Jenny Taylor

Digital Transformation and Innovation Lead of XR/VR Duke Energy

Jenny Taylor, a seasoned leader with almost 20 years of experience in the utility industry, leads teams at Duke Energy supporting the Digital Transformation initiatives for internal & external customers in their training, qualifications and immersive experience needs while driving utility modernization initiatives. Throughout her career, Jenny has excelled in diverse roles within the utility space. As Chief of Staff for Customer Services, she managed metering, billing, and call center operations while spearheading strategic business cases for New Product Development to boost EBIT. Prior to that, she spent a decade in the Nuclear Operations industry, bringing a deep passion for advancing clean, reliable energy solutions to power a sustainable future.

Main Conference Day One | Tuesday, March 24 2026

8:00 AM Co-Chair's Opening Address

8:10 AM Keynote Panel: Transforming the Energy Workforce Amid Global Disruption – Insights from the C-Suite

As the energy sector navigates unprecedented volatility, from fluctuating prices and geopolitical tensions to supply chain fragility and evolving workforce expectations, leaders must rethink how technology can empower workers to drive safer, smarter, and more resilient operations. This C-suite panel will explore how strategic foresight, digital transformation, and workforce investment can future-proof operations and unlock new levels of performance.

Adapting to volatile energy markets: How can companies build agility into their workforce strategies to respond to price swings and demand shifts?
Securing the supply chain & energy infrastructure: What role does the connected worker play in mitigating risk and enhancing operational continuity?
Navigating workforce dynamics: How are leadership teams preparing for generational shifts, talent shortages, and the rise of digital fluency?

9:10 AM Panel: From Hype to Impact: Evaluating Emerging Tech for Real ROI in Frontline Operations

As connected worker technologies evolve, the challenge shifts from innovation to adoption and value realization. This session explores how to critically evaluate new tools, overcome cultural and operational barriers, and identify technologies that deliver ROI. Drawing from real-world experience, our panelists will highlight the nuances of adoption, the importance of security and data governance, and the need for pragmatic tech strategies.

Understanding the dual challenge of operational resistance and workforce demographics in scaling connected worker tools
How to assess emerging technologies and get beyond the hype for real business impact and measurable outcomes
Addressing mobile device management and security gaps in wearable and connected worker deployments
Exploring the potential of lightweight, voice-activated AI assistants for field operations and maintenance support

11:40 AM Panel Discussion: Beyond Paper: Scaling Digital Work Instructions for Safer, Smarter Energy Operations

This panel brings together industry leaders to discuss how digital work instructions are transforming frontline execution, improving safety, reducing downtime, and preserving institutional knowledge. Panelists will share insights on implementation strategies, workforce adoption, and the role of mobile and connected technologies in driving operational excellence.

Expose the risks of manual processes in high-pressure, high-risk environments
Reduce human error and ensure consistency with digital instructions that support compliance
Boost task execution and workforce confidence using mobile devices, real-time updates, and interactive workflows
Capture tribal knowledge and standardize execution across teams and sites with digital platforms
Roll out digital work instructions at scale by integrating with existing systems and overcoming change resistance

2:10 PM Case Study: Solving Real Problems at Duke Energy with XR: From Concept to Deployment

This session explores how immersive technologies like XR and VR are being used to solve real-world challenges on the manufacturing floor and in the field. Rather than adopting tech for tech's sake, this presentation emphasizes a problem-first approach, identifying operational pain points and designing custom solutions that fit the environment and workforce.

Identifying and validating operational problems before selecting technology
Hands-free, AI-integrated XR solutions for field safety and procedure compliance
Custom in-house development of immersive training tools
Lessons learned from deploying safe driver VR training at scale

5:55 PM Closing Remarks from the Chair and Conference Concludes for the Day

Main Conference Day Two | Wednesday, March 25 2026

9:15 AM Panel Discussion: From Local Wins to Enterprise Scale: Unlocking the Next Phase of Connected Worker Deployment

Many organizations have seen success with connected worker solutions at individual sites, but how do you turn those wins into enterprise-wide transformation? This session dives into the strategies, frameworks, and leadership insights needed to scale effectively. You'll gain practical guidance on:

Why scaling often stalls and how to reignite momentum
Building business cases that resonate with enterprise priorities
Securing leadership buy-in through compelling storytelling and stakeholder alignment
Navigating funding and integration challenges
Identifying agile, high-impact deployments with scale potential
Learning from successful scale-ups and applying proven frameworks

11:25 AM Panel Discussion: Trust Your Data: Why Governance Is the Backbone of Digital Transformation

As energy organizations accelerate digital transformation, the ability to manage, protect, and leverage data effectively has become mission critical. Yet many still struggle with fragmented legacy systems, inconsistent data standards, and unclear ownership. This panel explores how robust data governance frameworks can unlock the full potential of connected worker technologies, reduce operational risk, and drive smarter decision-making. Experts will share strategies for overcoming common pitfalls and building scalable, resilient data ecosystems that support enterprise-wide innovation.

Identify and address the root causes of poor data quality, including siloed systems, manual processes, and lack of standardized governance protocols.

Explore strategies for validating and contextualizing operational data to ensure accuracy in decision-making across field and plant environments
Understand the role of data ownership, stewardship, and accountability in building trust and transparency across departments and teams
Learn how to align data governance with cybersecurity and compliance frameworks, including NERC CIP, ISO 27001, and evolving regulatory mandates
Discover how to scale governance practices across legacy and modern platforms, enabling seamless integration of IoT, AI, and analytics tools

1:15 PM Panel Discussion: Designing for Adoption: Change Management and Human-Centered Platforms for the Connected Workforce

As digital transformation accelerates across industrial environments, success hinges not just on technology, but on people. This panel explores how organizations are deploying connected worker platforms and AI-enabled tools in ways that prioritize usability, trust, and cultural alignment. From intuitive design to strategic change management, the discussion will highlight practical approaches to driving adoption, reducing resistance, and delivering measurable value across frontline operations.

How early engagement and clear communication foster buy-in and reduce resistance to new technologies.
Why intuitive interfaces and streamlined workflows are critical to frontline adoption and long-term success.
How quick, visible improvements in data access and operational efficiency help build support for broader transformation.
Leveraging workshops, cross-functional teams, and internal champions to align digital tools with organizational values

2:15 PM Closing Comments from the Chair and Close of Conference

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Jenny.

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