AI, Energy Resilience and Lessons from Ukraine - Panel by ITERA
Introduction
The energy industry is entering a new era of dependency.
As companies accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, cloud platforms, and autonomous technologies, critical parts of the energy value chain are increasingly shaped by global technology providers, software ecosystems and interconnected supply chains.
At the same time, geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and growing demands for energy security are forcing leaders to reconsider long-held assumptions about resilience, control and strategic autonomy.
This raises a critical question for every energy leader:
Who controls your energy value chain – you or your suppliers?
Since 2022, Ukraine has become a real-world laboratory for energy resilience, digital transformation and innovation under extreme conditions. Despite sustained attacks on critical infrastructure, Ukraine has demonstrated remarkable adaptability through decentralization, digitalization, rapid innovation and close collaboration between government, industry and technology partners.
What can energy leaders learn from Ukraine's experience?
How can organizations build systems that are resilient by design?
What strategic capabilities will separate tomorrow's leaders from those who become dependent on others?
Agenda:
Welcome & introduction
Arne Mjøs, CEO & founder of Itera
Board member of Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce
Opening remarks: Ukraine as the frontline of Europe's future
Ukraine is not only defending its sovereignty. It has become a real-world laboratory for resilience in the face of simultaneous military, cyber, energy, and information attacks. The challenges Ukraine faces today may be the same challenges other European nations face tomorrow.
Energy security: What Europe must learn from Ukraine
Jarand Rystad, founder & CEO, Rystad Energy
The impact of AI on energy systems, security, and competitiveness.
What Europe must learn from Ukraine
Where should governments and industry prioritize investments to secure both economic growth and energy independence?
Resilience Is Not Built. It Is Dispatched
Emanuele Volpe, advisor to the CEO for Innovation and International Relations, Energy Company of Ukraine
The operating model for resilience: How distributed assets, forecasting and real-time dispatch transform cities from protected loads into local resilience nodes.
Lessons for Europe: Why market-driven, distributed energy systems are proving more resilient to cyber, physical and electrification stress, and what this means for Norway and Europe
From infrastructure to outcomes: How a frontline city reduced energy costs by 51% with zero municipal capex through a new resilience architecture.
Building energy resilience through data: How collaboration and AI are transforming the energy ecosystem
Åshild Hanne Larsen, CEO, CoOper8 AS
Digital collaboration, AI-enabled operations, and the future of energy ecosystems
How trusted data sharing strengthens resilience and competitiveness
Lessons from cross-industry collaboration on the Norwegian Continental Shelf
Securing Europe's critical infrastructure in the age of AI and Quantum Computing
Morten Thorkildsen, Executive Consultant, digital health, cyber and defense industries
Cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and the intersection of AI, energy security, and European resilience.
How will the threat landscape change with new adoption of AI and Quantum computing?
Preparing critical infrastructure for the quantum era
Executive Panel Debate
Following the presentations, speakers will join a moderated panel discussion exploring:
What can Europe learn from a country that has operated critical infrastructure under constant attack?
How should nations balance efficiency, resilience, and security?
What role will AI play in strengthening—or weakening—critical infrastructure?
How can trusted international partnerships improve resilience across Europe?
What investments should be prioritized today to prepare for tomorrow's threats?
Closing remarks
Panel:
Åshild Hanne Larsen
CEO
CoOper8 AS
Jarand Rystad
Founder & CEO
Rystad Energy
Emanuele Volpe
Advisor to the CEO for Innovation and International Relations
Energy Company of Ukraine
Morten Thorkildsen
Morten Thorkildsen, board of director of Itera; Executive Consultant, digital health, cyber and defense industries
Moderator:
Arne Mjøs
Group CEO and founder at Itera