On March 28, 2023, the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network conducted another round of the Black Sea Experts NucTalks in observance of Women’s History Month. The talk focused on leadership in the nuclear sector and featured four speakers, who shared personal experiences, professional milestones, and the challenges they have encountered.
The discussion that followed provided an opportunity to build on speakers’ remarks and address timely topics. BSWN was represented by Dr. Şebnem Udum, Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at Hacettepe University, who spoke about her experience as chair of the IAEA’s International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN), and by Alona Samsonenko, Leading Engineer at the George Kuzmych Training Center, Institute of Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who described the training center’s activities.
Two invited speakers – Rhonda Evans, Head of Program Development at the World Institute for Nuclear Security, and Anton Gabriel Culea, Nuclear Operator at CNE Cernavoda, Romania – shared insights on how organizations can foster advancement and representation in leadership. They highlighted the importance of institutional culture, equitable talent development, and structured pathways for leadership to encourage broader participation in the nuclear sector. The NucTalk was moderated by Dr. Valeriia Gergiieva, Visiting Fellow at the IFSH at the University of Hamburg and Research Fellow at the Odesa Center for Nonproliferation.
During the discussion, participants emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to ensure fair representation and opportunities within the nuclear community, noting that women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles. Currently, women make up only about 20–25% of the nuclear workforce and are particularly scarce in nuclear security. Therefore, organizations should focus on identifying and removing the barriers that prevent individuals from entering and advancing in the field. A crucial step is to raise awareness about career development opportunities, so people understand they are welcome and valued in the nuclear industry—a necessary approach, as the field cannot afford to exclude such a large portion of its potential workforce.