NIAC 2020 Leadership Forum

Brett was appointed Vice President Nuclear & Chief Nuclear Officer at NB Power's Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station in November 2015. He is accountable for leading the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station's strategic direction to achieve safe, predictable and productive nuclear performance.

Brett’s extensive background includes more than 40 years of commercial nuclear power plant experience in Operations, Senior Leadership and Project Management roles. Additionally, Brett has taken the lead in pursuing Small Modular Reactors for New Brunswick and has played an active role in developing the SMR Roadmap for Canada.

Brett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Business from New Hampshire College, as well as an Associate of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology from the University of New York. While in the United States Navy, he attended the Naval Nuclear Power School as well as the Naval Electronics Technician School. Additionally, Brett has completed the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) Senior Nuclear Plant Management Course.

NB Power
515 King Street
PO Box 2000, STN A
Fredericton, NB E3B 4X1
bplummer@nbpower.com
phone number (C) 207-659-9181

Jason Cameron has dedicated the past two decades of his career to nuclear issues, federal regulation, regulatory policy and international relations. He is currently Vice-President and Chief Communications Officer, Regulatory Affairs Branch, where he leads the CNSC's strategic policy, communications and regulatory framework initiatives. He is a co-champion of the CNSC’s Young Professionals Network and a strong supporter of the Government of Canada’s Community of Federal Regulators.

Throughout his career in nuclear regulation, he has led safeguards, security and safety initiatives, both at home and internationally. Over the last 15 years, he has held numerous management positions including Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the CNSC’s Management Committee, Head of Evaluation, and Director General of Strategic Planning, where he led the CNSC's planning and reporting processes and managed the coordination of intergovernmental, international and Indigenous relations.

Before joining the Government of Canada, he was a Visiting Information Officer with the World Nuclear Association (then known as the Uranium Institute), based in London, England. Here, he was responsible for analyzing the impact of strengthened international controls on the international industry.

He completed his post-graduate Master’s degree in international relations and his Bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Calgary. He is married with two children

Regulatory Affairs Branch | Direction gérérale des affaires réglementaires Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) | Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire (CCSN) Ottawa, Canada K1P 5S9 jason.cameron@canada.ca Telephone | Téléphone 613-947-3773 / Facsimile | Télécopieur 613-995-5086 Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

Keyes Niemer is Project Manager for SMR Deployment at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. In this position, Dr. Niemer is responsible for leading CNL efforts towards achieving its vision of siting a demonstration Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at a CNL managed site. Dr. Niemer has over thirty years of leadership, project management, engineering, R&D, operations, construction, and business management experience in the nuclear industry, including several mega projects, equipment design and fabrication, and first-of-a-kind (FOAK) engineering and construction. He has successfully worked in both the government and commercial segments of the nuclear and energy industry, including utilities, architect/engineers ,original equipment manufacturers , constructors, and national laboratories.

Prior to his current position at CNL, Dr. Niemer was Senior Vice-President at SNC-Lavalin/Atkins where he was responsible for US Commercial and Asia-Pacific business. Before joining Atkins, he was Vice-President of Operations and Project Management for the BWXT Nuclear Energy and Technical Services business unit, including the mPower Small Modular Reactor Program). Prior to BWXT, Dr. Niemer was involved in supporting new domestic commercial nuclear power plants in the US.

Dr. Niemer graduated from North Carolina State University with a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering. He also holds an MBA from Queens University. He is a registered professional engineer, an active member of the American Nuclear Society, and member of several university Industrial Advisory Boards.

Keyes.Niemer@cnl.ca
Tel. 613-584-3311 ext. 45396
Cell 613-635-2529

Colleen DeMerchant has been involved with NIAC for almost 20 years and is recognized internationally and domestically as subject matter and insurance risk expert in the complex and closely regulated area of Canadian nuclear insurance. Colleen has appeared before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources regarding changes to the Nuclear Liability Act and has participated in international conferences on civil liability for nuclear damage and nuclear symposiums to spread the word of Canada’s unique domestic pooling arrangements. Colleen began her insurance career with a regional brokerage in Saint John, New Brunswick. Following several years as broker, she moved to Toronto to take up a Head Office underwriting position for one of Canada’s leading Property/Casualty insurers for more than ten years before joining the Insurers’ Advisory Organization (IAO) as Casualty Manager prior to NIAC.

Promoted to General Manager in 2012, Colleen directs NIAC’s strategic plan, in accordance with the Governing Committee and provides leadership to insurance and nuclear industries and federal government on nuclear liability risk, insurance, loss control and claims administration. Colleen also is responsible for preparing and reviewing NIAC’s financial activities and member solicitation requirements set by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).

Colleen has authored papers on nuclear liability insurance in Canada as well as explaining the nuclear insurance exclusion in the IBC industry standard general liability wording and she has conducted continuing education seminars for the insurance community.