Speakers
Dr. Neil Alexander
Principal Consultant
Bucephalus Consulting
Dr. Neil Alexander has been involved in the nuclear industry for more than 20 years with consulting experience and in-depth knowledge of business management, marketing and sales. A long-time advocate of nuclear power as a secure and environmentally sensitive source of energy, Dr. Alexander has worked for business-to-business service companies within the nuclear services, waste management and radiopharmaceutical sectors in the U.K. and Canada.
Dr. Alexander’s work experience includes a number of prominent companies within the nuclear sector. From 1986 to 2002, he worked for the AEA Technology Group of Companies which was created after the privatization of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). He helped the company through its privatization transition, and established new business units in radio-pharmaceuticals, waste management and transport services. He was also appointed president of Monserco Ltd., a nuclear waste management company, and oversaw its operations in Canada. During his time there, he grew the company through solidifying relationships with customers, regulators and suppliers, and introducing new products and services.
Upon settling in Canada in 2002, Dr. Alexander became the director of the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) account for Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL). Between 2004 and 2008 he held senior management positions in business development for SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Inc. and Babcock & Wilcox Canada. He also established his own consultancy, Bucephalus Inc., where he advised and acted as an agent for nuclear engineers, service providers and within the construction industry.
Dr. Alexander obtained his PhD in Radiation Damage in Ferritic Steels, and a BSc in Metallurgy and Materials Science, both from the University of Birmingham. He served as a director on OCI’s board of directors since 2004 and as a council member for the Canadian Nuclear Society. Dr. Alexander remains active in Canada’s nuclear power industry with a commitment to addressing its growing energy demands while minimizing greenhouse gases. He also looks forward to continue promoting and growing business opportunities for OCI members, and focusing the association on the enormous export opportunities for Canada’s nuclear industry.
Mr. Jack Bailey
Senior Vice President
NuScale Power
Jack Bailey serves as Senior Vice President, Business Development for NuScale Power. Prior to joining NuScale Bailey was at Generation mPower, where he led the company’s North American business development efforts, as well as support for various project development activities.
Prior to his time at GMP, Bailey spent 15 years with the Tennessee Valley Authority. From 2005-2012, he was VP Nuclear Generation Development and led TVA project development for AP1000 and SMR projects. Prior to that, he was VP Nuclear Engineering and Technical Services from 1997-2002, and subsequently SVP Power Resources and Operational Planning from 2002-2005. Before TVA, Bailey spent 8 years at Arizona Public Service, 7 years at Virginia Power Company and 5 years in the nuclear navy.
Additionally, Bailey has held industry leadership positions as the Chairman NEI Small Modular Reactor Working Group from 2011-2012, Chairman NEI Task Group Closing Fuel Cycle Regulatory Framework – 2008-2012, TVA Executive founding member on NuStart Management Committee – 2006-2012, NEI New Plant Working Group – 2007-2012, NERC Planning Committee Federal Representative – 2003-2005, and as Chairman Westinghouse Owners Group – 2001, among others.
Dr. Rita Baranwal
Director, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear
Idaho National Laboratory
Dr. Rita Baranwal joined INL's Nuclear Science & Technology directorate in August 2016 as the director for the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative.
Baranwal most recently served as the director of Technology Development and Application at Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. In that position, she led the creation and development of game-changing technologies and managed characterization and hot cell laboratories to support Westinghouse, its customers and the nuclear power industry. Her previous positions at Westinghouse included director of Core Engineering and manager of Materials and Fuel Rod Design. Prior to joining Westinghouse, she was a manager in the Materials Technology organization at Bechtel Bettis, Inc.
Baranwal was an adjunct faculty member of University of South Carolina's nuclear engineering graduate program from 2010-2012. She holds two patents for materials engineering technology and has co-authored publications related to characterization of irradiation and fabrication process effects on material microstructure and properties. She received her bachelor's degree from MIT in materials science and engineering and her master's degree and Ph.D. in the same discipline from the University of Michigan. She also completed an executive management program at Duquesne University's Beard Institute in 2009.
Baranwal has been an active American Nuclear Society member since 2008 and currently serves on the ANS Materials Science and Technology Division Executive Committee. She also serves on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Pittsburgh and was recently elected to serve on the board of directors for North Hills Community Outreach.
Mr. Jon Ball
Executive Vice President
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Jon Ball is Executive Vice President of Nuclear Plant Projects for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, a position he assumed in November 2015. In this role he leads the development and execution of new plant strategies globally.
Jon has been a leader in the nuclear industry for more than 20 years and has a wide-range of experience in manufacturing, global operations, services, quality and P&L leadership.
From 2012-2015 Jon served as Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain, where he led more than 1,000 employees worldwide in manufacturing and logistics. Prior to that Jon spent seven years in services where he led both the performance services and field services segments.
Before that he spent seven years with Global Nuclear Fuel, a joint venture majority owned by GE, serving in several positions including global supply chain leader, quality manager and lab manager.
Jon is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt with a B.S. in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University.
Mr. David Blee
President & CEO
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC)
David Blee serves as President & CEO of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council – the leading business consortium advocate for nuclear energy and the promotion of the U.S. supply chain globally. The Council represents more than 80 companies comprising the “Who’s Who” of nuclear energy across a broad mix of the American supply chain, including key mover utilities, M&Os, manufacturers, suppliers and services companies.
Mr. Blee’s public service experience includes his current appointment on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee and past appointments as a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy and Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy – and as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Senator Connie Mack, during his service in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to his current assignments, Mr. Blee was an Executive Vice President for NAC International, a U.S.-based energy services and technology company, where he directed the company’s Worldwide Consulting Group and Marketing & Business Development portfolios. Mr. Blee was previously a Senior Vice President for the Wall Street-Washington DC-based Robinson, Lake, Lerer and Montgomery, a strategic communications firm.
Ms. Diane Cameron
Director, Nuclear Division
Natural Resources Canada
Diane Cameron is Director of the Nuclear Energy Division at Natural Resources Canada. As Director, she heads up the division responsible for leading and coordinating federal policy on nuclear energy. Ms. Cameron has ten years of experience in the Government of Canada, working on environment, energy, and trade policy—including NAFTA, US relations, and international negotiations.
Prior to government Diane spent seven years in the private sector specializing in global value chains and advising international transportation companies such as Canadian National Railway, Schneider Trucking, and Crowley Ocean Freight on logistics.
She received a Masters in Technology and Policy from M.I.T., where she was named Alfred Keil Fellow for Wiser Uses of Science and Technology. Diane also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Mr. Macit Cobanoglu
Supplier Participant Program Manager
CANDU Owners Group
From 2009 to 2014 led Aecon's Nuclear Business Unit (BU) with overall administrative, technical and financial responsibility. Following the restructuring of the BU after the awarding of Darlington Refurbishment Project in 2012 shifted focus to growing of Aecon's nuclear business in construction, field services and manufacturing.
From 2003 to 2009 held various senior management positions in customer relations management, business development, marketing and sales, and project management at AECL’s CANDU Reactor Division providing services to CANDU utilities worldwide.
From 1998 to 2003, lived in Seoul, South Korea, and worked out of AECL’s office as Director and Senior Representative with responsibility for Korea Services business in support of Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Co. Ltd’s highly successful CANDU units at Wolsong site and KAERI’s HANARO Research Reactor in Daejon.
Began career as a design and development engineer at AECL’s Chalk River Laboratories in 1978. From 1980 to 1995, held various progressively more responsible technical positions covering the management of fuel channel programs for many domestic and off shore CANDU® reactors. During this period, worked as a senior consultant to Ontario Hydro (currently Ontario Power Generation) and played a key role in the successful implementation of Retube Programs at all four units of Pickering A Nuclear Generating Station
Mr. Edward Davis
President
Pegasus Group
With over 40 years of experience with legislative, policy and programs related to nuclear energy, Mr. Davis has comprehensive and institutional knowledge and expertise in a wide range of issues involving the Department of Energy’s (DOE) nuclear energy programs, including the Yucca Mountain program. Since 1977, Mr. Davis has been involved with the industry and federal government efforts to establish a nuclear waste repository, having participated in the legislative efforts leading up to the passage of the landmark Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, and its subsequent amendments and having served in the past as president and CEO of the nuclear industry’s governmental affairs arm. Mr. Davis is intimately familiar with DOE’s budget process and the attendant OMB review process, as well the House and Senate authorizing and appropriations committees that have jurisdiction over the DOE’s Yucca Mountain program and other agency nuclear energy programs.
In addition to his experience in government affairs, Mr. Davis has served as a senior executive of one of the industry’s leading U.S. transportation and spent fuel storage companies, Mr. Davis has detailed knowledge of the many issues surrounding spent fuel transportation, as well as the industry structure, capabilities and technical characteristics of the various transportable spent fuel dry cask storage designs currently deployed and/or planned at nuclear power plant sites. Moreover, Mr. Davis has a detailed understanding of the regulatory safety requirements governing the transportation of spent fuel, specifically both NRC and DOT regulations.
Currently, Mr. Davis is the President and CEO of the Pegasus Group, LLC, a Washington consulting firm which specializes in energy and environmental issues and serves a number of clients in the energy industry and Federal government agencies.
Commissioner Tim Echols
Vice Chairman
Georgia Public Service Commission
Commissioner Echols is a nationally recognized proponent for clean energy and is the architect of the regulatory package recently adopted by the Georgia Public Utility Commission with respect to completion of the U.S.'s flagship advanced nuclear project at Plant Vogtle 3-4.
After building a national non-profit organization, Commissioner Echols ran for and was elected to statewide office in Georgia in 2010 serving as Public Service Commissioner. His primary job is energy regulation.
Echols was re-elected to the Commission in November 2016 to his second six-year term and serves as vice chair. Throughout his career, he has supported and approved new carbon-free nuclear energy sources for Georgia that will provide baseload power for generations. He also supports recycling the nuclear waste and using the remaining energy resident in those fuel rods as the most sustainable course of action for the Georgia and nation.
Echols serves as vice chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) Nuclear Issues-Waste Disposal Subcommittee and is a member of the NARUC Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. Echols has also represented the United States at the World Nuclear Exhibition for the last four years.
Ms. Suzanne Jaworowski
Senior Advisor, Office of Nuclear Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
In her role as Senior Advisor in the Office of Nuclear Energy, Suzanne serves as the Political Liaison between the Office of Nuclear Energy and the Secretary of Energy, as well as the White House. She provides political and strategic leadership to the office and manages outreach and educational efforts in the area of civil nuclear energy.
Prior to her role with the U.S. Department of Energy, Suzanne served as the Indiana State Campaign Director for the Trump Pence campaign. The Indiana campaign had historic results in being the first to report a win for the President in the General Election; as well as the state that secured enough delegate votes for President Trump to become the Republican nominee for President in the Primary Election.
Prior to running the Indiana Trump Pence campaign, Ms. Jaworowski served as the Communications and Government Affairs Director for Sunrise Coal, LLC / Hallador Energy Company. In 2016 she ran for Indiana State Senate and for nearly 15 years she ran a successful marketing and communications business.
Suzanne has been married to Steve Jaworowski for 27 years and they have four children. She is a patriotic American who believes in promoting the values of “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Mr. Jeffrey Lyash
President & CEO
Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG)
Jeff Lyash is the President and CEO of Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG). OPG is one of the largest electrical generating companies in Canada with a diverse fleet of nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, biomass and renewable generating stations.
Lyash was formerly the President of CB&I Power where he was responsible for a full range of engineering, procurement and construction of multi-billion dollar electrical generation projects in both domestic and international markets. He also provided operating plant services for nuclear, coal, gas, oil and renewable generation.
Prior to joining CB&I, Lyash served as Executive Vice President of Energy Supply for Duke Energy. He led engineering, maintenance and operations of the company's 42,000-megawatt generation fleet, fuel procurement, power trading, major projects and construction, environmental programs, and health and safety programs.
Before the merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy, Lyash served as Executive Vice President of Energy Supply for Progress Energy. In this role, he oversaw Progress Energy's diverse 22,000-megawatt fleet of generating resources including nuclear, coal, oil, natural gas and hydroelectric stations. In addition, he was responsible for generating fleet fuel procurement and power trading operations.
Lyash began his career in the utility industry in 1981, joining Progress Energy in 1993. Before assuming the role of Executive Vice President of Energy Supply, he served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, President and Chief Executive Officer of Progress Energy Florida, Senior Vice President of Energy Delivery Florida, and Vice President of Transmission. He also held a wide range of management and executive roles in Progress Energy's nuclear program, including Operations Manager, Engineering Manager, Plant Manager, and Director of Site Operations.
Before joining Progress Energy, Lyash worked for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a number of senior technical and management positions throughout the northeast United States and in Washington, D.C, receiving the NRC Meritorious Service Award in 1987.
Lyash earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University, and was honored with the Drexel University Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009. He has held a Senior Reactor Operator Licence from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and is a graduate of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Executive Training Program and the Duke Fuqua School of Business Advanced Management Program.
In 2018, Lyash was appointed Chair of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an international non-profit organization for public interest energy and environmental research. EPRI’s membership represents more than 1,000 organizations in 35 participating countries.
Dr. Corey McDaniel
Vice President, Business Development & Commercial Ventures
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Corey McDaniel is the VP for Business Development at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. He previously managed international and commercial cooperation for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate. Corey also served as the lead laboratory coordinator for India to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the lead lab advisor to the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy International Cooperation.
Prior to INL he served as VP for Asia in Hong Kong, China for a nuclear electrical supplier and in Mumbai, India as the international director of NuScale Power, a small modular reactor (SMR) company.
Corey secured and managed the delivery of replacement safety class (1E) cables to KHNP’s Shin Kori 3 & 4. He also facilitated 1E cable deliveries to China and the UAE and opened the Japanese market to U.S.-supplied cables for the first time. Corey facilitated MOUs with China’s largest nuclear utility and India’s largest nuclear EPC during visits to more than a dozen Asian and European countries.
Dr. McDaniel spent 5 years in the U.S. Senate as a legislative director and energy policy advisor to three Senators from Idaho and Arizona. Corey began his career as a nuclear safety analyst performing PRA and thermal-hydraulic research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
He received his doctorate in environmental science and public policy from George Mason University and his bachelors and masters degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of New Mexico and Purdue University respectively.
Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield
Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; &
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Jeffrey Merrifield is a partner in the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s energy practice. Mr. Merrifield was appointed by President Clinton and reappointed by President Bush to serve on the five-member, Senate-confirmed, independent United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. During his tenure, which was from October 1998 to June 2002 and from August 2002 to June 2007, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission had a staff of 3,250 employees with a budget of $900 million and set all policies and rules that govern the safe and secure use of nuclear materials at the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants operating at that time.
Prior to joining Pillsbury, Mr. Merrifield served as President of The Merrifield Group, LLC where he provided energy and environmental consulting, advocacy and strategic advice for companies, organizations and individuals. Specific areas of focus included management, energy market analysis, nuclear, fossil and alternative energy policy and deployment, radioactive and hazardous waste disposal strategies, safety and regulatory assessment and analysis, as well as public and government engagement.
Before working with the Merrifield Group, Mr. Merrifield was the Senior Vice President of Global Business Development with CB&I’s Power Business Unit. While there, he led a team of twenty-five sales and proposal staff to develop and win over $1.5 billion in annual sales, including the first competitive, EPC combined cycle gas unit in over six years.
Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President for The Shaw Group, Inc.’s Power Group. As a member of the Power Group's executive team, he was responsible for overseeing the group's external relationships including nuclear business development, customer relations, strategic planning, marketing and communications, as well as government and regulatory affairs.
Mr. Merrifield also served on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Ecology Corporation, which is one of the largest U.S. operators of both hazardous and low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. He served as the Lead Director and Chairman of the Governance Committee, and was a member of the Compensation and Audit Committees.
Currently, Mr. Merrifield serves as the Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council’s Advanced Reactors Task Force. Composed of more than 70 companies, the Council is the leading business consortium advocate for new nuclear energy and the promotion of the American supply chain globally.
Mr. Ron Oberth
President and CEO
Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI)
Rumina Velshi was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a five-year term beginning August 22, 2018.
Ms. Velshi has had a long association with the CNSC. She was appointed as a permanent, part-time Commission member in 2011 and re-appointed for a second five-year term in March 2018.
Ms. Velshi brings to her new role extensive technical, regulatory and adjudication expertise in the area of energy. Throughout her career, she has worked in various capacities at Ontario Hydro and Ontario Power Generation where, in her last role, she was Director, Planning and Control for the Darlington New Nuclear Project. Ms. Velshi currently also serves as a part-time Board member on the Ontario Energy Board, the economic regulator of the province of Ontario’s electricity and natural gas sectors.
Ms. Velshi is very active in the promotion of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), especially for young women. She was one of the founding members of Canada’s Women in Science and Engineering and, until recently, served as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors of Scientists in School – a non-profit organization that in 2017 alone provided STEM-focused workshops to almost 700,000 students. She is the recipient of the 2011 Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada Leadership Award.
Ms. Velshi was one of 150 Canadian women to have their stories compiled in “Your Turn”, a book to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary and inspire the next generation of women leaders.
Ms. Velshi is also very active in international development activities. She is the founding member of Focus Humanitarian Assistance Canada, an internationally recognized humanitarian assistance agency. She served for four years as the Aga Khan Foundation Canada's City Chair for Toronto for the World Partnership Events, Canada's largest annual event dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty.
Ms. Velshi holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Civil Engineering), a Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) and a Master of Business Administration – all from the University of Toronto.
Mr. Michael Rencheck
President & CEO
Bruce Power
Michael W. Rencheck was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bruce Power starting Aug. 15, 2016.
Over the past 30+ years, Mike has served in a number of roles and most recently was the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for AREVA overseeing its extensive Global capital portfolio of nuclear and renewable projects. Prior to this, he served as President and CEO of AREVA Inc. in North America leading its diverse nuclear services business in Canada and the United States with a workforce of about 5,000 people.
Prior to joining AREVA, Mike was the Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer at American Electric Power (AEP). AEP is a major investor-owned electric utility in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states with 38,000 MWs of generation assets.
After joining AEP in 1998 as VP of Nuclear Engineering, Mike held various positions during his tenure, including Senior VP of Engineering, Projects and Field Services; Senior VP of Engineering, Technical and Environmental Services; and President of AEP ProServ, a wholly-owned engineering and field services subsidiary responsible for major power generation projects and outage management.
Before joining AEP, Mike worked for Florida Power Corporation serving as Director, Nuclear Engineering and Projects for Crystal River Nuclear Station. Earlier in his career, Mike worked at Public Service Electric & Gas Company Salem Nuclear Generating Station as Director of System Engineering and Duquesne Light Company’s Beaver Valley Power Station.
In 2014, Mike was recognized by the National Safety Council for his leadership demonstrating a personal commitment to worker safety and health as part of ‘CEO’s who get it.” He also has demonstrated a commitment to many organizations that make a difference in people’s lives including Habitat for Humanity and United Way. He is a Professional Engineer and certified senior reactor operator.
Mr. Preston Swafford
Chief Nuclear Officer
SNC-Lavalin
Preston Swafford is SNC-Lavalin’s Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice-President, Nuclear. He oversees all operations carried out by the Nuclear business unit, including the design and delivery of CANDU® reactors, life extension projects, plant life management programs and tools, and operation and maintenance services (both BOP and NSP) for existing light water reactor and CANDU nuclear power stations across Canada and in key international markets.
Prior to this, Preston spent seven years at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), where he most recently held the role of Executive Vice-President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Nuclear Power Group. In that position, he was responsible for managing the company's nuclear fleet and providing stable power from six nuclear operating units.
Preston joined TVA in 2006 as Senior Vice-President, Nuclear Support, before being appointed Executive Vice-President, Fossil Power Group, a year later. He has also held high-level positions at Exelon Corporation, including that of Senior Vice-President, Exelon Energy Delivery-Operations and Technical Service.
Preston has been certified as a Senior Reactor Operator on a U.S.-designed light water reactor. He has served as a member of the Nuclear Safety Review Board (NSRB) for the Ginna nuclear power plant in Rochester, New York, and as Chairman of the NSRB at the Bruce Power site Ontario. He also serves as a member of the recently formed international advisory group to the Japan Nuclear Safety Institute (JANSI).
Preston holds a Master's of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Missouri. He is a classic car aficionado. When not relaxing at his vacation home in Missouri, he enjoys restoring classic cars.
Ms. Rumina Velshi
President & CEO
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Rumina Velshi was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a five-year term beginning August 22, 2018.
Ms. Velshi has had a long association with the CNSC. She was appointed as a permanent, part-time Commission member in 2011 and re-appointed for a second five-year term in March 2018.
Ms. Velshi brings to her new role extensive technical, regulatory and adjudication expertise in the area of energy. Throughout her career, she has worked in various capacities at Ontario Hydro and Ontario Power Generation where, in her last role, she was Director, Planning and Control for the Darlington New Nuclear Project. Ms. Velshi currently also serves as a part-time Board member on the Ontario Energy Board, the economic regulator of the province of Ontario’s electricity and natural gas sectors.
Ms. Velshi is very active in the promotion of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), especially for young women. She was one of the founding members of Canada’s Women in Science and Engineering and, until recently, served as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors of Scientists in School – a non-profit organization that in 2017 alone provided STEM-focused workshops to almost 700,000 students. She is the recipient of the 2011 Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada Leadership Award.
Ms. Velshi was one of 150 Canadian women to have their stories compiled in “Your Turn”, a book to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary and inspire the next generation of women leaders.
Ms. Velshi is also very active in international development activities. She is the founding member of Focus Humanitarian Assistance Canada, an internationally recognized humanitarian assistance agency. She served for four years as the Aga Khan Foundation Canada's City Chair for Toronto for the World Partnership Events, Canada's largest annual event dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty.
Ms. Velshi holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Civil Engineering), a Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) and a Master of Business Administration – all from the University of Toronto.
Hon. David Wright
Commissioner
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Honorable David A. Wright was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on May 30, 2018, and is currently serving the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2020.
Since 2013, Commissioner Wright served as Owner/President of Wright Directions, LLC, a strategic consulting, policy development and communications business focusing on energy and water. During this time, he also was a member of the Advisory Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Nuclear Waste Initiative; and an Ex Officio Member and Chairman Emeritus of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, an ad hoc organization representing the interests of industry, state officials, local governments and tribes, and consumer advocates.
From 2004-2013, Commissioner Wright served the South Carolina Public Service Commission in a variety of capacities, including Vice Chairman and Chairman. From 2011-2012, he served as President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners; he had previously served the association in other capacities, including as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. From 2010-2013, Commissioner Wright was a member of the Advisory Board of the Board of Directors of the Electric Power Research Institute.
Previously, he was elected councilman and mayor in Irmo, S.C., and to the South Carolina House of Representatives.
A colon cancer survivor, Commissioner Wright is an advocate for cancer awareness and education, and a former member of the Leadership Council for the Cancer Centers at the University of South Carolina. He was presented with the Community Champions Award by Molina Healthcare of South Carolina in 2016 and the Blue Star Service Excellence Award by the USC Center for Colon Cancer Research in 2014. In 1996, he received South Carolina's highest citizen honor, The Order of the Palmetto.
Commissioner Wright received a bachelor's degree in political science from Clemson University.
