International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Mentoring is one way to give back to the organization I work for. This cycle I embrace another mentee. I am a strong advocate for mentoring programme as it saved my UN career. Starting from the inception of UN-wide programme in Secretariat in 2020. Mentors helped me navigating career transitions, managing upwards, navigating challenging culture, and driving changes in the organization. And above all, help me grow intellectually and emotionally. I have 6 mentors and 9 mentees across UN entities. It is my commitment to contribute to learning culture and the workforce the UN needs for the future.

🔍 Today, the IAEA concluded the Hands-on Training on Inspection of Equipment for Nuclear Security at Facilities Using Nuclear or Other Radioactive Material, held at the IAEA Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre (NSTDC). 🔹 Through hands-on exercises using physical protection (PP) equipment at the NSTDC, the course provided participants with an in-depth understanding of conducting regulatory inspections of physical protection systems at nuclear facilities. My sincere appreciation goes to all participants for their active engagement, to the IAEA international experts for sharing their expertise and professionalism, and to my colleagues at the IAEA for their outstanding support in making this course a true success. #NuclearSecurity #Inspection #IAEA #NSTDC #PhysicalProtection #INFCIRC225 #Nuclear #NSS13

After an intensive period of development, I am proud to share the launch of our new eLearning course on the safe transport of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) 🌍 This is not just another course. It reflects a substantial collective effort to translate complex safety requirements into practical, usable guidance for professionals working in the field. I would like to recognize my team particularly Eric Reber Loretta Boahemaa Manu well as extrnal experts particularly Paul Hinrichsen whose commitment, expertise, and persistence made this possible. The level of dedication behind this work has been exceptional 👏 As Head of the Transport Safety Unit at the IAEA, I see this as a meaningful step forward in strengthening global capacity in the safe transport of NORM, particularly in areas where clarity and consistency are critical. From foundational concepts to real-world application, this eLearning course supports users in navigating the full scope of NORM transport safely and effectively. 🔗It can be accessed at: https://lnkd.in/diaEaC2X

I am pleased to share the upcoming IAEA webinar “From Science to Courtroom: Implementing Nuclear Forensics Across Legal Frameworks” on 29 April 2026. I was glad to contribute to shaping the concept of this webinar around an understanding of nuclear forensics as a practical tool in support of criminal investigations involving nuclear or other radioactive material found out of regulatory control. Oftentimes, nuclear forensics is viewed mainly through a technical lens, with emphasis on identifying the origin of seized material. In practice, however, its value is broader: it can help answer case-relevant questions for investigators, clarify facts and circumstances, generate investigative leads, help establish intent, and support prosecution. It is particularly meaningful to me that this discussion builds on earlier work carried out in this area together with Elena Dinu, PhD and Ed van Zalen , in my national capacity, including our paper “Study on the Implementation of Nuclear Forensics in Various Legal Systems”: https://lnkd.in/d3zecBVD The webinar will be delivered by my colleagues, together with speakers from the Netherlands, the FBI of the United States, #UNODC and the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs. Registration is available here: https://lnkd.in/ddvzscba #IAEA #NuclearSecurity #NuclearForensics

As nuclear decommissioning becomes increasingly complex, structured, and transparent decision-making is essential. The IAEA recognizes the importance of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) as a key tool to support the systematic evaluation of decommissioning technologies across technical, safety, environmental, and economic criteria. In this context, a consultancy meeting on MCDM for selecting decommissioning technologies will be held from 20 to 24 April, bringing together international experts. The meeting will focus on developing MCDM guidelines, preparing the outline of a future technical document, and planning a training workshop in Vienna (November 2026). The outcomes will contribute to strengthening international guidance and enhancing decision-making frameworks for nuclear decommissioning. I’m looking forward to contributing to this important work.

A five-day training course on environmental protection for nuclear power programmes is currently underway, bringing together 17 participants from 14 Member States exploring new or expanding nuclear power programmes. Organized with support from the IAEA, the course combines expert-led lectures, interactive exercises, case studies, and a technical tour to address key aspects of environmental infrastructure within the IAEA Milestones Approach. Participants are exploring: • Environmental impact assessments and long-term monitoring • Interfaces between radiological and non-radiological considerations • Integration with siting and infrastructure planning • Stakeholder engagement and public communication • Challenges and lessons learned across nuclear programmes The programme also fosters peer-to-peer exchange and practical discussions, helping participants strengthen their understanding of environmental requirements across the 19 nuclear infrastructure issues. Thank you to the U.S. Department of State for sponsoring this initiative, and to Argonne National Laboratory for hosting the event.

On 12 April 1961, at 08:05 UTC, Yuri Gagarin touched down after ejecting from the spacecraft roughly ten minutes earlier and descending under his own parachute. He and the Vostok 1 capsule came down about 26 km southwest of Engels, in Soviet’s Saratov region, near 51° North, 45° East. The landing was witnessed by local villagers, turning a historic space mission into a surreal rural encounter. Two schoolgirls saw the capsule hit the ground and later described it vividly: “It was a huge ball, about two or three metres high. It fell, then it bounced and then it fell again. There was a huge hole where it hit the first time.” Nearby, a farmer and her daughter watched as a man in a bright orange suit and large white helmet floated down by parachute, an extraordinary sight in an ordinary field. Gagarin later remembered how unsettling his appearance must have seemed. “When they saw me in my spacesuit and the parachute dragging alongside as I walked, they started to back away in fear. I told them, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am a Soviet like you, who has descended from space and I must find a telephone to call Moscow!’”

The Technical Meeting on “Member State Experiences in Supporting Operator Actions Before, During and After Severe External Event Scenarios: Measures to Enhance Resilience” was just successfully concluded at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna (7–10 April 2026). Bringing together experts from around 20 Member States, the meeting was organized into four thematic modules, with 6 keynote talks, 22 technical presentations, and 4 panel discussions. These exchanges led to a set of key findings and prioritised action items for the IAEA, with a particular focus on advancing more practical and technically grounded approaches to resilience and the defence-in-depth approach, including their application, assessment, and integration into safety frameworks, in the context of extreme external events. The outcomes will help guide future IAEA activities and support Member States in tackling emerging challenges, particularly for advanced reactors, including SMRs, and non-conventional siting concepts, while reinforcing resilience and defence in depth across the full lifecycle of nuclear installations. Many thanks to all speakers and participants for the insightful discussions and valuable contributions!