The opportunity to attend an international nuclear conference for women and network with colleagues from around the world has left an indelible impression on AECL participants and their global counterparts.

The Women in Nuclear (WiN) conference, held recently in Waterloo, Ontario, offered more than 30 AECL participants a rare occasion to learn and share their knowledge and experience with 350 of their peers from 37 countries.

Jonathan Tarrant, AECL Metrologist and Quality Control Inspector, demonstrates the Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) to WiN delegates during a tour of AECL’s technical laboratory in Mississauga. The CMM is a highly accurate system for measuring the size, shape and features of a subject work piece.

"The conference gave participants an opportunity to see the industry from a different perspective – by highlighting women who are making a difference to leadership and the advancement of nuclear power and radiation technology," said Beth Medhurst, AECL Senior Vice President of Human Resources and host of an AECL-sponsored workshop that saw 31 international delegates tour AECL’s technical laboratory in Mississauga.

"The learning offered was remarkable – on both the history and future of nuclear and specifically the participation and leadership of women in all aspects of nuclear: technology, communications and social responsibility, to name a few. It was also a unique opportunity to make and build relationships with other women - to learn and share and create avenues for future communications."

WiNis a worldwide association of women working professionally in the fields of nuclear energy and the application of radiation. The principal objective of WiN is to emphasize and support the role that women can and do have in addressing the general public concern about nuclear energy and the application of radiation and nuclear technology.

Tracy Kemp, Radiation Surveyor, Chalk River

While many of the members of WiN are employed in the nuclear energy sector, others work in areas where nuclear and radiation technologies are utilized. Globally, the membership includes women working in medicine and health care, in regulatory authorities, in industry and as independent researchers at universities.

Members of WiN all have one thing in common: they want the general public to have a better understanding of nuclear and radiation issues. WiN is also open to men who support the organization’s goals.

The inspiring three-day conference, the first to be held in Canada, was entitled Positioning for Growth and offered sessions on leadership, safety culture, policies, communications, public opinion and nuclear advancements.

In addition to its delegates, AECL was represented by AECL Chief Engineer Basma Shalaby, who participated in two panel discussions - 4th Generation Nuclear - What the Future Might Look Like and Nuclear Facility Life Extension and Rehabilitation: The Canadian Experience.