The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has been jointly recognized by the Canadian Nuclear Society and the Canadian Nuclear Association with two awards for our efforts and engagement leading up to our historic site selection milestone in late 2024.
Ian McRae Award
Laurie Swami, the NWMO’s President and CEO, was recognized with the Ian McRae Award. This prestigious award recognizes an individual’s substantive leadership contribution to the advancement of nuclear energy in Canada.
Throughout her career, Ms. Swami has focused on solving important challenges. Most recently, under her leadership the NWMO achieved a critical milestone for Canada’s nuclear industry by selecting a site for a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel. Ms. Swami’s extensive contributions both through her leadership at the NWMO and in previous roles at Ontario Power Generation, her unwavering commitment to Reconciliation and her advocacy for women in nuclear continue to shape the nuclear industry today.
“It is an honour to be recognized by the nuclear industry and my peers,” said Ms. Swami. “I’m proud of the impact I’ve had throughout my career, most recently leading a historic project that will solve an environmental issue for Canadians and Indigenous Peoples.”
John S. Hewitt Team Achievement Award
The NWMO’s siting team was also awarded the John S. Hewitt Team Achievement Award for their engagement work with communities in northwestern and southern Ontario. Their work directly led to the NWMO’s site selection announcement for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel in November 2024. This project is now moving forward into the regulatory decision-making process.
The siting team was recognized with this award for their dedication to building relationships and supporting communities during their learning and decision-making, and their commitment to fulfilling the NWMO’s Reconciliation mandate throughout the process.
“This award is a testament to the dedication, collaboration and meaningful engagement from the siting team and everyone at the NWMO,” said Lise Morton, former Vice-President of Site Selection at the NWMO. “It is incredibly rewarding to see our efforts acknowledged, and I am deeply proud of what we accomplished together, working with communities.”
The awards were presented on June 10 at the 2025 Canadian Nuclear Society’s annual conference in Toronto, Ontario.