MENA Roundtable on Sustaining the Next Generation of Nuclear Security Professionals (Location TBC)

Background

Nuclear energy continues to be a strategic priority for many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With increased interest in the development and deployment of nuclear technologies—including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), microreactors, and advanced digital systems—ensuring effective nuclear security remains essential for the safe and secure use of these technologies.

To maintain and strengthen nuclear security in the region, it is vital to engage the next generation of professionals. Early-career experts bring valuable perspectives, technological familiarity, and leadership potential to a sector facing evolving challenges and a changing workforce. As experienced professionals retire, there is a growing need to invest in building competencies and ensuring effective knowledge transfer to those entering the field.

In this context, the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) is organizing a roundtable dedicated to understanding the regional challenges and opportunities faced by young professionals in the MENA nuclear security community

Objectives

This roundtable aims to:

• Examine the key challenges affecting the engagement and development of young professionals in nuclear security across the MENA region.
• Improve awareness of career pathways, training opportunities, and available resources in the nuclear security field.
• Support the development of regional strategies to address structural barriers and strengthen the talent pipeline.
• Explore opportunities for collaboration in building competencies that contribute to a resilient and well-prepared nuclear security workforce.
• Facilitate the exchange of practical experiences, lessons learned, and effective approaches to professional development.

Audience

The roundtable will bring together up to 25 early-career professionals from the MENA region with a demonstrated interest or involvement in nuclear security. Participants may come from the following sectors:

• Nuclear facility operators
• Regulatory bodies
• Law enforcement and security services
• Academic and research institutions
• Government ministries
• International and regional organizations
• Technical support and advisory institutions

Target countries include:

• Morocco
• Egypt
• Tunisia
• Algeria
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Saudi Arabia

Age eligibility: To ensure alignment with this initiative's goals, participants must be born in 1990 or later. A core objective of the roundtable is to engage young professionals from the MENA region, with a focus on building capacity, fostering innovation, and supporting the development of future leaders in nuclear security.

Process

The roundtable will be conducted in English. It will include expert presentations, interactive plenary sessions, and small group discussions. The format is designed to encourage the exchange of views, practical experiences, and recommendations to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance professional competencies in nuclear security