Opening ceremony of Women in Nuclear Global conference
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV was in Gyeongju, Korea, on 30 March 2026 as a keynote speaker at the 33rd Women in Nuclear (WiN) Global Conference. His opening remarks invited participants to consider what is needed for a successful nuclear future, with the NEA Director-General emphasising the need for a strong, capable workforce to meet global demand for clean, reliable energy.
On the second day of the conference, the NEA hosted, with WiN Korea, a mentoring workshop to foster growth and global connections amongst conference participants. The NEA Director-General served as a panelist and mentor in the event. Both mentors and mentees found the session inspiring. The event helped foster global exchange, support career exploration and strengthened network sustainability through intergenerational leadership.
Women in Global Mentoring Workshop for Growth and Global Connection
During his visit to Korea, the NEA Director-General was also invited to meet with key stakeholders in the country’s nuclear sector.
In a meeting with Sungdon Cho, the Chief Executive Officer of the Korean Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD), Director-General Magwood discussed radioactive waste management in Korea and the areas of both current and future collaboration with the NEA.
The NEA delegation with KORAD officials
Women in Nuclear Global President, Ms Melina Belinco, met with the NEA Director-General to discuss WiN’s ongoing collaboration with the NEA to support workforce development. These conversations highlighted the potential to scale up existing programmes and initiatives by using the large networks of both the NEA and Women in Nuclear Global.
NEA Director-General with WiN Global President Belinco
Mr Wonju Lee, Deputy Minister for Energy Transition Policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) and the NEA Director-General discussed continued co-operation, looking at the role of nuclear fuel security as well as collaboration with Korean industry, government and academia.
NEA Director-General with Deputy Minister for Energy Transition Policy, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment
During NEA Director-General Magwood’s meeting with Mr Sun Soo Kim, Deputy Minister, Office of R&D Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence in the nuclear sector was discussed.
NEA Director-General with Deputy Minister Kim, Ministry of Science and ICT
With strong global and regional ties, the NEA Director-General discussed the role of Korea in multilateralism, and co-operation with the Agency’s work in Southeast Asia, with Mr Lee Soo Yeon, Deputy Director, Nuclear Power Industry support division in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR).
NEA Director-General with Deputy Director, Nuclear Power Industry Support Division, MOTIR
Before ending his time in Korea, the NEA Director-General visited two universities: Ewha Womans University and Kyung Hee University Global campus, where he addressed students on the future prospects for nuclear energy and answered their many questions.
Lectures at Ewha Womans University and Kyung Hee University Global campus.
