Breakout star bags awards for digital achievements
A promising energy professional has picked up several awards for her transformative work in the digital space.
Nene Yamasaki, senior decisions scientist at UK Power Networks, was awarded Rising Star at the Young Energy Professionals Awards in November. She won the Emerging Talent Award in the UK Business Tech Awards in September, and was a finalist at the Women in Utilities Awards for ‘Business Champion’ in June.
Nene also picked up the ‘Highly Commended’ accolade in the Rising Star category at the prestigious UK IT Industry Awards, alongside her manager Martin Knoebel, who was also Highly Commended in the IT Leader of the Year category.
Nene has driven innovations to strengthen reliability for UK Power Networks customers. She led the development of a geospatial web application analysing 138,000 km of cables, reducing customer disruption. Nene also introduced an AI-powered safety reporting system that prioritises high-criticality tasks, ensuring safer operations and faster response to urgent issues.
As UK Power Networks looks to recruit the next generation of workers to meet growing electricity demand, Nene has embarked on a workforce model to help the company get a head start on training, hiring, and buying what’s needed in support of reaching net zero.
Nene said: “What an honour to receive such prestigious awards. This recognition reflects the supportive environment at UK Power Networks that encourages learning and tackling big challenges. The world of energy and technology is changing, requiring a foundational shift in how we think, collaborate, and operate.”
“Being able to work at the core of this transformation, directly enhancing the experience of all our customers and beyond, is incredibly meaningful and stimulating. To achieve net zero, we need people from diverse backgrounds and expertise working together. I encourage anyone who wants to make the world more sustainable and equitable, and who may not have considered the energy sector before, to explore it as an exciting option!”
Published: 11/12/2025
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Nene Yamasaki, senior decisions scientist at UK Power Networks, was awarded Rising Star at the Young Energy Professionals Awards in November. She won the Emerging Talent Award in the UK Business Tech Awards in September, and was a finalist at the Women in Utilities Awards for ‘Business Champion’ in June.
Nene also picked up the ‘Highly Commended’ accolade in the Rising Star category at the prestigious UK IT Industry Awards, alongside her manager Martin Knoebel, who was also Highly Commended in the IT Leader of the Year category.
Nene has driven innovations to strengthen reliability for UK Power Networks customers. She led the development of a geospatial web application analysing 138,000 km of cables, reducing customer disruption. Nene also introduced an AI-powered safety reporting system that prioritises high-criticality tasks, ensuring safer operations and faster response to urgent issues.
As UK Power Networks looks to recruit the next generation of workers to meet growing electricity demand, Nene has embarked on a workforce model to help the company get a head start on training, hiring, and buying what’s needed in support of reaching net zero.
Nene said: “What an honour to receive such prestigious awards. This recognition reflects the supportive environment at UK Power Networks that encourages learning and tackling big challenges. The world of energy and technology is changing, requiring a foundational shift in how we think, collaborate, and operate.”
“Being able to work at the core of this transformation, directly enhancing the experience of all our customers and beyond, is incredibly meaningful and stimulating. To achieve net zero, we need people from diverse backgrounds and expertise working together. I encourage anyone who wants to make the world more sustainable and equitable, and who may not have considered the energy sector before, to explore it as an exciting option!”
Published: 11/12/2025
Back to news