On June 5, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) Jo-Ann Facella won a prestigious award from the Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS) for her longtime work in social engagement.

Ms. Facella, Director of Community Well-Being, Assessment and Dialogue, accepted the 2018 Canadian Nuclear Achievement Award in Education and Communication at the annual CNS meeting in Saskatoon.

“I am very honoured to receive this award,” said Ms. Facella. “Our team has learned a lot about how to implement Canada’s plan in a way that meets the priorities and objectives of Canadians by engaging people all along the way. And we continue to learn from the leadership of the municipal and Indigenous communities that we work with in the siting process. It is a privilege to be part of this process.”

Ms. Facella, whose career in nuclear waste management spans several decades, is a passionate advocate for bringing meaningful community engagement to each stage of implementing Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel.

The NWMO’s systemic approach to engagement – carefully planned, measured, and documented by Ms. Facella and her colleagues over the 15 years the organization has been in existence – has also been recognized on the global stage as other countries undertake their long-term plans for nuclear waste.