Nov. 8 Opening of the Summit Video Recording Now Available

Opening of the Summit

Welcome Remarks

Jud Virden, Associate Laboratory Director for the Energy and Environment Directorate, PNNL

Virden leads 1,100 scientists, engineers, and staff who are delivering science and technology solutions for the nation’s complex energy and environmental challenges—including modernizing the power grid, advancing energy storage technologies, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and lighting, developing biofuels, and resolving complex issues in nuclear science and environmental management.

Nicole Nelson-Jean, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations in the Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy

Nelson-Jean has overriding responsibility to support the 16 EM field sites working throughout the nation to clean up and safely disposition large volumes of nuclear waste, safeguard and prepare for disposition of nuclear materials, deactivate and decommission several thousand radiologically and chemically contaminated facilities, and remediate extensive surface and groundwater contamination. 

Nelson-Jean’s years of experience includes environmental management, infrastructure, nuclear safety, nuclear security, nuclear energy, nonproliferation, business and contract management. She has held numerous positions domestically and abroad for the Department of Energy and NNSA. She was honored with the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award and the Service to America Medal from the Partnership for Public Service. 

Christophe Xerri, Director of the Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology Division, Nuclear Energy Department, International Atomic Energy Agency 

Xerri has 30 years of experience in the nuclear field, with a focus on nuclear fuel cycle and waste management. Before his appointment to the IAEA, he served from 2011 to 2015 as Counsellor for Nuclear Affairs to the French Embassy in Japan and in Mongolia.

He also has experience in uranium mining and enrichment technology. He has also worked in non-proliferation and was assigned to the office of the President of AREVA (nuclear reactors, fuel cycle, electricity transmission equipment).

While vice president of Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel, he was involved in handling the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011.

Rebecca Tadesse, Head of the Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning Division, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Nuclear Energy Agency 

Tadesse joined the NEA in January 2019 and is responsible for advancing information exchange and studies in the fields of radioactive waste management, nuclear facility decommissioning, and legacy management.

Prior to joining NEA, Tadesse served as the chief of the Radiation Protection Branch in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Tadesse has over 27 years of domestic and international experience in the operation and radiation safety of research reactors, fuel fabrication facilities, nuclear power plants, and biomedical research facilities. She also held numerous positions in the reactor, material, and fuels areas at the NRC. Prior to her appointment with NRC, she worked for private industry and federal government as a radiation physicist.

Unique Challenges of Remediation of Complex Sites

Dawn Wellman, Director of the Earth Systems Science Division, EED PNNL

Before being named director of PNNL’s Earth Systems Science Division in October 2019, Wellman managed the Environmental Health & Remediation market sector in PNNL’s Energy & Environment Directorate. Starting in 2013, she led the sector in developing and delivering science-based and risk-informed solutions to enable critical cleanup decisions associated with environmental remediation, site closure, and stewardship.

Her scientific expertise is in understanding and predicting contaminant transport pathways and kinetics, aqueous and mineral surface geochemistry, and reaction kinetics for environmental remediation. Wellman is a leader in developing and implementing systems-based approaches for characterizing, monitoring, and remediating contaminated groundwater and soil at sites throughout the Department of Energy complex, as well as internationally, supporting site contractors and site owners.

Overview of Summit Agenda