Announcements

IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Safety

15 July 2013

The World Nuclear Association participated in the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security that took place on 1-5 July in Vienna. WNA members share with governments a commitment to maintaining a high level of nuclear security and support non-proliferation objectives. WNA was instrumental in organizing the 2012 Nuclear Industry Summit in Seoul, and early in 2013, it was granted status as an Observer on the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee (NSGC). WNA will use the expertise residing within its 190 member-companies to provide industry perspective on the draft security guidelines developed at NSGC. It will further help to ensure that published guidance is implemented by industry, and that the role of NSGC is recognized internationally.

WNA welcomed the initiative of the IAEA to host the conference with a view to developing the next IAEA Nuclear Security Plan (2014-17). WNA believes this plan should offer scope for:

• Greater harmonization between States in setting their security regulations, thus helping to remove the challenge for industry of concurrent compliance with differing regulations. 
• A stakeholder forum involving international trade associations, international standards development organizations, and inter-governmental organizations to review and exchange information on good practice in the field of nuclear security; 
• A standing invitation for representative international business associations to observe and make representations to the IAEA Nuclear Security Guidance Committee on the development of nuclear security implementing and technical guides; 
• The encouragement of industry outreach and dialogue by regulatory bodies and state agencies of IAEA member states. 

A copy of the full WNA statement can be downloaded here.

WNA Annual Financial Statements

14 June 2013

The WNA Annual Financial Statements for 2012 were signed by the WNA Board of Management in April, having been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and given a clean opinion by our auditor, Moore Stephens LLP. This occurred at the Board meeting that took place on 11 April 2013 alongside the WNFC conference in Singapore.

The financial statements will be presented at the Annual General Meeting on 11 September 2013.

WNA has received the following comments by Tom Ward, Partner, Moore Stephens LLP:

The World Nuclear University partnership has been managed by the WNA since its inception, though it has always been viewed as an independent organisation. All significant transaction processes (eg the running of the Summer Institute in Oxford) have been independently reviewed by the auditors of the WNA. All bank accounts pertaining to the WNU are held alongside bank accounts of the WNA in separately designated accounts (described as WNA Re: World Nuclear University) and details of balances had been confirmed to the auditors directly by the bank annually. My only criticisms are the lack of clarity over the structure of the WNU and that the WNA failed to charge the WNU for services it has provided to the WNU, in respect of the management of courses. We have identified no matters to indicate that there were any financial irregularities.

WNA was fully reimbursed for its work in administering the WNU in 2012 and WNA’s restructuring has brought management of WNU completely within WNA, settling these matters. 

Restructuring the WNA

3 April 2013

On taking up the post of Director General, Agneta Rising’s first priority was to reshape the WNA to more effectively and efficiently meet the evolving needs of WNA members.
The new DG worked together with the Chairman Tim Gitzel to evaluate WNA’s current position and determine the direction to take. With the staff’s expertise, experience and enthusiasm, they have developed the following structure:

This structure clarifies the WNA’s current activities, and establishes new commitments and increased functions based on our members’ wishes.

The WNA Secretariat welcomes its new Director General

2 January 2013

Agneta Rising was appointed as Director General by the WNA Board of Management at the end of August 2012, and officially joined the Secretariat on 2 January 2013. Rising was previously with Vattenfall, where her career focused on radiological and environmental protection. She is already well-acquainted with the organization: in May 2000 she became chairman of the Uranium Institute, and presided over its transformation into the World Nuclear Association in 2001.

Rising said: “I am very excited about and dedicated to this work for the global nuclear industry. Going forward, the WNA team will focus its work on supporting the members, building confidence and increasing visibility of the nuclear industry.”