Dr Ratnam leads a research group in Power Systems, & Optimization that focuses on both the theoretical and practical aspects of controlling renewable and distributed energy sources within power grids. Her overarching research thrust is to accelerate the energy transition — towards creating a carbon-neutral power grid.

Dr Ratnam earned the BEng (Hons I) degree in Electrical Engineering in 2006, and the PhD degree in Electrical Engineering in 2016, from the University of Newcastle, Australia. She subsequently held postdoctoral research positions with the Center for Energy Research at the University of California San Diego, and at the University of California Berkeley in the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE). During 2001–2012 she held various positions at Ausgrid, a utility that operates one of the largest electricity distribution networks in Australia. Dr Ratnam currently holds a Future Engineering Research Leader (FERL) Fellowship at the ANU and is a Senior Lecturer in the ANU School of Engineering. She is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.