Thank you to those personally supporting this event!

Day 1: Empowering the Next Generation of Radiological Protection Professionals

Moderator: Ämilie Degenhardt (BfS, Germany)

Welcome and Introduction to ICRP

Kelsey Cloutier (ICRP, Canada)

The Diverse World of Radiological Protection Careers

Beyond the Lab: Creating Communities and Opportunities in Early Career Science

Ämilie Degenhardt (BfS, Germany)

From Myanmar to Japan: A Researcher’s Journey in Radiation Protection and Beyond

Win Thu Zar (Nagasaki University, Japan)

SLIDES

There is Still Much to be Done - Opportunities for Personal Development and a Career in Radiological Protection From a Personal Perspective

Piotr Pankowski (University of Lodz, Poland)

SLIDES

Softening the Science: Laying Foundational Knowledge of Radiation Protection Principles for Future Generations

Hafsa Essop (University of Pretoria, South Africa)

My Experience as an ICRP Mentee

David Sibenaler (ARPANSA, Australia)

SLIDES

Toward the Development of Future Radiation Protection Field Through Activities of IRPA Young Generation Network

Takahiko Kono (NRA Japan & IRPA YGN Leadership Committee, Japan)

Navigating Career Pathways and Building a Future in Radiological Protection

Exploring RP Career Options in Academia, Industry, and Government

Nicole Martinez (Clemson University, USA)

Education of Radiation Professionals for the Future

Tomas Kron (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia)

SLIDES

The ICRP Mentorship Programme and Other Opportunities

Simon Bouffler (UK Health Security Agency, UK)

Panel Discussion & Q&A: Advice for the Next Generation

Day 2: Collaborating for the Future, an Organizational Approaches to Strengthening Radiological Protection

Moderator: Lorenzo Mazzoni (AUSL Toscana Centro & EFOMP, Italy)

SLIDES

Opening Remarks: Why a Unified Effort is Essential

Lorenzo Nicola Mazzoni (AUSL Toscana Centro & EFOMP, Italy)

Organizational Initiatives: What's Being Done Today

SLIDES

Attracting, Educating, Developing and Maintaining the Next Generation of RP Professionals

Josep Zic (McMaster University, Canada)

SLIDES

IAEA Initiatives for Supporting the Growth of the Radiological Protection Workforce

Jasminka Joksic (IAEA, Austria)

SLIDES

The Future of Radiation Protection in Germany, Europe, and Beyond

Achim Neuhäuser (BfS, Germany)

SLIDES

China’s Good Practice in Getting Young People Involved Into RP Roles

Hua Li (CIRP & CSRP, China)

SLIDES

EUTERP - The European Foundation for Training & Education in RP

Hielke Freerk Boersma (University of Groningen & EUTERP, Netherlands)

What Needs to Change: Creating a Sustainable Talent Pipeline

SLIDES

Developing the RP Workforce of the Future

Pete Bryant (WNTI & University of Liverpool, UK)

SLIDES

Aspiring to Inspire

Julie Burtt (CNSC, Canada)

Panel Discussion & Q&A: How Organizations Can Lead the Charge

Closing Remarks

Kelsey Cloutier

ICRP Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, Canada

Kelsey Cloutier has worked in stakeholder engagement and communications for over 10 years, bringing a collaborative, people-focused approach to everything he does. Since joining the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 2016, he has taken on a wide range of responsibilities, including fundraising, event planning, communications, and general organisational support. A true jack-of-all-trades, he is passionate about building global partnerships that empower the radiological protection community. While not a technical expert, he is a dedicated supporter of the field, committed to helping the incredible people who make up the RP world thrive and succeed.

Ämilie Degenhardt

ICRP Task Group 121 Mentee & BfS, Germany

Ämilie Degenhardt is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS) and a Mentee of Task Group 121. She is passionate about connecting early career scientists and making sure Capitu, her dog, gets enough belly rubs.

Win Thu Zar

PhD Student in Advanced Preventive Medical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Japan

Win Thu Zar is bridging the gap between science and society, connecting cultures, and learning from real-world experiences — whether in the lab, the field, or through conversations that spark new ideas.

Piotr Pankowski

ICRP Task Group 116 Mentee & PhD in Physics, Poland

Piotr Pankowski is a Mentee of Task Group 116 and an Associate Professor at the Department of Nuclear Physics and Radiation Safety, Faculty of Physics and Applied Informatics, University of Lodz, Poland.

Hafsa Essop

Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria, Winner of the 2023 Cousins Award, Mom of Many, and Gaming in Education Enthusiast, South Africa

Hafsa Essop is a first-year lecturer teaching radiation protection to ~65-75 students. She uses principles of gamification in her teaching to make the principles of RP understandable and applicable, using activities such as mock court cases regarding the effects of radiation, medicolegal cases, and board games with quizzes.

David Sibenaler

ICRP Task Group 120 Mentee & ARPANSA, Australia

Providing clear and accurate information to the community about radiation is what David Sibenaler does in his communication role at Australia's primary radiation protection authority: ARPANSA. He also contributes to the ICRP's work as a Mentee of Task Group 120 and has been involved in updating a radiation communication and risk handbook for the WHO. Outside of work David is a surf life saver, dancer, runner, cyclist, and all-round good bloke. 

Takahiko Kono

Chief of Radiation Monitoring Division, Radiation Protection Department, Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan & Chair of Leadership Committee, Young Generation Network, International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), Japan

Takahiko Kono has mainly worked in marine environmental monitoring after ALPS treated water discharge into the sea and has enacted/established the series of environmental radioactivity measuring methods as standard manual for environmental radioactivity analysis and environmental radiation measurement at the NRA since 2023. Takahiko has also worked to help expand this network by participating in various conferences as a chair of the IRPA YGN Leadership Committee.

Nicole Martinez

Associate Professor (and yoga teacher!) at Clemson University, USA

Nicole Martinez is a long time ICRP member contributing her expertise in RP to multiple Task Groups. She was Vice-Chair of Task Group 110, which published ICRP Publication 153: Radiological Protection in Veterinary Practice in 2022. Nicole is currently a member of Task Groups 114, 125, 129, and the C4 Working Party on Sustainable Development. She has also been a member of Commitee 4, Application of the Commission's Recommendations, since 2017 and has held the role of Vice-Chair since 2021.

Tomas Kron

ICRP Task Group 116 Member & Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia

Tomas Kron was born and educated in Germany. After his PhD he migrated to Australia in 1989 where he commenced his career in radiotherapy physics. He now is Director of Physical Sciences at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne leading a team of 50 engineers and physicists. Professor Kron has an interest in education of medical physicists, dosimetry of ionising radiation, image guidance and clinical trials, which is demonstrated by 110 invited conference presentations and more than 350 papers in refereed journals.

Simon Bouffler

Deputy Director, Radiation Protection Sciences of the UK Health Security Agency & Local Village Pond Conservation Volunteer, UK

Simon Bouffler is also the Vice-chair of the ICRP Main Commission and coordinates the ICRP Mentorship Programme.

Lorenzo Nicola Mazzoni

AUSL Toscana Centro & EFOMP, Italy

Lorenzo Nicola Mazzoni is a medical physics and radiation protection expert working at the medical and health physics unit of AUSL Toscana Centro, Pistoia, Italy. He is member of the EFOMP Council, member of the EFOMP European and International Matter Committee, EFOMP representative to ICRP, and a member of ICRP Task Group 127.

Josep Zic

ICRP Task Group 129 Member & Chief Nuclear Officer and Collector of Radioactive Material, McMaster University, Canada

Josip Zic is the Chief Nuclear Officer at McMaster University, where he is responsible for all licensed nuclear activities, including the safe operation of a 10 MW research reactor, Class II Facilities and activities of more than 1,200 individuals that perform radiological work activities under the 40+ regulatory licenses used on and off campus. He is a Registered Radiation Safety Professional with the Canadian Radiation Protection Association and a Certified Health Physicist with the American Board of Health Physics. He is also the Co-Chair of the World Nuclear Association Radiation Protection Working Group and is a member of various technical standards committees in Canada, including the Canadian Standards Association Technical Committee for the management of radioactive waste.

Jasminka Joksic

IAEA, Austria

Ms. Jasminka Joksic is a Radiation Safety and Monitoring Programme Officer in the Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section of the Division of Radiation, Transport, and Waste Safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In this role, she is responsible for coordinating cooperation with international organizations in the field of radiation protection and safety. Ms. Joksic holds a PhD in Environmental Chemistry and has over 20 years of experience in radiation protection and safety. From 2000 to 2010, she worked at the Vinca Nuclear Research Institute, where she completed both her master's and PhD studies. From 2010 to 2022, she held several senior management positions and played a key role in establishing Serbia’s first regulatory body for nuclear and radiation safety. Throughout her career, she has mentored numerous young professionals.

Achim Neuhäuser

BfS, Germany

Hua Li

China Institute for Radiation Protection (CIRP) & China Society of Radiation Protection (CSRP), China

Hua Li is a Senior Researcher at the China Institute for Radiation Protection (CIRP) and chairs the Youth Committee of the China Society of Radiation Protection (CSRP). He holds a PhD from Tsinghua University (2017) and worked at OECD-NEA in France (2019–2022) on radiation protection. His research focuses on AI digitalization in radiation protection and medical radiation dosimetry. With over 60 publications and 20 patents, he has received numerous awards, including CSRP’s First Prize in Science and Technology (2024), Young Excellent Scientist (2019), and CNNC’s Exemplary Individual in International Academic Work (2023).

Hielke-Freerk Boersma

University of Groningen & European Training and Education in Radiation Protection Platform (EUTERP), Netherlands

Hielke Freerk Boersma is the head of the Groningen Academy for Radiation Protection at the University of Groningen. He serves his institute as the coordinating RPE since 1997. He was a board member of the Dutch Society for Radiation Protection from 2002 – 2020, being its president from 2008 – 2014. He was appointed honorary member of the NVS in 2022. Hielke-Freerk has been active in Education & Training in radiation protection since 1999 and got involved in EUTERP in 2007. Since 2022 he is a member of the board of directors of EUTERP. Finally Hielke Freerk was elected in the Executive Council of IRPA in 2024, and he is leading the new IRPA Task Group on Education & Training in Radiation Protection.

Pete Bryant

CEO of World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) & Professor at Univeristy of Liverpool in Radiation Protection Sciences, UK

Prof. Pete Bryant is an experienced Radiation Protection Professional with over 17 years experience in the Nuclear Industry. He has held several senior positions in Nuclear New Build including as the former Head of Environment, and Director of ESG and Radiation Strategy at Sizewell C. He sits on various International Radiation Protection Committee and Working Groups and is the newly appointed CEO of the World Nuclear Transport Institute.

Julie Burtt

ICRP & CNSC, Canada

Julie Burtt is a Nuclear Regulator by day and PhD student by night. Her day job as a Radiation and Health Sciences Specialist for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) focuses on the health impacts from radiation exposure, while her PhD is focused on radiation risk communication and perception. She is a member of ICRP Committee 4 and supports several task groups. Julie is also a member of the Canadian delegation to UNSCEAR.