In Memoriam Greg Kaser
It is with sadness that we bring news of the passing of Greg Kaser, who died on 12 January 2021, following a short illness after contracting COVID-19. He was 65.
Greg was a senior project manager for World Nuclear Association with responsibility for supply chain and security issues. In his nearly 10 years with the Association he oversaw four editions of its World Nuclear Supply Chain report, as well as publications on export controls, counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items, as well as new build lesson-learning. With the Security Working Group, he had recently issued a series of six briefings for members on key aspects of nuclear security. Greg also managed the Economics Working Group for six years.
He was regularly invited to represent the nuclear industry at meetings with the International Atomic Energy Agency, European Commission and Vendor Inspection Cooperation Group of the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme. Greg was also a frequent lecturer at World Nuclear University events, where he could always be counted on stimulating audiences, and bringing the latest content on supply chain and security issues.
Gregory Charles Kaser was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1955. He graduated with honours in Economics and Politics at King's College, Cambridge and later read Urban and Regional Studies at Sheffield Hallam University.
Greg started his career in 1977 at the UK Atomic Energy Authority as an economist, researching and modelling uranium supply issues.
In 1988 he joined the European University Institute where he undertook a project on the regulation of nuclear power safety in the European Community and Hungary.
In 1999 he joined the Coalfield Communities Campaign, where he spearheaded the efforts of a network of European mining regions to lobby for a dedicated programme of European Community aid for coal mining regions facing restructuring. This was a successful initiative that resulted in the RECHAR programme, which provided grants for the reconversion or development of depressed mining areas.
Greg joined International Mining Consultants Ltd as a senior consultant in 1993 undertaking assignments on social policy and regional development, which assisted national governments, state and private enterprises and communities adjust to changing economic conditions and industrial restructuring.
In 2001 Greg joined HTSPE Ltd, where he was responsible for business development, designing and delivering major projects of technical assistance and training on behalf of the UK government, the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank. He left in 2011 to join World Nuclear Association.
Greg lived in Oxford with his wife Marina. They have a much-loved daughter, Sasha, who completed a Masters in management of climate change.
Greg was an internationalist, committed to addressing inequalities in health and quality of life, as well as environmental problems. He firmly believed in the role of nuclear technology in improving the “economic welfare of the world”. He was also a gentleman, who always made time for his colleagues, whatever level of seniority they held. His kindness, generosity of spirit, breadth of knowledge and incisive intelligence will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues at the Association and the global nuclear community.
If you would like to us to share any thoughts or memories you have of Greg please send your comments to info@world-nuclear.org and we will add them down below.
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I worked with Greg on a couple of initiatives at the IAEA. I always found him a thoughtful and engaging person. His premature passing is a terrible loss for those who knew him and the entire industry. My thoughts go out to his family and close friends in this difficult time.
John Moore
One thing that stands out for me about Greg was that he always greeted people with a smile. We would often have a chat in the kitchen whilst making our morning cup of tea. He was a genuinely lovely person and his cheerful presence will be missed around the office. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
Jennifer Corander
Remembering his wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain in my hearts. May he rest in peace!
Jikon Ryu
Greg was a true professional and will be missed. RIP.
Jerry Head
I was shocked and saddened to hear that Greg, our knowledgeable, a highly respected colleague, passed away. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.
Sandor Nagy
Kind, good natured, mature and experienced new staff, still with plenty of "go" about them, are a gift to any organisation. Greg will be a hard act to follow but will be an even bigger loss to his family and close friends, to whom I extend my sympathy.
Steve Kidd
The nuclear family is missing you dear colleague Greg.
Rest in peace.
Antônio Müller
One of the persons, why I started a long path in Nuclear Supply Chain and specially in Nuclear/International Security.
Jarno Karrell
It was an honour for me to have worked closely with Greg while at WNA in 2011 / 2013. He was so kind and so dedicated to his work, and friends, and family. I cannot imagine the loss for his wife and daughter, and I wish to express my deepest sympathies to them and to WNA colleagues.
Francois Perchet
Greg was a world-class expert in research and analysis of nuclear power market and a fantastic lecturer. A great person and a real gentleman. My sincere condolences to his family and colleagues at WNA and WNU.
Stefano Monti
A real gentleman and a good friend. My condolences to his family.
Amir Shahkarami
I have nothing but lovely memories of Greg as my supervisor and guide at WNA, my thoughts go out to his family.
Iitu Tiira
Greg will be well remembered by his dear family, colleagues and friends.
Alina Constantin
In complete disbelief. Greg was the gentleman of World Nuclear Association. Greg, you will be dearly missed!
Vivien Lotasz
My sincere condolences to Greg’s family and colleagues.
Amira Zaouak
Greg was a dear colleague, always ready to give an expert opinion on complex issues, adding important perspectives, in a precise and gentle manner.
As a WNU lecturer, he was someone we could always count on, bringing updated content on both supply chain and security. A wonderful father, very proud of his daughter.
Patricia Wieland
We have lost a very kind, gentle and very supportive friend. I have met Greg at several international nuclear events where we are speakers including in Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong as we both presented on Nuclear Supply Chain. Greg being a Key Official responsible for the WNA's Nuclear Supply Chain Report and after attending several IAEA TM and Fellowships on Nuclear Supply Chain, I had introduced this in Malaysia to the construction, manufacturing and services industry. When I visited the UK and the WNA in 2016 and 2018 Greg kindly organize a brief meeting to share about the Nuclear Supply Chain updates. Later we would head off for lunch together, the former also with Patricia then Head of WNU and the latter with Greg.
In view of the importance of Nuclear Supply Chain I had then proposed to Patricia to introduce the topic Opportunities in the Nuclear Supply Chain for the WNU Summer Institute. This was accepted and I was honoured to be invited to present this at its first course in Upsala.
I still remember the nice restaurant Greg took me which had served some really wonderful cuisine. Will certainly miss him greatly. My deepest condolences to Greg's family and to his WNA team/mates. RIP Greg.
Sheriffah Noor Khamseah
Very sad, a very pleasant fellow.. RIP.
Philippe Malouines
R.I.P Greg. My condolences to the family!
Johane Lemay
What a loss; condolences to Greg Kaser’s family, friends and work colleagues. Had the pleasure of interacting with Greg, and I am shocked and saddened by his passing.
Susan Brissette
So sad. I met Greg many times in his London offices, such a knowledgeable professional and a gentleman too.
Peter Booth
Condolences to Greg's family.
Christian Legrain
So very sad to hear of Greg's passing, such dreadful news. My sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace Greg.
Lynn Williams
Greg was a good colleague, a real gentleman – and a friend. When he committed to contribute he always did. My sincere condolences to his family and colleagues. Greg will be deeply missed.
Pekka Pyy
I am so saddened with this news. Condolences to all his family members, friends and colleagues.
Rest in peace Greg.
Alice Cunha da Silva
Rest in Peace and my condolences to the family!
Seyedjalal Ghazanfari
Rest in peace.
Amir Golgoun
This is really sad. Greg was a really kind, happy person and was lovely to speak to. Rest in peace.
Shayne Halfpenny-Ray
It is sad. Rest in peace, Greg.
Jozef Sobolewski
I am shocked and saddened to hear about this terrible news... Rest In Peace, dear Greg. You will be remembered fondly by so many of us in the nuclear community.
Elina Teplinsky
It was a pleasure to work with Greg and to know him. Very sad that his time was cut short. Rest in peace.
Jeremy Gordon
Such sad news, Greg was such a lovely, kind, smiley person and will be missed by many. Condolences to his family.
Stephanie McKenna
Such sad news. Rest in peace Greg.
Fiona Reilly
Rest in peace.
Antonio González Jiménez
Working with Greg for the past 10 years has been a great honour. Greg was so knowledgeable and passionate about his work, but most of all was such a kind and gentle person. He cared about people and would always greet them with a big smile. I will sorely miss him. Rest in peace, Greg.
Virginie Ryan-Taix
I have had the pleasure of working with Greg for many years as part of his MDEP VICWG support. We have had the opportunity to work together in many worldwide locations and both I and the VICWG team will miss his company, expertise and contribution in keeping the industry safe.
A true gentleman he will be greatly missed. We will share a happy memory and toast Greg when we next get the opportunity to meet as a team.
Stuart Allen
Greg was a widely recognized open-minded expert in his domain. Above all, he was a real gentleman, always smiling and willing to help and to assist you in any matter. My deepest sympathy to his family and colleagues and the nuclear community misses him so much.
Thierry Zumbihl
Such sad new. I remember fondly working, and relaxing, with Greg in Russia and Ukraine. Nothing too much trouble, always with thoughtful advice and a pleasure to be with. The sauna in the taiga forest near Kemerovo, -30C outside, is a memory I'll always have. Condolences to family, friends and colleagues.
Nicolas Sinclair
I had several opportunities to work with Greg over the last years, especially in the context of the IFNEC work on nuclear supply chains. Not only was he a highly competent professional, he was also a very friendly person. We will miss him tremendously. Sincere condolences to his family and colleagues.
Henri Paillere
My deepest condolences to Greg’s family and to our colleagues at WNA. Greg was a kind person and a good friend, he will be missed by everyone that knew him. He left his mark on the nuclear field and his legacy will be remember at the international level. May his soul rest in peace.
Belkys Sosa
I was sorry to hear about the passing of your colleague Greg Kaser. He seems to have been a remarkable man who contributed a great deal to the industry. I'm sure his passing is a personal and professional loss to you.
Hatem Khouaja
I am so sad to hear about Greg's passing. I worked with Greg over the past few years and found him so inspirational. He was always the smiling, positive, person in the room. The photos on the website capture him beautifully. RIP Greg & thoughts with your family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
Will Harrison-Cripps
I had the privilege to work closely with Greg during the past 12 months. I found him to be all the things one could hope for in a colleague: intelligent, knowledgeable, responsive, demanding, and enthusiastic.
Greg was a gentle and unaffected man, and he will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.
Alec Mitchell
Greg was such a hardworking, professional and gentile nuclear industry colleague that focused on solving real industry issues. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
Matheus Abbt
A person that departs from this earth never truly leaves, for they are still alive in our hearts and minds, through us, they live on. Please accept my condolences, he will not be forgotten.
Marcel LIPS
The tributes from the nuclear sector show how much Greg was loved and respected. We should also recognise his achievements before he joined WNA. Greg was a friend and colleague from 1993 till 2001 at International Economic and Energy Consultants (a part of the IMC Ltd group), where his work focussed on assisting former Soviet Union countries with the transition to the market economy and in particular with ameliorating the severe social and economic consequences. His temperament and skills were ideally suited to this task.
Most of his colleagues in IEEC (myself included) came from a robust mining industry background and Greg brought a welcome finesse to our community. Through his work he was lucky enough (as I was) to meet and marry a lovely Russian lady — in Greg’s case Marina and in mine Elena.
We send our deepest sympathy to Marina and Sasha.
John and Elena Bacharach
I learnt with great sadness of the recent passing of Greg Kaser. My most sincere condolences to his WNA colleagues and family.
Like many have already said, I will remember him as one who always had a smile on his face and whose presence in meetings would help raise the level of discussion.
Michel Berthelemy
My condolences to his family and colleagues. It was a pleasure to work with Greg at WNA WGs. Very tactful, with smile, but you were always sure that it is only your part of work may be conditional on anything.
Ilya Sesyutchenkov
One of nature's true gentlemen - a very sad loss indeed. Rest In Peace Greg.
Phil Litherland
I was very sad to hear of Greg’s passing. I worked alongside Greg for six years at the WNA and greatly appreciated his knowledgable contributions. He was unfailingly helpful and pleasant in all his dealings and will be sorely missed. My condolences to Marina and Sasha.
Ian Emsley
I am very sad to learn of Greg’s untimely passing. I had the good fortune to work with him at IMC’s International Economic + Energy Consultants in the years following perestroika, where his experience with the Coalfield Communities Campaign was brought to bear on the huge problems facing the mining industries of the Former Soviet Union as they struggled to adapt to the new economic order. Greg was a great pleasure to work with, a man who got on well with everyone he met, and a top flight economist. Greg, you will be sorely missed.
Robert Yates
Greg was a very clever and nice individual that welcomed me on my first day in the office. He immediately trusted me and gave me my first piece of work for the report he was working on. In the conversations we had, Greg impressed me by being a very educated person, always listening to what others had to say. He was always willing to help and was also passionate about his work.
My most sincere condolences.
Alexandre de Ruvo
Greg’s loss will be felt by many in our global community. May the memories of his gentle personality and many contributions be celebrated by all. My deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and dear colleagues.
Kirsty Gogan
I feel very fortunate to have known Greg. He brought with him not only his expertise in economics, but knowledge of finance, foreign affairs, security and urban and regional development. He was a go-to person for helping understand some of the complex non-technical issues that arise in the nuclear sphere; and he was always ready to support his colleagues. Greg would never dodge a complex problem: he liked to confront it head-on using his intellect and capacity for hard work. He accomplished all this while remaining very kind and considerate to colleagues. We will miss him greatly.
Serge Gorlin
I have known Greg for many years and he always had time for everyone; listening to their views and opinions; sharing his thoughts and knowledge. A true gentleman and will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family.
Robert M Rodger
I had the chance to work with Greg on some occasions. Greg was a true professional dedicated to his job and you could feel how nice and gentle he was in all his interactions with his colleagues and all the WNA members. It is a great loss for all of us. All my sympathy goes to his family and colleagues.
Henri Zaccai
Incredibly sad to hear of Greg’s untimely passing. Greg and I joined the WNA at almost the same time, so I cannot imagine the Association without his knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly presence. Despite his natural modesty, his impact on the nuclear sector and its people will be enduring. I am certain he will be missed by all who knew him, and my deepest sympathies are with his family.
Jamie Townes
So very sad - many condolences. A lovely man. Rest in peace.
Tim Stone
So saddened to hear that Greg passed away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
Saied Dardour
Greg was a true gentleman, always smiling, hugely knowledgeable, always there when you needed help. It is cruel that he's been taken from his loved ones far too soon, and may he rest in peace.
John Lindberg
Although I first met Greg only in 2020, I could immediately sense kindness and warmth in the gentle smile on his face. He was the person who stood out for his intelligence, politeness and meekness. Greg’s kind soul will forever remain in our memories.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to Greg’s family and friends.
May he rest in grace and love now.
Kristina Valen
Greg will be fondly remembered for the wonderful contribution he made to the WNA and global industry. He was a person of immense intellect and understanding, which he always displayed with a lightness of touch and generosity of spirit. He’ll be much missed.
Chris White
It was a pleasure to know Greg and an honour to work with him for the past 10 years. He was very knowledgeable and diligent, always positive and happy, greeted everyone with his big smile. In the mornings, we often met in the kitchen preparing tea and catching up about the journey from Oxford, politics, his family, especially his daughter Sasha. He will be greatly missed! RIP, Greg! Sincere condolences to his family.
Brigita Mammetti
Having joined the Association shortly after Greg it soon became clear what a dedicated, passionate and kind gentleman he was. I shall miss his submission of expense claims as you could clearly see that Greg was methodical in every task he had to fulfil.
Rest in peace.
Paul Kidman
Greg was such a lovely man, always smiling and such a pleasure to work with. I always enjoyed talking to him at WNA events and meeting him and Marina on occasion at WNA Symposia. I listened to him speaking in an IAEA webinar on Supply Chain Management in early December, and as always found myself in awe at the breadth and depth of his knowledge, but also at his willingness to share his experience and his enthusiasm for the subject. I came away from that webinar thinking of issues I'd ask Greg about the next time we should meet. I'm sad I will now never get the chance. RIP Greg, and my sincere condolences to Marina and Sasha.
Claire Maden
Greg was, and will remain, a much-loved person. He was a warm-hearted generous soul, readily willing to share his considerable knowledge and go out of his way to be of help. I work out of India, and though I had known Greg for several years, and worked with him on Supply Chain, our personal & face to interactions had been few & far between. If I were to sum up all the time we spent together, it would add to a few dozen hours. But, what an impact those few hours have had on me!
“Voila un homme”: Greg my friend.
Rest in peace. Amen
Shah Nawaz Ahmad
The staff of the World Institute of Nuclear Security are very saddened by the passing of Greg Kaser. Greg was a valued and respected colleague in the nuclear industry and a highly valued partner for WINS in matters related to nuclear security. He made a great contribution to the global community of practitioners and was a dear friend with warm humor and kindness. Our sincerest condolences to Greg’s family. Greg will be missed.
Vale Greg.
Rhonda Evans
Greg was smart and devoted to the nuclear industry, but - very distinctively - he was also so kind and helpful. Did you ever see him without a smile on his face? As we initiated our "Incentives for Nuclear Security" project about five years ago, we found him to be always willing to provide guidance and answer questions. He even cited in one of WNA's own reports one of our efforts on standards development for the nuclear industry, so supportive was he of work in the nuclear security field. He will be missed but remembered well. Our condolences go to his family.
Debra Decker and Kathryn Rauhut for the Stimson Center