Strength in Diversity

Rômulo Lima, from Brazil, is Head of the Legal Department of the National Nuclear Energy Commission. In recent years, he has worked closely with the IAEA to support Integrated Nuclear Security Sustainability Plan missions and regional workshops to promote the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

“In these missions, I showcase Brazil’s experience and legal work in this area and the advantages the country has gained in nuclear security since joining the A/CPPNM,” he explains. He believes that sharing Brazil’s national experiences is an effective mechanism to encourage other countries to join the A/CPPNM and further advance their legal and regulatory frameworks for nuclear security.

“The establishment of an independent regulatory body, the ratification of the A/CPPNM in 2022, the publication of specific and updated regulations for the physical protection of nuclear facilities and material, and the establishment of a national threat assessment all reflect the efforts of the institutions involved and Brazil’s commitment to nuclear security,” says Lima, adding that “without doubt, the international legal framework to which Brazil has adhered has strengthened the national legal and regulatory framework”.

Ángela Abadía Zapata, from Colombia, has been working in nuclear security for over 15 years, during which time her country’s nuclear sector has gone from receiving IAEA support to providing experts to assist other countries. Zapata, who works for Colombia’s regulatory authority, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, provides technical support in nuclear security for her country as well as training in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, specifically in the area of the security of radioactive sources during transport. 

Following IAEA training and her experience in Colombia, Zapata is an expert in nuclear security, providing assistance to other countries and motivating other women to consider a career in this field. 

Zapata recently provided technical support to assist with the drafting of legislation relating to nuclear law in Colombia, leading a gender-focused approach and drawing on her experience in nuclear security and as a champion of Women in Nuclear.

“What excites me most about being part of this sector is that not only do I have the opportunity to contribute to other countries in the region through my knowledge, but I also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a nuclear security regime in my country, in line with the recent initiatives that are being promoted in Colombia, where the inclusion of advanced nuclear technologies in various sectors is being contemplated,” she says.

“Since I began my professional career in the nuclear sector, I have noticed how the IAEA has continuously provided support to Colombia, including through technical cooperation, from capacity building and training to the formation of experts in different areas; as well as in the execution of various missions in line with national needs and capabilities,” adds Zapata. 

Norwenn Cayago Panganiban, from the Philippines, is a fellow of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP). The programme is an IAEA initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of women leaders in the nuclear field through the provision of scholarships and internship opportunities. In 2023, Panganiban attended the Joint ICTP–IAEA International School on Nuclear Security. “The comprehensive curriculum of the school provided a contemporary overview of nuclear security, equipping me with practical skills and knowledge essential for my role as a radiation protection officer in the clinical setting, where radioactive sources are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. I highly recommend this school to others, particularly early career professionals from developing countries, as it offers a unique networking, learning and collaboration platform,” she says. 

Panganiban highlights how the support she received from the IAEA has shaped her career in the nuclear field. “The rigorous training and exposure to international best practices have enhanced my technical expertise and leadership skills. Moreover, the MSCFP fellowship gave me access to a supportive network of peers and mentors, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations. I am grateful for the resources and guidance that have empowered me to contribute meaningfully to global nuclear security efforts”.

As a female professional in nuclear security, Panganiban believes that diversity fosters innovation and resilience: “Challenges such as gender biases and stereotypes persist, but they only fuel my determination to excel and advocate for inclusivity in the sector”.

Nirasha Rathnaweera is part of an expert support team that assesses possible nuclear security alarms at the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. As the main commercial sea port in Sri Lanka, Colombo is a maritime hub in major global shipping routes. Thousands of trans-shipments — in which cargoes or containers are transferred from one ship to another in complex supply chain operations — are undertaken every year. 

Since 2006, the port has used a radiation monitoring system to screen import, export, and trans-shipment cargoes for the presence of illicitly trafficked nuclear and other radioactive material. 

“The Colombo sea port in Sri Lanka stands as a pivotal commercial hub, facilitating significant maritime traffic owing to its strategic location along major shipping routes. However, the port’s prominence also elevates concerns regarding the potential smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material,” says Rathnaweera. “To counter this threat, a robust radiation monitoring programme is imperative”. 

Through her participation in the IAEA’s coordinated research project entitled ‘Improved Assessment of Initial Alarms from Radiation Detection Instruments’, Rathnaweera contributed to the development of the IAEA’s Tool for Radiation Alarm and Commodity Evaluation (TRACE) mobile application, a tool that supports customs officers’ work in alarm assessment.

“Utilizing fixed radiation portal monitors, the port records approximately 1970 radiation alarms monthly, with many stemming from commodities with natural radioactivity (known as naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM)). Sri Lankan customs officers currently rely on the TRACE mobile application for radiation alarm evaluation and find its user-friendly interface particularly beneficial for training new personnel,” she says.