Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) is sharing its unique nuclear transport expertise with leading industry experts and governments across the world at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Safe and Secure Transport of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials conference.

Four of NTS’s security and resilience team are due to speak at next week’s virtual event, which hosts decision and policy makers from governments around the globe, as well as the likes of the European Union, regulators, and key figures from the nuclear industry.

Ben Whittard, Security and Resilience Director; Alex Barrow, Global Development Lead; and George Burnett, Security Advisor; will all chair technical sessions during the four-day conference, while Matt Fox, Special Advisor, is also speaking.

“NTS has invested heavily in outreach activities in nuclear security, as we aim to make the world safer and more sustainable,” said Ben.

“I’m delighted we are contributing to this important IAEA event, as it not only allows us to share our unique capability and vast experience, but also gives our team an opportunity to learn from others and further their personal development.”

Alex and Matt are also set to host a side event targeting areas for improvement across the industry. They will be joined by Rhonda Evans, of the World Institute of Nuclear Security, and Katherine Croft Holt, of the US National Nuclear Security Administration, to discuss the global nuclear transport security regime and ways to strengthen it.

The four-person panel will offer differing perspectives on how we can address issues through existing programmes and training, while highlighting NTS’s existing capabilities.

Alex said: “As world leaders in our field, it’s crucial NTS complies with international standards, and use our decades of experience to help shape and improve those standards by being part of the global conversation at this conference.

“Safety and security are fundamental to how NTS operates so this is a great opportunity to showcase our capabilities, and our contributions to global nuclear security capacity building and threat reduction programmes.”

The international conference was due to take place in Vienna, Austria, but for safety reasons, was moved to an online platform due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The objective of the conference is to provide an opportunity for Member States to further develop their understanding of the issues relating to transport safety, transport security and the interface between, to inform their work to develop or strengthen their transport safety and security regulatory infrastructures.

The event is being held on Webex. To hear what the NTS team has to say, register for the conference or watch via the livestream on the IAEA website.

Who’s on when?

Tuesday, 14 December: Ben is co-chairing a technical session on Transport of Fissile Material;

Alex is chairing a technical session on Capability-Building and Stakeholder Networks, and also co-chairing another session on Transport Assets and Technologies.

Alex is co-chairing a side event, which includes Matt Fox, on Nuclear Transport Security – Opportunities for Strengthening the Global Regime

Wednesday, 15 December: George is speaking on Advanced Reactor Transport: Considerations for SMRs and Microreactors

Thursday, 16 December: Ben is speaking at a technical session on Training

Friday, 17 December: Ben is co-chairing a technical session on Public Information and Incident Case Studies