Olivia Legge, Junior Nuclear Assurance Manager at Nuclear Transport Solutions reflects on the importance of female role models, early careers pathways and promoting diversity to build the next generation of talent in nuclear security.
Working within the security industry and particularly in nuclear security, was not something I imagined myself doing after university.
It is like being transported to an unknown world where one must imagine that threat actors are ever present and preventative measures must be balanced against consequences.
The most striking thing though has been the limited number of early careers professionals.
Nuclear security has some routes into it through graduate schemes and apprenticeships, but few people who are early careers. This is a trend across the industry as well.
A multigenerational workforce is essential to respond effectively as threat actors are not homogenous, so diverse perspectives are needed to help organisations keep one step ahead of the ever-changing threat landscape.
A significant challenge is ensuring that there is a throughflow of talent – both male and female – into the industry.
Visibility of female role models can serve a dual purpose since they allow entrants to imagine a career for themselves in the industry and act as a visible reason for why security is an industry for all people – regardless of age or gender.
There is cause for optimism since there is growing awareness of the security industry amongst early careers.
With these pathways open, operational headcount will alter to include more early careers and more women.
I am proud to contribute to this through being a part of Nuclear Security Futures which seeks to promote early careers and raise awareness of the industry.
This article was originally published in the March edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
