Published on the 23rd May 2023 by ANSTO Staff
Join us for this online webinar to explore and discuss the huge opportunities in growing a dynamic and impactful future nuclear workforce.
The future nuclear workforce will need a diverse range of skills, knowledge, and experience to meet the challenges of an evolving nuclear industry.
To continue to help mitigate climate change, provide life-saving nuclear medicines, play a key role in advanced manufacturing and develop cutting-edge space and Defence technologies, we’ll need a large and robust workforce of trained and highly skilled nuclear professionals.
“The demand for talent in the nuclear sector is set to soar. Talented, qualified and trained professionals who can conceptualise, develop and engineer nuclear innovations and operate them will be in high demand. That’s a huge challenge; and opportunity,”
Venessa Barrins, ANSTO’s General Manager People, Performance & Capability.
This opportunity will require a collaborative approach from government, universities and industry to identify the skills and resources required; and it won’t just be engineers and physicists, but also lawyers, regulatory experts, naval architects, policy advisers and communications experts. It will require a concerted effort to attract more young people to the profession, an increased commitment to diversity and inclusion to maximise the skills in the profession, and the development of a ‘nuclear mindset’ across all industries.
Date: 12 pm (AEDT) Wednesday 21 June
Format: Webinar via zoom
This webinar is FREE to attend and registration is essential. Secure your spot by clicking the button below.
Panellists
Venessa Barrins,General Manager People, Performance & Capability, ANSTO
With almost 30 years of Human Resources (HR) experience, Venessa has worked at global investment banking and some of Australia’s top financial institutions. Since joining ANSTO in 2012, she has implemented a wide range of HR initiatives to meet organisational strategies.
Venessa is currently developing ANSTO’s strategic nuclear workforce plan, focusing on recommendations and actions for a long-term sustainable workforce. This plan will provide insights into the nuclear workforce sector in both Australia and from a global perspective – forming a key part of ANSTO’s overall workforce planning.
Dr Tony Hooker, Radiation Biologist, University of Adelaide
A/Prof Tony Hooker is a radiation biologist with research interests in the mechanisms of radiation-induced damage. Tony returned to academia in Oct 2019 as the inaugural Director of the Centre for Radiation Research, Education, and Innovation at the University of Adelaide after 12 years as the Principal Radiation Health Advisor for the SA govt.
Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte is the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer
Hugh is a world-leading authority on machine learning and robotics, and applications in areas including cargo handling, mining and defence. In his career he has worked with many major companies and has co-founded three successful start-up companies. He is particularly well known for his work with Patrick in delivering the automated container terminals in Brisbane and Port Botany, and for his work with Rio Tinto in pioneering and delivering the automated “Mine of the Future”.
Jasmin Diab, President of Women in Nuclear Australia
Jasmin is a mum, leader, nerd and diversity advocate. Jasmin joined the Australian Army in 2001 and after graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College Duntroon, was allocated to the Royal Australian Engineers as a Combat Engineer.
With a background in explosive ordnance disposal, Jasmin has spent the majority of her career providing operational and training support in countering chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats and has seen operational service both domestically and overseas. She has just completed her tenure as a Commanding Officer of an Engineer Regiment.
Jasmin is a big advocate for thinking differently and is a co-founder of the Defence Entrepreneurs Forum Australia (DEF Aus) which encourages bottom-up conceptual innovation. She is also the President of Women in Nuclear Australia, the Oceania representative on the Women in Nuclear Global executive, a member of the ARPANSA Nuclear Safety Committee and a Fellow with Engineers Australia. Jasmin has a Bachelor of Science, in physics and chemistry, a Masters in Defence and Military Studies and a Masters in Engineering Science (Nuclear Engineering).
The ANSTO Innovation Series
The ANSTO Innovation Series is a virtual and hybrid meet-up that focuses on the key capacities of ANSTO’s people, partners and facilities and how they are meeting global challenges in sustainable industries, medicine, advanced manufacturing and in accelerating small business.
Delivered as a quarterly webinar, the series features an expert panel exploring the latest science, industry and start-up opportunities, including innovations in food, energy storage, nuclear medicine and health, engineering new materials and accelerating deep tech business.
The ANSTO Innovation Series is produced in partnership with STEM-specialist publishers, Refraction Media, publishers of Science Meets Business, and hosted by leading science journalist, Lee Constable.
