Building the skills that matter most 

While strong technical foundations are essential, the API Summer School places equal emphasis on the professional capabilities needed to lead, influence and deliver in complex environments. 

Communication, stakeholder engagement and the ability to translate technical issues for diverse audiences are woven throughout the program. These skills are repeatedly highlighted by participants as critical to their effectiveness at work. 

Gurbir (Rocky) Malhi explains why this matters for technical professionals: 

“When you think about Electrical Engineering in general, a lot of people think, ‘Okay, it’s this technical role,’ and yes, you should definitely know all your fundamentals and any advanced [skills you need], but I think one of the other important things people should start looking at or should develop is soft skills and communication. 

Summer School participant, Manoj Sivasane, asking a question to a speaker on the Strategic Project Presentations Day in 2025

So even though you could be a designer, you still need to communicate it across your internal and external stakeholders. So you need to sometimes present information in a [certain] way because not everybody’s going to be a technical expert. You need to figure out a way [to] communicate my issues that I’m facing here to someone who could be one of the biggest stakeholders but not be as technically [advanced] as you.” 

Through facilitated group work, presentations and direct engagement with senior leaders, participants practise these skills in a supportive but challenging environment. 

Soft skills workshop/activity during week 1 of Summer School 2025

Opening doors across the power sector 

For many participants, the API Summer School and wider API programs play a pivotal role in opening up career pathways and building confidence to pursue opportunities in the sector. 

Amelie Blomme shared how her early engagement with the API shaped her career direction: 

“I got to this position where I am right now mainly through the API. I didn’t really know a lot about the power sector, and I attended some of their seminars online and also [in person events] where I got to learn about energy and what’s happening with energy at the moment, and I discovered that there is a lot more opportunity than I expected. 

I definitely don’t think I would be where I am or even [have] considered the power sector if I didn’t first apply for API [opportunities] and get my foot in the door.” 

The Summer School brings together participants from a wide range of organisations and career stages, creating networks that continue well beyond the two week program. 

Register before 1 February 2026 

Standard registrations close on 1 February 2026. After this date, remaining places will be limited and subject to availability. 

If you are looking to deepen your strategic understanding of the electricity system, strengthen your professional capability, and connect with peers and leaders from across Australia’s power sector, now is the time to register. 

We look forward to welcoming the 2026 cohort to Brisbane for another impactful Summer School experience.