Kathleen Heppell-Masys

Information

Position:

Vice-President, Nuclear Operations Oversight

As AECL Vice-President, Nuclear Operations Oversight, Kathleen is responsible for the oversight of the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) operations, activities related to site operations and infrastructure, including nuclear, health, safety, security, and environment operations. Prior to joining AECL in March 2023, Kathleen worked for 16 years at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the Canadian regulatory authority, as their Director General of the Directorate of Safety Management and was later appointed as the Director General of the Directorate of Security and Safeguards. In these roles, she was responsible for the development of nuclear regulatory policies and for the technical regulatory oversight of nuclear safety, nuclear security, and emergency management across all of Canada’s nuclear facilities. She oversaw the implementation of Canada’s non-proliferation policy, including its non-proliferation controls regime for the import and export of nuclear technology, material, and equipment, and she ensured Canada met its International Nuclear Safeguards obligations. She also worked with National Defence as a Senior Nuclear Specialist, a tenure which was preceded with extensive work experiences with the Canadian Armed Forces serving as an Aerospace Engineering Officer for the engineering and maintenance of military aircraft and facilities. Kathleen has made many significant international contributions in the area of nuclear safety, security and safeguards, and led the Human and Organisational Team’s contribution to the IAEA Fukushima Accident report. She holds a B.Eng (Fuels and Materials) and a Masters (Nuclear Engineering) from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kington, Ontario.