Marina Bernardi Wins the CEI “La Norma è Donna” Award

CESI is pleased to announce that Marina Bernardi, Project Manager at CESI Group, has been awarded the First Prize of the CEI “La Norma è Donna” Award 2026, a recognition established by the Italian Electrotechnical Committee (CEI) to promote and highlight women’s contributions to technical standardization.

The award was created to give visibility to women who stand out in the development, promotion, and dissemination of technical standards, emphasizing the essential role these activities play in ensuring safety, innovation, and the growth of the industrial system.

Marina Bernardi’s selection represents a fully deserved recognition. Having been with CESI since 1993, she is now one of the leading international experts in lightning protection and has made a significant contribution to the evolution of technical standards within major international and European organizations, including CIGRE, CENELEC, and IEC, as well as at the national level with CEI.

Throughout her career, she has held key leadership and coordination roles, and currently serves as Chair of CEI CT81 and Secretary of IEC TC81, leading complex standardization processes and contributing to the development of reference standards such as the IEC 62305 series on lightning protection.

Her scientific activity, with more than 50 publications, is complemented by a strong commitment to outreach and the promotion of electrical safety culture, through conferences, training activities, and media contributions.

This award celebrates not only Marina’s technical excellence and leadership, but also the value of her example in promoting greater female participation in standardization processes. Her career stands as a model of expertise, passion, and determination, capable of inspiring future generations of women professionals in the field.

With this recognition, CESI reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovation, technical culture, and talent development, actively contributing to the advancement of increasingly sophisticated and globally shared standards.

Congratulations, Marina, on this important achievement!