OPG ‘Bridging the Gap’ to help empower women in nuclear operations

At a glance

• OPG is working to increase representation of women in important nuclear operations roles.
• Through its new Bridging the Gap Prep Program, the company is helping support women applying for licensed control room positions.
• The program is helping increase the diversity of Ontario’s nuclear sector while advancing OPG’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy.

OPG is working to ensure more women have a place in Ontario’s nuclear control rooms.

According to the Nuclear Energy Agency’s report “Gender Balance in the Nuclear Sector,” women are often underrepresented in control rooms and in senior leadership roles across the nuclear industry.

In Canada, a key pathway to senior positions is through certification by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which authorizes personnel to work as nuclear control room operators, control room shift supervisors, and shift managers. Currently, only a small portion of authorized personnel and those in authorized training programs identify as female.

OPG is striving to change this landscape through its new Bridging the Gap Prep Program, which provides awareness, information, and support for women progressing through the authorization process. The initiative ultimately supports the diversity of OPG’s pipeline for senior leadership positions and advances the company’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy.

One major highlight for 2025 has been the launch of the Bridging the Gap: Diversity Certification Prep Program, which encourages and prepares participants to apply for licensed control room positions within OPG’s nuclear stations, including Authorized Nuclear Operator in Training, Control Room Shift Supervisor in Training, and Shift Manager in Training.

In June 2025, a kick-off meeting for the program was held, featuring several senior OPG leaders, including Steve Gregoris, OPG’s Chief Nuclear Officer, Paul Seguin, OPG’s Senior Vice President of Pickering Nuclear, and Sanjeev Sharma, OPG’s Vice President of Plant Operations for Pickering Nuclear.

These leaders shared their experiences as former licensed individuals and expressed strong support for women pursuing careers in licensed control room roles.

And in October 2025, members of the Bridging the Gap team presented the initiative at the Women in Nuclear Canada Conference to help share successes and spark similar supportive programs across Canada’s nuclear sector.

With the program gaining steam, the future looks bright for women entering these important positions in Canada’s nuclear operations.