Continuing the momentum gained from participating in the successful Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada conference in Saskatoon at the end of September, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) welcomed members of two local WiN chapters to tour our research facility in Oakville, Ont.

At the WiN Canada conference, Laurie Swami, a self-described STEMinist and President and CEO of the NWMO, challenged herself and her industry colleagues to do more to support the next generation of women leaders and women in technical fields.

“Travelling in from all over the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, and giving up a good portion of their Saturday, these WiN members show the commitment to learning and leadership that Ms. Swami wants our organization to encourage in the industry,” said Daniela Heimlich, a Senior Specialist at the NWMO and member of the WiN Golden Horseshoe West chapter.

Chapter members from WiN Durham and WiN Golden Horseshoe West represent several companies within the Canadian nuclear industry, such as Ontario Power Generation, SNC-Lavalin, and Promation.

“It has been a wonderful experience learning more about the NWMO’s technical program and how it plans to safely manage the used fuel produced by Canada’s nuclear reactors,” said Sonia Qureshi, Director of Joint Projects and Services at CANDU Owners Group, and Chair of the WiN Golden Horseshoe West chapter. “As a professional in the nuclear industry, it has been eye-opening to learn more about the end of the nuclear cycle and see the progress of its technical program first-hand.”