Invited Speakers
Opening Plenary Nuclear Energy Policy for Carbon Neutral and Energy Security
April 24, Monday
Nuclear Energy for Energy Security and Carbon Neutrality in Korea
Won-Pil BAEK
President
Korean Nuclear Society (KNS)
Korea, Republic of
Dr. Won-Pil Baek is a renowned expert in nuclear safety, thermal-hydraulics, and advanced reactor design, and currently serves as the President of the Korean Nuclear Society (KNS). He earned his Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from Seoul National University and completed his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in nuclear engineering from KAIST. With previous work experience at Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction and KAIST, Dr. Baek joined the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in 2001, where he held various important positions including Director for Thermal Hydraulics Safety Research, Vice President for Nuclear Safety Research, Executive Vice President, and Acting President. Dr. Baek also served as the chairs for the Committee on Fukushima Accident as well as Thermal Hydraulics & Safety Division for KNS. Along with his extensive experience, Dr. Baek has co-authored several Korean-language books on nuclear-related topics, including "Critical Heat Flux," "Nuclear Safety," "Nuclear Debate," and "Controversy and Truth of Fukushima Nuclear Accident."
Perspectives on the future of Nuclear Power Plants
Steven Arndt
President
American Nuclear Society (ANS)
United States
Steven Arndt is an internationally recognized expert in the field of nuclear engineering with experience in nuclear power plant simulation, severe accident analysis and nuclear power plant instrumentation and control. Dr. Arndt is the 68th President of ANS. Dr. Arndt also serves as a Distinguished Scientist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and as a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee. Previously he spent 31 years as a senior scientist with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Prior to his work at the NRC, Dr. Arndt was a Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. Dr. Arndt holds a B.S. in engineering physics and a M.S. and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering all from The Ohio State University and a M.S. in reliability engineering from the University of Maryland. Dr. Arndt was appointed by the Governor of Maryland in 2006 to the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers, where he served for fifteen years (Three years as Chairman).
Nuclear Energy for Carbon Neutral and Energy Security in Japan
Shinichi Kawamura
President
Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ)
Japan
Dr. Shinichi Kawamura is President of AESJ and Corporate Chief Engineer of Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy. At Hitachi-GE, he is leading innovation and research and development as head of nuclear technology. In his professional career he has worked on research and development projects for ABWR plant systems, Passive Containment Cooling System, Filtered Containment Venting System, Organic Iodine Filter and other nuclear safety systems. He received his master's degree in engineering from Kyoto University, and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Energy and Environmental Systems from Hokkaido University. He received several international awards such as Outstanding Innovations Award presented at the 2017 International ISOE Symposium.
French Nuclear Policy for Carbon Neutrality and Energy Security
Jean-Michel Ruggieri
Director of IRESNE, Energy Division
CEA
France
Dr. Jean-Michel RUGGIERI is graduate of Marseille University as PhD in Applied Mathematics on numerical resolution of the Boltzmann neutron transport equation in 1995 and joins CEA in 1999.
He held laboratory head positions on core physics for 6 years as well as severe accident studies for LWRs and SFRs for 4 years. During this period, he has also been head of a common CEA- China laboratory on severe accident mastering.
During the last 10 years, he was Head of Innovative System Studies Section in the Reactor Studies Department in CEA CADARACHE and Manager of the SMR Program of the Nuclear Energy Division at CEA and specially involved in Nuward initiative in CEA SACLAY.
He is also French representative of the Technical Working Group SMR at AIEA.
He is now Director of the R&D Institute on Nuclear System for low carbon Energy of CEA.
TBA
Virginia Crosbie
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ynys Môn
British Conservative Party
United Kingdom
TBA
The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program: Delivering Energy Security and Sustainability in Parallel
Mohamed Abdalla Chookah
Vice President, Nuclear Fuel Management
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
United Arab Emirates
Dr. Chookah is the VP – Nuclear Fuel Management for the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). In this role, he is responsible to develop and maintain the procurement plan for nuclear fuel assemblies which will ensure supplies for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant and the generation of electricity. His department continuously monitors the global uranium and nuclear fuel market, exploring various opportunities to enhance the supply portfolio and strengthen security of supply. He ensures economical functioning of the portfolio of the nuclear fuel contracts and effective management of contracts to support timely fuel fabrication and delivery remain the department’s primary responsibility.
Dr. Chookah previously led the CPO-Licensing and Regulatory Affairs as the Executive Director for HSE & Regulatory Affairs. He is responsible for ensuring ENEC delivers all related permits and licenses required by the Regulatory Authorities (the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi) to support major project milestones. Prior to this Dr Chookah was an Inspection Engineer at Ruwais Refinery where he was responsible for the inspection of the Hydroskimmer plant and the Tank farm (approximately 120 tanks).
Dr. Chookah holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, Washington D.C. USA.
Energy Transformation in Poland - Building Security and Sovereignty base on Nuclear Energy
Wojciech Dąbrowski
President of the Management Board
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna
Poland
Mr. Wojciech Dąbrowski has been working as a manager in the energy sector for ten years. From February 20, 2020 he has held the position of the CEO of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. From November 2017 to February 2020, he was the CEO of the PGEEnergia Ciepła, where he completed the process of Polish heat industry asset integration, acquired by PGE from the French company EDF. In 2019, he was appointed President of the Polish Association of Professional Heat and Power Plants (PTEZ). He is a member of the Management Board of the Polish Electricity Association (PKEE) and Regulating Committee for scientific research and development in the sphere of security and national defense at the National Center for Research and Development. He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, where he was awarded a Master of Law degree.
Nuclear Power in the United States: the Present and Future
Jennifer L. Uhle
Vice President, Technical & Regulatory Services
Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
United States
Dr. Jennifer Uhle joined NEI in 2018. Prior to joining NEI, Uhle served as the Director of Reactor Safety Programs at Jensen Hughes, a consulting company to the nuclear industry. Uhle joined Jensen Hughes in 2016, working in advanced reactors, thermal-hydraulics and regulatory affairs.
Previously, she served at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for 23 years in several positions including the deputy director of the offices of Nuclear Regulatory Research and Nuclear Reactor Regulation and the director of the Office of New Reactors.
Uhle obtained her B.S. and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1991 and 1996, respectively, with a specialization in reactor systems and design. She served as the U.S. representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s first fact-finding mission to Fukushima in 2011. She served on the advisory committee to MIT’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Committee focused on a U.S. fusion pilot program.
April 25, Tuesday
Plenary 2 Breakthrough Technologies Making SMR More Competitive
Changing the World's Energy Future: Idaho National Laboratory's Innovations in SMR and Microreactor Development
Jess C. Gehin
Associate Laboratory Director, Nuclear Science and Technology
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
United States
Jess Gehin became associate laboratory director for INL’s Nuclear Science & Technology (NS&T) Directorate in March 2021 after serving as chief scientist for the directorate since 2018. Over his 28-year career, he has built national strategies and priorities for nuclear energy, led complex projects and organizations, and developed strong relationships with senior leaders within INL, DOE and federal sponsors, and other laboratories, companies, and universities. In support of the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, he served as the national technical director for the DOE Microreactor Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Kansas State University, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
High power, local vacuum Electron beam and Laser welding solutions for Nuclear applications
Bob Nicolson
Managing Director
Cambridge Vacuum Engineering
United Kingdom
I have a Certificate of Education in Physical Education.
Following a 3 year Teaching career I formed a company manufacturing abrasive tools for the DIY and Trade tooling.
In 2001 I joined a Management Buy In team to purchase Cambridge Vacuum Engineering. We subsequently purchased an Electron Beam and Laser “Job-shop” in the USA (Ebtec) servicing the aerospace industry.
I have spent 10 years working on business development and have led the company’s involvement in Local Vacuum Electron Beam Welding working closely with TWI (formerly The Welding Institute) in the UK.
Chris Punshon
Head of New Energy Applications, Ebflow
Cambridge Vacuum Engineering
United Kingdom
Chris Punshon (BMet CEng FIMMM FWeldI) is the Head of New Energy Applications at CVE having joined the company in 2021 after several decades working at TWI after graduating with an honours degree in metallurgy from Sheffield University. His particular expertise is in the development and implementation of new welding solutions taking account of structural integrity, performance and regulatory requirements and understanding the relationship between weld metallurgy and properties. He has pioneered many joining solutions for nuclear power plant and waste management and is currently progressing several power beam based welding solutions towards commercial deployment in New Energy applications.
Westinghouse Advanced Reactor Technologies: Clean and Reliable Energy for the 21st Century
Mike Shaqqo
Senior Vice-President, Advanced Reactor Programs, Energy Systems
Westinghouse Electric Company
United States
Mike Shaqqo has over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector and currently holds the position of Senior Vice-President, Advanced Reactor Programs at Westinghouse Electric Company. He leads product development and deployment for advanced reactor technologies, including small modular reactors and microreactors. Mike previously held the position of Vice-President, Commercial Operations, at TerraPower, LLC, where he was responsible for the company’s commercial operations, in support of advanced reactor technology commercialization. Prior to joining TerraPower, Mike was employed by Westinghouse where he held various roles of increased leadership and responsibility. Mike holds a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Tennessee and is Six Sigma certified.
April 26, Wednesday
Plenary 3 Readiness of Advanced Reactor Licensing
Licensing of New Reactors in the United States Pre-recorded Video
Michael I. Dudek
Chief of New Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC)
United States
Mr. Dudek received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2002 from the Pennsylvania State University and joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2003.
Currently, Mr. Dudek is serving as the Chief of the New Reactor Licensing Branch (NRLB) in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR). His duties include leading and managing 10 CFR Part 52 license applications that includes reviewing design certification (DC), early site permit (ESP), and combined license (COL) application reviews, including new reactor pre-application activities. He is also responsible for the licensing of Construction Permit applications under 10 CFR Part 50; as well as the development and maintenance of necessary regulatory infrastructure for new reactors.
Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Regulatory Readiness and Licensing Approach
Caroline Ducros
Director General, Advanced Reactor Technologies
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Canada
Dr. Caroline Ducros joined CNSC in 2009 and currently holds the position of Director General of the Directorate of Advanced Reactor Technologies (DART).In this position, she leads a dynamic team that supports the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) mission and mandate by managing the licensing of new and advanced nuclear reactors, and the technical pre-licensing reviews, also known as Vendor Design Reviews for advanced reactor designs with potential deployment in Canada. Dr. Ducros participates in various international activities including leading memoranda of cooperation with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and UK Office of Nuclear Regulation.
The Safety of Small Modular Reactors in a Regulatory Perspective: Expectations and Challenges
Ku Young Chung
Executive Director, Office of Nuclear Safety
Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS)
Korea, Republic of
I majored in a nuclear engineering at Seoul National University in Seoul and earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a Ph. D in 1994, 1996 and 2003, respectively. Then I became a staff member of Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety(KINS) in 2003, which is a technical expert organization to perform technical regulatory activities like regulatory reviews and inspections for nuclear installations. As a staff member of KINS, I served as the head of Severe Accident and Risk Assessment Department in 2016, the division director of Safety Policy Division in 2018, the executive director of Management and Planning Office in 2020 and currently I am in charge of Nuclear Safety Office as an executive director.