Speaker
Description
The vision of the World Institute of Nuclear Security is that: “all nuclear and other radiological materials and facilities are effectively secured by demonstrably competent professionals applying best practice to achieve operational excellence”.
Protecting and security nuclear and other radioactive material and protecting material and facilities from sabotage requires nuclear security professionals that can clearly demonstrate their competency in delivering nuclear security. Professional certification is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate individual competence and to build, strengthen and sustain national capacity in nuclear security for the benefit of all.
A national nuclear security regime requires adequate financial, technical and human resources for each competent authority involved in its implementation as well as for the operating organisation that has primary responsibility for security. A sustainable national nuclear security regime requires human capacity for its continued effectiveness, especially at a time when nuclear energy and nuclear applications that support important societal objectives, health, industry, agriculture and culture may be subject to new and emerging threats based on advances in technology and increased capability of adversaries, including those motivated by violent extremist ideology.
Several States, private foundations, and the nuclear industry supported the development of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) Academy launched in 2014, as an initiative to provide practitioners involved in nuclear security with opportunities to earn certification in Nuclear Security Management through a programme of self-study and successful completion of proctored examinations. Underpinning the program is certification in accordance with external quality management standards. These standards provide an internationally recognized benchmark of quality; demonstrate credibility, competence and professionalism; and give potential employers and others in the industry an objective measurement of participants’ knowledge.
Recognising the importance of competence in nuclear security for both regulators and operators, internationally, WINS has obtained political and industry commitments to expand its Academy initiative, and these efforts were recognised at the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in a Joint Statement on Certified Training for Nuclear Security Management led by Canada and the United Kingdom. This Joint Statement, signed by 35 States, was subsequently published as IAEA Information Circular 901 (INFCRIC/901), and commits signatory States to support the development of certification programmes for nuclear security, globally, through advocacy, peer review support, contributions or other means necessary. Other States, supported by industry and civil society, are being encouraged to join the INFCIRC and provide a tangible commitment in support of the WINS Academy and certified professional development for nuclear security.
A national nuclear security regime requires a diverse group of competent professionals that have a deep understanding of the principles and practices of nuclear security.
Central to a sustainable national nuclear security regime is a workforce of demonstrably competent nuclear security practitioners. At present the WINS Academy is the only available certification system in the world that allows practitioners to demonstrate their competence. It is in the interests of competence acquisition and maintenance that this model is further expanded, and all countries ensure that individuals with responsibility for nuclear security have access to certification programmes.
| State | Other |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
