{"id":2773,"date":"2020-12-09T19:05:48","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T01:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crpa-acrp-bulletin.ca\/?p=2773"},"modified":"2020-12-09T19:23:18","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T01:23:18","slug":"entrevue-avec-karen-owen-whitred-de-la-commission-canadienne-de-surete-nucleaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crpa-acrp-bulletin.ca\/fr\/2020\/12\/09\/entrevue-avec-karen-owen-whitred-de-la-commission-canadienne-de-surete-nucleaire\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrevue avec Karen Owen-Whitred de la Commission canadienne de s\u00fbret\u00e9 nucl\u00e9aire"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"In this issue, Dave continues his interview series by talking with Karen Owen-Whitred, the new director general of the Directorate of Nuclear Substances Regulation (DNSR) at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). She tells him about everything from her work history to her latest plans for DNSR. Will they continue to do remote inspections even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over? Keep reading . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

Dave Niven: Tell us a little bit about yourself\u2014anything you\u2019d like to share about your work experience, background, or some lockdown survival tips you\u2019ve picked up during the last few months!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karen Owen-Whitred: I have been with the CNSC for just over 18 years, since 2002. I have degrees in engineering physics and public policy, which were a good foundation for the early parts of my career in the field of international safeguards.<\/p>\n

Later I moved to the regulatory framework group, where I worked on the development and publication of regulatory documents (REGDOCs) and regulations. That led me to the CNSC\u2019s Transport Licensing and Strategic Support Division, which is where I spent the last two years before becoming the director general of the DNSR in June 2020.<\/p>\n

Taking on this new challenge during a global pandemic was certainly a unique experience! I definitely miss interacting with my friends and colleagues in person, and my two boys (ages nine and seven) occasionally make an appearance during my Zoom calls. But overall, I consider myself incredibly lucky to have the type of job where I could continue working remotely almost uninterrupted during this difficult time.<\/p>\n

Dave: You\u2019ve been working at the CNSC for a long time. What were some of the things that attracted you when you first applied there, and what are some of the main reasons you still enjoy working there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karen: I have always enjoyed the size of the CNSC\u2014it\u2019s a big enough organization that there\u2019s always something new or interesting to work on, which I\u2019ve found as I\u2019ve moved around to different positions. On the other hand, it\u2019s small enough that I can get to know most of my co-workers, and I\u2019ve always found there to be a strong emphasis on work\u2013life balance.<\/p>\n

Dave: What experiences or best practices from the Safeguards Division or the Regulatory Framework Division have you been able to bring over to DNSR?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karen: Working in international safeguards gave me an excellent foundation in mediation and interpersonal relations. The CNSC acts as somewhat of a mediator between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Canadian licensees, so I learned a lot about looking at an issue from different sides.<\/p>\n

As part of my regulatory framework experience, I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of files from across a range of areas within the CNSC (Indigenous engagement, safety culture, radiation protection, fitness for duty, etc.), which allowed me to get a sense of the \u201cbig picture.\u201d It also gave me experience assessing the implications of regulatory actions and decisions.<\/p>\n

Dave: Due to the pandemic, the CNSC inspectors have begun performing remote inspections. What are some of the tips you have to share with licensees if they\u2019re scheduled for a remote inspection? Do you predict that any parts of the remote inspection could continue even after the pandemic?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karen: Based on our experience thus far, here are some tips for licensees in preparing for a CNSC remote inspection:<\/p>\n