Canadian Awarded IEC’s Highest Honour
July 8, 2021
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has recently announced that Tony Capel received the 2021 Lord Kelvin Award from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The Lord Kelvin Award is the highest honour given by the IEC. It recognizes exceptional and long-term individual contributions to standardization to the electrotechnical industry globally. Tony is the 37th laureate to receive the tribute and the first from Canada.
Mr. Capel has been honoured for his outstanding participation and dedicated contributions in the areas of wireless industrial communication networks, cybersecurity and smart grid technology/frameworks. He is well-respected for his neutrality, integrity, and ability to address complex issues.
His many leadership roles included serving as Chair of IEC subcommittee SC 65C Industrial networks, and Member of the technical committee advisory group TC 65 Industrial-process measurement, control and automation. He also assisted in developing preliminary work to address industrial safety and security issues from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.
Tony is Owner and President of Comgate Engineering Limited, which he co-founded in 1989. He is registered with Professional Engineers Ontario and specializes in data communications, data security and information technology. He obtained his Bachelor and Master of Applied Science degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Tony’s contributions to national and international standardization includes the development of standards for IEC, the International Organization for Standardization, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the International Society for Automation and the Internet Engineering Task Force.
“The IEC has been standardizing electrical technology for over a century, and these standards have become a major tool to help meet today’s challenges, including those of climate change,” Tony said. “For me, the last 40 years has provided the opportunity to meet and work with – many national and international colleagues on the evolution of this technology. As part of a team of Canadians supported by SCC, I am honoured to receive this award named after the IEC’s first president.”
Formal presentation of the 2021 Lord Kelvin award will occur at the IEC 85th General Meeting later this year.
