ExPIC 2010 Presenter's Biodata

Puan Amzidah Ahmad, Sirim QAS, Malaysia
Graduated : B. Sc. In Electrical Engineering from University of New Haven, Connecticut, USA Position : Principal Auditor in Product Certification Section of SIRIM QAS International.

Experiences:
1. As Certification Executive in the certification of E & E products in the Product Certification Scheme since 1997.
2. Involved in the setting up of the participation of SIRIM QAS International to the IECEE CB-scheme in 2000 - 2002.
3. Involved in the setting up of the participation of SIRIM QAS International to the IECEx certified facilities program since 2008.

Dr. Frank Lienesch, PTB, Germany
Dr. Frank Lienesch is head of the Working Group "Explosion Protected Electrical Drive Systems" in the Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt, a notified body in Europe for testing and certification of electrical and non-electrical equipment for hazardous areas. Dr. Lienesch is involved in the IEC standards committee for the types of protection "e" and "n". He is the chairman of the CLC TC 31 WG10 "Converter Drives" and the national coordinator for explosion protected electrical drive systems.

Gerhard Schwarz, Cooper Crouse Hinds GmbH, Germany
Gerhard Schwarz is responsible for R & D Explosion protected light and switchgear in Cooper Crouse Hinds GmbH and also responsible for the worldwide certification of hazardous area products. Mr. Schwarz is also involved in numerous IEC standards committees for electrical products used in hazardous areas. He is Chairman of the German committee (Electrical apparatus for use in hazardous areas). Convener of the IEC Maintenance Team on Encapsulation m, Head of the German delegation in IEC TC 31 General requirements, and also member of IEC committees dealing with the different types of protection such as flameproof, increased safety and intrinsic safety.

Puan Marina Mahdar, SRMC, Sirim Bhd, Malaysia
Ms. Marina - graduated with Degree of Electrical, Electronics and System Engineering from UKM. She spent her early working experience with ST Microelectronics Sdn Bhd as Process Engineer and continued with other industries as Engineer, before joining Standards Research and Management Centre (SRMC) of SIRIM Berhad in 2000. As Technical Secretary in various Standards Development Committees, especially TC31 and TC115, she has vast knowledge in managing, planning, standards research and provides services in national and international standardization activities.

Ir. Hj. Halim bin Hafiz, Petronas, Malaysia
Obtained degrees in B Eng. in Elect and Electronic with Management from University of Bradford, UK. Has a total of more than 26 years working experience in Malaysia national oil company, PETRONAS.

He is the training developer and facilitator on Hazardous Area Classification for PETRONAS since 2002. His main focus is to drive the whole Ex-related industry in PETRONAS and Malaysia to have competent control i.e. having competent based training, Ex certified workshop and identify future ExCB/ExTL in this region. He provide consultancy service to Ex service facilities, consultants and industries.

He is appointed by Malaysian Standard Organization (SIRIM) as Technical Committee for Hazardous Area Classification and Electrical Working Group No:3 Leader to develop Ex Equipment Inspection guideline to be use PETRONAS wide and also represents Malaysia in the TC31 Maintenance Team meetings on IEC60079 standards for five consecutive years already.

Manggau Galawing, Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd, Brunei
Mr Manggau Galawang has over 24 years experience in oil and gas, covering roles as Electrical Learning Adviser/Trainer, HSE Adviser, Electrical Testing Supervisor, Construction Supervisor, and Electrical Maintenance Technician in Brunei Shell.

He had conducted numerous electrical training courses including electrical safety rules for BSP and its contractors, AC UPS & Batteries, Electrical Motors, Power Generations. He developed the CAS Standard for Electrical Technicians & Supervisors for BSP. He is a pioneer in the development of Certified Equipment Training course for BSP, which is also exported to other Shell Operating Companies and 3rd Party, i.e. SPEX Philippines, MLNG PETRONAS, Shell MDS, BLNG Brunei. He act as adviser on inspection procedures for Ex Certified Equipment used in potentially Explosive Atmosphere.

He is a certified ISO 14001 Internal Auditor, HSE-MS Auditor and also BTEC A1/A2 Assessor. He had conducted numerous Audits and Assessment for Brunei Shell Petroleum Co.Sdn Bhd.

Dr. Michael Wittler, exam, BBG Pruf- und Zertifizier GmbH, Germany
Born in 1960, studied electrical engineering in Dortmund, joined DMT (ancestor of EXAM) in 1992. Since 2002 head of the Expert Body for Safety of Electrical Equipment - BVS of EXAM, Notified Body in Europe and member in the IECEx scheme.

Field of work: assessment and testing electrical equipment for use in explosive gas and dust atmospheres. Member of German and European committee for explosion protected apparatus and involved in IEC standardization groups for general requirements, flameproof enclosures and dust ignition protected apparatus.

Ir. Hj. Mohd Naguib Mahfodz, ExIS, Malaysia
Ir Hj Naguib is currently the Chairman of SIRIM Technical Committee TC31- EEA ‘Equipment in Explosive Atmospheres’ involves in reviewing, commenting and adopting IEC 60079 Standard series to be Malaysian Industry Standards (MIS). He is also a Committee Member to SIRIM Industry Standards Committee – Electrical (ISC-E) and currently serves as a Committee Member in the National ‘Ex’ Management Committee (NExMC) set up by Department Standards Malaysia.

He has worked 27 years in PETRONAS, starting as Electrical Engineer and retired recently as CEO of PETRONAS OPU. He has been involved in all aspect of electrical equipment for use in hazardous and explosive atmospheres.

Peter Thurnherr, thuba Ltd., Switzerland
Born in 1950, studied mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and business administration in Basel, B.Sc. diploma. The company, which was founded in 1932, has been manufacturing explosionproof electrical apparatus since 1955. In full charge of the company since 1977.

Field of work: design and production of electrical apparatus for gas and dust explosive atmospheres in all types of protection. Chairman of Technical Committee TC 31 in Switzerland, Member of International TC 31 Working Groups and Maintenance Teams: General Requirements ICE 60079-0, Increased Safety ICE 60079-7, Non-Sparking IEC 60079-15, Risk of Ignition of Optical Radiation IEC 60079-28, Trace Heating IEC 62086-1 and IEC 62086-2. Convenor of Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas IEC 60079-14.

V R Harindran, Petronas, Malaysia
Mr.V.R.Harindran graduated with a B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from U.K. in 1984. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Board of Engineers, Malaysia. He is also a Chairman of Malaysian Standards Committee on Working Group for IEC 61508 / 61511 standards and a member of the Malaysian Standards Technical Committee on the use of electrical apparatus in hazardous environment.

Mr. Harindran is currently Custodian Engineer, Instrumentation & Control, with the Research & Technology Division, PETRONAS, providing consultancy and technical advisory services to the PETRONAS Group. He is also the instrumentation Skill Group Advisor for PETRONAS.

Prior to joining the Research & Technology Division, PETRONAS, Mr. Harindran was the Senior Manager, heading the instrumentation and managing asset maintenance at the PETRONAS LNG Complex at Bintulu, Sarawak, the world’s largest LNG complex in a single location.