From 14 to 18 July, London hosted the annual WiN Global Conference, bringing together more than 800 participants from over 50 countries worldwide. Among the delegates were representatives of WiN Ukraine, who joined key events, sessions, and international exchanges of experience in the fields of nuclear energy and the advancement of women’s leadership in the industry.The conference programme included several thematic streams:
The conference was officially opened by WiN Global Executive Director Jack Gritt. Welcome remarks were also delivered by WiN UK President Clare Sharpe, WiN Global President Melina Belinco, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi.IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recalled that upon taking office at the Agency, he observed a clear imbalance in the representation of women in leadership positions, which motivated him to set a clear objective — achieving gender parity.
“Today, this goal has already been accomplished within the IAEA, serving as a vivid example of how institutional leadership can shape a culture of equality,” Grossi noted.
“Throughout the conference, we witnessed active leadership from executives across various organisations in advancing gender policies. When leaders consciously demonstrate the value of equal opportunities and personally initiate change, they not only establish new standards within their organisations but also set the tone for the entire industry. Institutional leadership carries responsibility that goes beyond declarations and requires tangible action: creating barrier-free environments, eliminating bias, supporting women’s career advancement, and recognising their contribution to the development of the nuclear sector,” noted the newly elected President of WiN Ukraine, Alona Zavorotnia.
On the first day of the conference, Dr Joanne Lackenby, former President of the Australian Nuclear Association and WiN Australia, delivered an inspiring presentation on the concept of the “friendly atom”.During the three working days of the conference, participants attended workshops covering topics such as:
On the third day of the conference, during the panel discussion “Nuclear Truth: Debunking Common Misconceptions”, Renata Yaresko, Director for Development, Communications and Public Relations of WiN Ukraine, took the stage.
Together with her colleague from Japan, Rieko Takaki, our representative spoke about the most painful lessons the world learned from the accidents at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the long path toward restoring public trust in nuclear energy.
As WiN Ukraine representatives were speaking on behalf of Ukraine on the international stage, it was impossible to remain silent about new and emerging threats — those that today destroy not only trust, but also lives. About war. About terrorism targeting nuclear facilities. About the reality in which our country lives today.
Considering the lessons learned from incidents such as Chornobyl and Fukushima, this painful experience has been fully incorporated into modern approaches to nuclear safety. Much time has passed since the Chornobyl accident, and during this period technologies and innovations have advanced significantly. First, the Chornobyl NPP operated a reactor design fundamentally different from those currently operating at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Second, all Ukrainian NPPs have undergone a Comprehensive (Integrated) Safety Upgrade Programme. Therefore, the factors and lessons of past events, particularly internal initiating events, have been thoroughly addressed.
“I come from a country at war, and therefore I cannot promise you that such an event will never happen again. Ignoring this reality would mean choosing to close our eyes.We, Ukrainians, bear responsibility for doing everything possible to ensure this never happens again, but we are not all-powerful in the face of external threats: the occupation and mining of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, including the mining of areas within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, drones and missiles flying over the roofs of our nuclear facilities, destruction of energy infrastructure, and blackouts…All of this is the responsibility of russia, which is creating threats not only for Ukraine but for the entire world. Unfortunately, our Armed Forces of Ukraine and our nuclear professionals are doing everything possible to ensure that the world never again witnesses accidents such as those at Chornobyl or Fukushima,” Renata told the international audience.
The Director for Development, Communications and Public Relations also emphasised that when engaging with the public in the shadow of the Chornobyl disaster, trust must remain at the centre of our efforts.We must trust our nuclear professionals, who fully understand their responsibility for the operation of nuclear power plants — to themselves, to their families, to society, and to humanity as a whole. Radiation knows no borders.
“I trust Ukrainian nuclear professionals. Their number one priority is safety, for which they bear absolute responsibility. This must remain the key message we communicate to society,” Renata concluded.
The conference exhibition area featured leading international companies, including Westinghouse, EDF, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Rolls-Royce SMR and others. In the Technical Arena, participants had the opportunity to explore the latest developments in robotics and virtual reality technologies.
“In a world where women are still underrepresented in strategic sectors, we — Ukrainian women — came from a country at war to speak about the future of nuclear energy. And our voices were heard. Because women’s leadership is not about trends or fashion. It is about trust, experience, and the strength to hold the line even under fire.We are proud of this year’s participants, Alona and Renata, who represented not only WiN Ukraine in London, but also the entire community of women in the Ukrainian nuclear sector,” emphasised Margaryta Rayets, Honorary Founding Chair and co-founder of WiN Ukraine.
“Platforms such as WiN Global allow us not only to learn from international best practices but also to present ourselves as a responsible partner that is open to transformation,” Alona noted.
According to President Alona Zavorotnia, Ukraine possesses strong human capital, and it is essential that every voice, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to be heard and realised.
This is precisely why international events of this kind are critically important for strengthening professional connections, building global solidarity, exchanging experience, and advancing the role of women in the nuclear sector in the face of today’s challenges.
