CNSC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Environmental Risk Assessment Specialist
- Environmental Risk Assessment Specialist, Environmental Risk Assessment Division
Adrienne has worked for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) since early 2020. As an environmental risk assessment specialist, she is responsible for assessing potential environmental exposure risks to members of the public and the environment near nuclear facilities and mines.
Adrienne and her team are responsible for carefully reviewing all nuclear projects to determine their potential interactions with, and effects on, the environment and the people living or working in neighbouring communities. She ensures compliance with regulations pertaining to the environmental effects of nuclear projects and facilities at every phase of their lifecycles.
Expertise and education
Adrienne holds a PhD focused on the development of aquatic environmental risk assessment modelling tools and the use of stable isotope analyses to reconstruct food webs, aquatic habitat and geochemical profiles. She has since gained a diverse professional background in the nuclear industry in areas of environmental risk assessment, risk communication, emergency preparedness, safety analysis, and environmental and effluent monitoring. She currently serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Ottawa and as the Vice-Chair of the CSA Group's team responsible for CSA N288.6, Environmental Risk Assessments at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills - a standard that CNSC nuclear licensees must comply with. In addition, she is a member of the CNSC advisory groups on Indigenous knowledge and perceived risk.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
- Director General
- Director General, Information Management and Technology Directorate and Chief Information Officer
Colin has worked for the CNSC since 2001, joining as part of the first cohort of a new internship program. Colin manages a team who ensures that CNSC staff have the digital capabilities necessary for modern and effective regulatory oversight of the nuclear industry.
Expertise and education
Colin has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from McMaster University. His diverse job experience within the CNSC has enabled him to build on each role, helping him succeed and take on increased responsibility. Having worked in every branch of the CNSC, Colin has a unique understanding and appreciation of how every staff member contributes to the organization's success.
As Director General and Chief Information Officer, Colin and his team support the CNSC's vision of being a world class nuclear regulator, aligning the organization with the Government of Canada's Digital Operations Strategic Plan through the CNSC's Digital Strategy. This strategy will ensure the CNSC continues to be an open, digital-first organization that embraces the rapid pace of technological change and that tools are in place for staff to carry out robust, science- and data-based regulatory oversight. Timely access to the information and data that is collected by the CNSC helps to ensure that the organization can make informed decisions on the safety of nuclear facilities and activities.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Program Officer With the Innovation and Research Division
Daniel joined the CNSC in 2007. Currently, he leads the Research and Support Program in the Innovation and Research Division, which was formed in 2021 and is part of the office of the Chief Science Officer in the Technical Support Branch. Previously, he served in the Directorate of Assessment and Analysis (DAA) and the Strategic Planning Directorate.
Expertise and education
Daniel holds a mechanical engineering degree from McMaster University. His work directly links to all areas of the CNSC's mandate by supporting research related to the health, safety and security of Canadians, as well as the environment. Additionally, the research reports and the posting of their summaries on the CNSC website support the dissemination of scientific information, a pillar of the Research and Support Program.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Independent Commission
Job Titles:
- Member of the Independent Commission
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Senior Advisor, Nuclear Non - Proliferation With the Non - Proliferation and Export Controls Division
Elaine Kanasewich has been working with the CNSC since 2010.
Expertise and education
Elaine holds an undergraduate degree in international relations and a master's degree in strategic affairs.
Elaine's main area of expertise is nuclear non-proliferation policy and disarmament.
Job Titles:
- Senior Certification Engineer
- Senior Certification Engineer, Transport Licensing and Strategic Support Division
- Transport Licensing and Strategic Support Division
Isabelle joined the CNSC in 2009. As a Senior Certification Engineer, she works to regulate the use of nuclear substances and certify the safety of prescribed equipment before it is used in Canada. She is responsible for making sure that these packages are safe and that, in the event of an accident, the nuclear substances they contain will not disperse into the environment.
Expertise and education
Isabelle holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University. Before joining the CNSC, she worked in microelectronics, designing and manufacturing both computer and network infrastructure components. Raised in the Saguenay area, Isabelle decided in high school to attend an English boarding school near the Canada/U.S. border, immersing herself in the language in order to become bilingual.
Julie has a passion for earth science and feels lucky to be able to apply it to the evaluation of the safety of nuclear waste. Before coming to the CNSC in 2012, Julie worked at Natural Resources Canada and in mineral exploration.
Expertise and education
Julie is registered as a professional geoscientist in Ontario.
She also has 3 degrees in earth science: a PhD from the Australian National University (metamorphic petrology), and an MSc (structural geology) and BScH (geology/biology) from the University of Ottawa.
Job Titles:
- Radiation and Health Specialist With the Health Sciences and Environmental Compliance Division
- Radiation and Health Specialist, Health Sciences and Environmental Compliance Division
Julie Burtt has been working with the CNSC since 2007.
Expertise and education
Julie earned an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, with a concentration on cellular and molecular medicine, from the University of Ottawa. She also holds a master's degree in chemical sciences.
Recently, Julie began pursuing a doctorate degree in human studies and interdisciplinarity at Laurentian University. Julie's thesis goes beyond traditional radiation biology and focuses on investigating how people perceive the risk of radiation exposure.
Her love of learning has contributed to all the successes she has experienced over her career.
Julie's main area of expertise is focused on the human health impacts of low-dose radiation exposures.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Power Reactor Licensing and Compliance Integration Division
Kimberly Hazelton has been working with the CNSC since 2006.
Expertise and education
Kimberly earned an undergraduate degree in radiation sciences from the University of Toronto. She also holds a diploma in nuclear medicine technology from the Michener Institute.
Kimberly began her career as an inspector in the CNSC's Directorate of Nuclear Substances Regulation. She spent 11 years at the CNSC's Darlington site office as an inspector and site supervisor.
Currently, Kimberly is the director of the Power Reactor Licensing and Compliance Integration Division (PRLCID). She leads a team responsible for developing and preparing the annual regulatory oversight report for nuclear power generating sites; and for preparing and presenting Canada's national report to the IAEA Convention on Nuclear Safety.
Kimberly represents the CNSC as Canada's representative of the Working Group on Reactor Oversight, under the Nuclear Energy Agency's Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities. Her extensive experience positions her well to contribute to the ongoing improvement of our compliance program, and to support the CNSC's priority to be a leader in global nuclear efforts.
Job Titles:
- Senior General Counsel
- Vice - President and Senior General Counsel
- Vice - President, Legal and Commission Affairs, and Senior General Counsel
Lisa Thiele became Senior General Counsel at the CNSC in 2014. She is responsible for the CNSC's in-house legal counsel team as well as for the Commission Registry, which is the hub for all of the Commission's functions as a quasi-judicial tribunal and court of record.
Lisa has extensive experience and expertise in nuclear regulatory law at both the national and international levels. An active member of the International Nuclear Law Association, she serves on the Board of Directors of its Canadian branch, the Canadian Nuclear Law Organization. She has been on the faculty of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Nuclear Law Institute since its inception and is a regular lecturer at the International School of Nuclear Law, a graduate diploma program offered at the University of Montpellier. She represents Canada as a member of the Nuclear Energy Agency's Nuclear Law Committee and chairs its Working Party on the Legal Aspects of Nuclear Safety. She has been privileged to serve also as a lecturer and mentor in the World Nuclear University's Summer Institute leadership program. Lisa has a strong commitment to excellence in nuclear law and takes a particular interest in encouraging women to be a part of its development.
With her experience and expertise in administrative law, Lisa also supports the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals' training for tribunal members, delivering training to adjudicators on the conduct of quasi-judicial hearings and on the law of evidence in administrative law proceedings. Lisa was called to the Ontario Bar after a clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada, and she remains a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario. She holds undergraduate and law degrees from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Regulatory Program Division
- Senior Project Officer
- Senior Project Officer, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Regulatory Program Division
Matthew started at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in 2015. As a senior project officer, he is the licensing lead for the Nuclear Power Demonstration In Situ Decommissioning project, and also serves as back-up on several other important projects, such as the proposed near surface disposal facility (NSDF). He performs and reviews technical assessments, conducts outreach with a wide variety of stakeholders, and engages with the international regulatory community.
Matthew ensures that licence applications for radioactive waste disposal are evaluated rigorously and are grounded in the best and most complete scientific information. His work ensures that long-term safety is appropriately evaluated following both Canadian and international requirements, guidance and best practices.
Expertise and education
Matthew holds a PhD in earth science from the University of Ottawa and a BScH in geology from Queen's University. He is an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Ottawa and is affiliated with the university's André E. Lalonde Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Lab, where he supervises 3 graduate students. He is also a CNSC inspector and a registered professional geoscientist.
Job Titles:
- Chief Communications Officer
- Vice - President
- Vice - President, Regulatory Affairs, and Chief Communications Officer
Michael joined the CNSC in September 2022. Before joining the CNSC, he held various leadership positions across the federal government, including Director General, Rail Safety, at Transport Canada. In this role, he was responsible for developing and implementing policies and regulations to strengthen rail safety in Canada, which included administering the Railway Safety Act and the rail safety oversight program.
Michael previously served as Director General, Multi-Modal and Road Safety Programs, which included exercising leadership to advance a multi-modal approach at Transport Canada to safety and security. This role included responsibility for the motor vehicle safety regulatory framework and oversight program.
Michael has held positions at Public Safety Canada, Finance Canada, Privy Council Office and Treasury Board Secretariat. He has a master's degree in economics from Queen's University.
Job Titles:
- Mechanical Engineer
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Regulatory Program Division
- Senior Project Officer
- Senior Project Officer, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Regulatory Program Division
Mohamed has worked for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) since 2008. He serves as licensing lead for the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) waste and decommissioning activities. He is responsible for managing the Facility Assessment and Compliance Team, performs technical reviews and assessments, works on public outreach, conducts compliance inspections, and participates in international workshops, technical meetings associated with waste management and decommissioning, and the safety of near surface disposal facilities.
His work is critical to ensuring that licensing submissions and applications are thoroughly assessed and scrutinized to demonstrate the safety of facilities now and in the long-term. Mohamed also ensures they comply with the Canadian regulatory requirements, and international guidance and best practices. The safety of the public and the environment is his top priority.
Expertise and education
Mohamed is a mechanical engineer (with a professional engineer designation) and has a credential in nuclear safety. His expertise in nuclear engineering spans over 2 decades in design, construction, commissioning, operation, decommissioning and regulatory oversight of nuclear waste management facilities and activities.
Job Titles:
- Professional Engineer
- Senior Regulatory Program Officer
- Senior Regulatory Program Officer, Bruce Regulatory Program Division
Monica has worked for the CNSC since 2005. While her educational background is in chemical engineering, she has a keen interest in the legal aspects of nuclear regulation and an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, the CNSC regulatory framework and international nuclear regulation.
Monica's current role is Regulatory Program Director. She previously worked as a senior regulatory program officer (SRPO), and before that, she headed up the Commission Technical Support team, which included leading the development and implementation of guidelines for virtual Commission proceedings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This work ensured that the Commission could continue to operate effectively and efficiently in virtual environments, helping to modernize the way it conducts its work.
Expertise and education
Monica is a licensed professional engineer, having earned her chemical engineering degree at the University of Ottawa. Monica also has a graduate diploma in international nuclear law from the Université de Montpellier, France. In addition to her studies, she was the lead author on the published paper Decontamination in the Event of a Chemical or Radiological Terrorist Attack (2006) and co-authored the published paper Emergency Management Education in Canada (2004).
Monica is an advocate for gender equity and, until recently, was the co-chair of the CNSC's Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Network, a position she had held since its launch in 2020. Monica continues to support the CNSC's inclusion, equity and diversity initiatives through mentorship activities and by supporting activities that allow CNSC staff to come together, share experiences, and empower and learn from each other.
Monica was a member of the Directorate of Power Reactor Regulation (DPRR) Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Working Group, tasked with ensuring the CNSC's regulatory preparedness for the eventual operational licensing and compliance verification of SMRs. Monica also led a small team that reported on how DPRR met and learned from the challenges it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Independent Commission
Job Titles:
- Member of the Independent Commission
Job Titles:
- Member of the Independent Commission
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Environmental Assessment Division
- Director, Environmental Assessment Division
Nana joined the CNSC in 2011 as an Environmental Risk Assessment Officer. Since then, she has held a variety of positions within the Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment related to environmental assessment, compliance, outreach, environmental risk assessment, and emergency preparedness.
Expertise and education
Nana has a Bachelor of Science with honours in chemistry from McGill University and a PhD in atmospheric chemistry from the University of Toronto. She completed her studies with two post-doctoral fellowships in physical chemistry - one at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom and another at the University of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Assessment Specialist
- Environmental Assessment Specialist, Environmental Assessment Division
Nicole has worked for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) since 2008. As an environmental assessment specialist, she leads and manages environmental assessments for major projects, from the proposal phase through the entire lifecycle of a project or facility.
Among her many responsibilities, Nicole prepares environmental overviews; tracks key project milestones; and coordinates with other federal authorities, provincial government departments, as well as the public and Indigenous Nations and communities. She is responsible for identifying potential project impacts and developing mitigation measures, as well as preparing environmental assessment reports under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, the Impact Assessment Act, and the Nuclear Safety and Control Act.
Expertise and education
Nicole holds a bachelor of science in biology and environmental studies from Saint Mary's University. As a student, she spent time in the mining industry where she worked on environmental monitoring and water treatment plant operation and maintenance, and conducted daily analytical laboratory tests. She started her career as an environment officer with Environment and Climate Change Canada working on climate change issues and later in the remediation of contaminated sites. She then moved to Public Works and Government Services Canada as an environmental assessment officer, where she provided expertise on several major federal projects across various departments and conducted numerous environmental studies.
Job Titles:
- Director, Internal Audit Division
Job Titles:
- Chief Science Officer
- Vice - President
- Vice - President and Chief Science Officer / Technical Support Branch
Peter Elder has been working for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for over 20 years in various regulatory roles covering the entire nuclear fuel cycle. He started as a technical specialist in 1996 as a fuel performance and safety analyst, and moved on to become a project manager in power reactor licensing. He has also occupied a variety of management roles throughout his career at the CNSC. He has experience in all areas of the organization's mandate: safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection. He has also served as a nuclear counsellor at the Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna. In this role, he advised the Canadian government on International Atomic Energy Agency activities in nuclear safety and security, emergency management and technical cooperation.
Before joining the CNSC, he worked for Atomic Energy Canada Limited as a section head and research scientist in the area of high-temperature fuel behaviour and fission product release. He co-authored a number of scientific papers during this period on fuel behaviour under accident conditions, and was involved in several international collaborations in this area.
He completed a Master's in Materials Engineering from Queen's University following his undergraduate degree in Engineering Science (Physics Option) from the University of Toronto. He was appointed Vice-President of the CNSC's Technical Support Branch in April 2018.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice - President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer
Ramzi Jammal has worked for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) since 1998, holding progressively senior positions. He has accumulated over 35 years of experience in the nuclear industry, combining management skills with scientific expertise, and representing the CNSC in various international activities. These include the co-chairing of the IAEA Fukushima report, leading Canadian delegations to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Nuclear Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive waste management.
In 2016, Ramzi Jammal was elected President of the Convention on Nuclear Safety by the Contracting parties, a position he held until October 2018. He also sits on the IAEA Commission on Safety Standards. He was instrumental in the development and establishment of the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, and the international categorization of radioactive sources. He also played a key role in ensuring that the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection complemented the CNSC's regulatory needs.
As the Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, he led the development of the CNSC regulatory action plan in response to the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Officer
- Senior Project Officer With the Uranium Mines and Mills Division, Saskatoon Regional Office
Richard has been working with the CNSC since 2016.
Expertise and education
Richard earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering from the University of Guelph and is a registered professional engineer within the Province of Saskatchewan.
Prior to joining the CNSC, Richard's roles focused on working in and regulating the mining industry in Canada, concentrating on projects in the Yukon and Saskatchewan. As a senior project officer in the Uranium Mines and Mills Division (UMMD), Richard continues to apply and build on this experience.
Richard's work focuses mainly on environmental factors, Commission proceedings, compliance and licensing of operating and decommissioned facilities, and on outreach efforts.
Ron is currently a senior project officer at the CNSC, performing licensing, compliance and enforcement activities for operating and historic uranium mine and mill sites. He joined the CNSC in 1993, and his extensive experience allows him to serve as the corporate memory for many waste management files.
Expertise and education
Ron holds a bachelor of science with honours in earth sciences from Brock University, and a master of science in earth surface processes from McMaster University.
In 2012, after being nominated by his peers, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work on historic sites in Canada's North.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director, Advanced Reactor Licensing With the Advanced Reactor Licensing Division
Sarah Eaton began working with the CNSC in 2009 as an inspector at the Saskatoon regional office. As a Newfoundlander, it was quite the change to move from oceanside living to life in a landlocked province. The first 8 years of her career were dedicated to inspecting uranium mines and mills. She took on her new role, Director of Advanced Reactor Licensing, in 2021.
Expertise and education
Sarah is a registered professional geologist. She studied at Memorial University of Newfoundland, earning both her bachelor's and master's degrees in earth sciences.
Sarah has 14 years of licensing and compliance experience, which has been very helpful in her new role of licensing small modular reactors (SMRs).
Before joining the CNSC in 2009, Sarah worked in the private sector on conventional waste management and infrastructure projects. When she began working at the CNSC, she leveraged her expertise to lead environmental reviews of historic and operating mine sites, nuclear power plants and other facilities in the nuclear fuel cycle. Sarah currently manages the licensing and compliance activities at low-, intermediate- and high-level waste management facilities regulated by the CNSC.
Expertise and education
Sarah holds a bachelor's degree in environmental and conservation sciences (land reclamation and soil remediation) from the University of Alberta.
Raised on Vancouver Island, Sarah moved across Canada to improve her French language skills and completed a maîtrise en science at Université Laval in Québec City.
Shona began her career at the CNSC as a co-op student in 2011, and then joined the Wastes and Decommissioning Division in 2013.
As a senior project officer and designated inspector, she conducts general as well as focused (waste management) inspections of licensee facilities and sites to verify compliance with regulatory requirements.
Expertise and education
Shona holds a bachelor of engineering (honours) in nuclear engineering with highest distinction from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Job Titles:
- Technical Specialist
- Technical Specialist With the Systems Engineering Division
Sophie Gingras has been working with the CNSC since 2000.
Expertise and education
Sophie has a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering from Laval University in Québec City. She is also a professional engineer, licensed to practice in Quebec.
Her interest in science and her strong educational background contribute to her expertise in the area of chemistry control for nuclear reactors.
Job Titles:
- Dosimetry Service Program Officer With the Radiation Protection Division
Sophie Rodrigue has been working with the CNSC since 2017.
Expertise and education
Sophie joined the CNSC as a business continuity planning officer and, a year later, became a licensing specialist with the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Licensing Division. After 2 years, she turned her expertise to dosimetry in radiation protection.
Sophie earned a diploma of college studies (DCS) in laboratory technology: biotechnology, at the Cégep de l'Outaouais. This was followed by a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in environmental science (magna cum laude) at the University of Ottawa.
She became more interested in science when she worked as a student at the City of Gatineau water treatment plant, where she conducted daily analytical laboratory tests and collected environmental monitoring samples.
Job Titles:
- Senior Regulatory Program Officer, Darlington Regulatory Program Division
Stephanie Eisan-Kouznetsova has been working with the CNSC since 2006. She was among the first group of University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students to take part in the CNSC's Technical Co-op Program. Upon graduating in 2008, she returned to the CNSC full-time, joining the Directorate of Power Reactor Regulation (DPRR) in 2009.
Expertise and education
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering from UOIT. Prior to that, she majored in chemistry at Dalhousie University but left after her third year to pursue nuclear studies. She also obtained a Master's Certificate in Project Management from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University.
Stephanie's main area of expertise is nuclear power plant operations, with a focus on extended operations, aging and fitness for service. She currently leads the CNSC's oversight of the Darlington Periodic Safety Review (PSR), which is a comprehensive review of the station against modern codes and standards. These reviews are conducted every 10 years and are used to support the subsequent decade of operations through an integrated implementation plan.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Vice - President
- Member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
- Vice - President, Corporate Services, and Chief Financial Officer
Stéphane Cyr has been Vice-President, Corporate Services, and Chief Financial Officer of the CNSC since 2013. He joined the CNSC in 2009 as Director General, Finance and Administration. Since then, he has overseen a number of major initiatives and projects, such as the establishment of a cost recovery-based financial framework, the construction of the CNSC's laboratory, the introduction of an integrated management reporting framework and the development of a financial guarantee program. Stéphane led the CNSC's Digital Transformation, Financial Management Transformation and Workforce Renewal Strategy, and most recently oversaw the development of the CNSC's Future of Work initiative.
Stéphane has been the CNSC's mental health and inclusion champion since 2016.
From 2007 to 2009, Stéphane developed his skills at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, where he held the position of Director General, Research Knowledge Creation Program, and later Director General, Finance and Corporate Planning.
From 2004 to 2007, Stéphane served as Executive Director, Financial Management Services, and Director, Transformation, at Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Prior to that, he worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as Director, Accounting and Financial Systems, where he spearheaded, in particular, the implementation of the financial and reporting system and improvements to management and accounting practices.
He began his career at the Canadian International Development Agency, where he held several accounting and financial policy positions.
Stéphane is a graduate of the public service's Executive Leadership Development Program (2018) and Accelerated Executive Development Program (2010), and the recipient of CPA Canada's 2016 Award of Excellence in Innovation.
Stéphane is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec.