The NEA invited 20 young professionals and students, representing 11 countries, to join ministers, senior governments representatives, industry leaders and financing experts at the Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2025 conference on 18-19 September in Paris, France.
Young professional delegates at their official seats. (Photo: NEA/Krystal Kenney)
The group played an active role at the event, voicing opinions, proposing ideas and representing the perspectives of the next generation of professionals who will carry on the operations of today’s nuclear new builds. Over the two-day programme, they emphasised the need for workforce development programmes that encourage diverse profiles and discussed approaches to new technologies and innovations like artificial intelligence to meet challenges.
Throughout the conference, the young professionals learned firsthand from leaders and experts about the challenges and opportunities in emerging markets and the changing geopolitical landscape. They participated in sessions on diverse topics such as the role of nuclear science and technology in space exploration and discussed ways of using new technologies for energy security and global co-operation.
Roadmaps Young Professionals Delegation has the opportunity to meet senior leaders at Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2025. (Photo: NEA/Krystal Kenney)
Ministers, industry CEOs and financing experts welcomed the delegation, encouraging intergenerational dialogue and engaging in spirited discussion. Building on this collaborative spirit and the success of the young professional delegation’s participation in the 2024 Roadmaps conference, the young professionals presented a formal statement calling for a commitment at the senior level to foster further dialogue across all ages, levels and backgrounds of the workforce.
Prior to the event, the young professional delegation visited Paris-based organisations, including the European Space Agency and the French company NAAREA, to learn more about near-term applications of nuclear energy.