The safe, efficient and secure use of nuclear energy is supported by a complex body of international treaties, obligations and instruments, as well national and regional legal regimes, that create, uphold and enforce all aspects of nuclear safety, security and liability.

Nuclear law is a unique and specialized field of law that has been in existence for over 60 years and is concerned with all aspects of nuclear energy, including radiological protection, nuclear safety, management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, environmental protection, transport, nuclear security, non-proliferation, safeguards, nuclear liability, and international trade, among other topics.

In recent years, interest in nuclear energy has increased dramatically, not only with traditional technologies but also with new and innovative technologies. The future of the nuclear industry requires a robust and diverse workforce to drive performance and innovation, including in the field of nuclear law.

The WiN Law was started to address this issue and create a multidisciplinary group of nuclear law experts within the membership of WiN Global.

 

Mission

WiN Law seeks to promote and strengthen the involvement of women in nuclear law by attracting, retaining and promoting current and future talents in this interesting and unique field.

 

Role of WiN Law Partners

The WiN Law Group of Expertise was launched in March 2023 under the framework of the partnership between WiN Global and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). This partnership was launched in September 2022 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the NEA and WiN Global to further strengthen the common objective of both to improve gender balance in the nuclear sector.

 

Why WiN Law?

Women are under-represented in the nuclear energy sector, especially in leadership roles. The future of the nuclear industry requires a robust and diverse workforce to not only drive performance and innovation, but also to ensure public health and safety and protect the environment. The need for this robust and diverse workforce extends to the field of nuclear law. In the legal field, although women make up the majority of law graduates, they are under-represented in senior level positions. 

 

Objectives

  • Regularly meet to exchange information and discuss news, trends, and gender issues in nuclear law
  • Launch initiatives – particularly related to mentoring – to give visibility to potential career options to professional women working in nuclear law
  • Promote gender balanced webinars, workshops, panel discussions and other events on nuclear law
  • Participate in conferences, panel sessions and events related to nuclear law.

 

Membership Application

Join us, share your expertise, and help shape meaningful impact across the WiN Global community.

► Complete the membership application form

Leadership

Kimberly Sexton Nick - OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

Kimberly is the Head of the NEA Division of Nuclear Law. In this position, she is the lead counsel for nuclear safety and regulatory affairs, provides secretariat services to the NEA Nuclear Law Committee as well as the Working Party on the Legal Aspects of Nuclear Safety, and directs the legal education and publication programmes, including as editor of the Nuclear Law Bulletin.