Our Executive Committee

Laurie Swami is the President and CEO of the NWMO. She was appointed to the role in 2016 and is responsible for implementing Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. Ms. Swami previously served as Senior Vice-President of Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Management at Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Her responsibilities included overseeing operation of OPG’s nuclear waste management facilities, as well as implementing OPG’s low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste deep geologic repository. She began her career at OPG in 1986 and held various roles with increasing responsibility in the Nuclear Division. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Chemistry from Queen’s University and a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business.

Derek Wilson is the Chief Operating Officer at the NWMO. Mr. Wilson has been with the NWMO for over 12 years. In his previous role as Vice President of Construction and Projects for the NWMO, Mr. Wilson implemented the Adaptive Phased Management (APM) technical and field assessment programs and was instrumental in the NWMO’s past work supporting Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) efforts to obtain regulatory approval for a proposed deep geologic repository to store low- and intermediate-level waste.

Mr. Wilson is a mining engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the mining and heavy construction industries, primarily in project and operational management roles. Before joining the NWMO, he worked with the mining division of AMEC and with Holcim Canada.

Chris Boyle is Vice-President and Chief Engineer at the NWMO. He is responsible for the implementation of the Adaptive Phased Management (APM) technical program for Canada’s used nuclear fuel. Prior to joining the NWMO in 2011, Mr. Boyle’s past experiences included automotive manufacturing, biomechanics, and defence science research and development with a focus on innovation and design optimization. Chris holds a Bachelor and Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.

Lisa Frizzell is the Vice-President of Communications at the NWMO. Before joining the organization as Director of Corporate Affairs in 2012, Ms. Frizzell worked in communications for a number of corporate, academic and government organizations in Canada and the United States. Her focus is in strategic communications, and she brings extensive experience as a communications leader, primarily in the energy sector. Ms. Frizzell holds a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.

Lise Morton is the Vice-President of Site Selection. She is an accomplished leader with 31 years of experience in operations, maintenance and engineering roles. Ms. Morton has led teams in managing complex issues involving multi-faceted interfaces with regulators, governmental agencies, Indigenous groups, and internal and external stakeholders. She has broad international experience having participated in World Association of Nuclear Operators member support missions, and several International Atomic Energy Agency joint conventions and technical consultancies. With a facilitative leadership style and ability to bring out the best in people, Ms. Morton develops and communicates a compelling vision, and inspires her team to accomplish it.

Jeff Quick is the Chief Financial and Risk Officer for the NWMO. Mr. Quick is a seasoned financial professional with more than 30 years of North American financial and business leadership. Prior to joining NWMO, Mr. Quick served as Chief Financial Officer for STARS, a Western Canada based helicopter emergency medical services organization, where he was responsible for an extensive portfolio including Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Facilities and Legal. Over the course of his career, Mr. Quick has held several leadership roles including Vice President Consumer Database Marketing Services and Vice President Strategic Planning and Business Development Alliance Data Systems, a Dallas based company. Prior to that Mr. Quick led Strategic Planning and Business Development for Loyalty One, the owner of AIR MILES loyalty programs.

Mr. Quick is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D).  

Jennifer Spragge is the Vice-President of People and Technology, and Chief Ethics Officer at the NWMO. Prior to joining the NWMO, she held the positions of Vice-President of Human Resources and Strategic Planning at Certified General Accountants of Ontario, and Senior Director of Human Resources and Strategic Planning for Sales and Marketing at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Ms. Spragge has a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Ryerson University and is a Certified Human Resources and Compensation Committee Director.

Doug Taylor is Vice-President and General Counsel at the NWMO. He is responsible for providing legal counsel on all aspects of the NWMO’s business. Prior to joining the NWMO, Mr. Taylor worked at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and at the Independent Electricity System Operator. He also practised for over 15 years in law firms in the United Kingdom, including eight as a Partner. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Law LLB (First Class Honours) from Aberdeen University in Scotland and a Master of Law LLM from Dalhousie University. He is called to the Bar in Ontario and Scotland. 

Bob Watts is the Vice-President of Indigenous Relations and Strategic Programs at the NWMO. He has worked on a broad range of Indigenous issues at the regional and national levels for many years, including working to establish the historic Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Mr. Watts is also an adjunct professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.

Allan Webster joined the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) in 2017 after more than 20 years of working with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in the field of nuclear regulatory affairs and environmental assessment. During his time at OPG, he was part of the team that accomplished several significant projects, including an initiative to enhance the effluent treatment systems in nuclear power plants, regulatory licensing programs, including the initial licensing of Bruce Power, the construction of used nuclear fuel facilities at Ontario nuclear stations, and the life extension and new nuclear projects at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. Mr. Webster’s final major project at OPG was the proposed deep geological repository for low- and intermediate-level waste.