Nuclear Excellence Awards

The Nuclear Excellence Award recognises individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to excellence in the operation of nuclear power plants.

Events and Networking
About Nuclearexcellenceawardsnew

Celebrating Excellence

The WANO Nuclear Excellence Awards (NEAs) was established to recognise individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to excellence in the operation of nuclear power plants, or to the infrastructure that supports the nuclear power enterprise, or through WANO.

The WANO Governing Board created the award, to be presented biennially starting in 2003, in honour of Dr Zack T Pate, WANO Chairman emeritus, and in recognition of his leadership in promoting excellence in the worldwide nuclear industry.

You can see the winners from the former ceremonies below starting from initiation to today.

A collage of images showcasing different moments during the Nuclear Excellence Awards in the BGM

Award Winners
2003 to 2024

2024 NEA Awardees | Abu Dhabi

Hiromi Yamazaki, Japan Nuclear Safety Institute

Hiromi Yamazaki

Japan Nuclear Safety Institute

Hiromi Yamazaki, Japan Nuclear Safety Institute

Hiromi Yamazaki

Japan Nuclear Safety Institute

Hiromi Yamazaki provided transformative leadership for the Japanese nuclear industry while serving as the President and CEO from 2018-2024. Upon appointment, Mr. Yamazaki strengthened the governance structure and provided long-term strategic direction thereby establishing JANSI as a credible self-regulatory body within Japan. Additionally he improved JANSI Peer Review quality by obtaining equivalency to a WANO Peer Review. His inspirational leadership fostered a community of senior industry leaders committed to ever-rising standards of nuclear safety.
Photo of GAO Ligang

GAO Ligang

China General Nuclear Power Corporation

Photo of GAO Ligang

GAO Ligang

China General Nuclear Power Corporation

Holding nuclear safety as overriding priority and pursuing excellence over the 36 years, with his personnel commitment, clear expectation, persistent coaching and stringent supervision, GAO Ligang has led fast growing China General Nuclear Power fleets reaching a steady high level of operating performance. His practices of active and open working with international peers have contributed to the nuclear industry.
Elvire Charre

Elvire Charre

EDF Energy

Elvire Charre

Elvire Charre

EDF Energy

Across her remarkable journey within the nuclear sector, Elvire Charre has consistently showcased her exceptional ability to deliver outstanding performance. Through her unwavering leadership, relentless dedication, remarkable talent for uniting teams, and uncompromising rigor, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives.
Andrey Alexandrovitch Salnikov

Andrey Alexandrovitch Salnikov

Rostov Nuclear Plant, Rosenergoatom JSC

Andrey Alexandrovitch Salnikov

Andrey Alexandrovitch Salnikov

Rostov Nuclear Plant, Rosenergoatom JSC

Today Andrey Salnikov successfully manages all production activities of Rostov Nuclear Plant, a branch of Rosenergoatom JSC, and bears full responsibility for ensuring safe and reliable operation of Rostov Nuclear Power Plant. The highest professionalism, responsibility, initiative and ambitiousness of the implemented tasks with unconditional priority of nuclear safety characterise Andrey Salnikov as an effective manager-leader.
Kostas M Dovas

Kostas M Dovas

Constellation Energy

Kostas M Dovas

Kostas M Dovas

Constellation Energy

Kostas Dovas, Vice President of Training at Constellation Energy, is honoured for his exceptional leadership in advancing nuclear industry training programmes. Through collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Nuclear Energy Institute, American Nuclear Society, and other industry groups, he has driven significant improvements, fostering talent development and cost saving.

2022 | Prague

  • Alexander Shutikov – Rosenergoatom
  • Valeriy Bessonov – Rosenergoatom
  • Mikko Kosonen – TVO
  • Steve Milton – EDF Energy
  • Liu Jing – CNNC
  • Frank Saunders – Bruce Power
  • Roger E. Spinnato – INPO
  • Wu Fang – CPI Group

2019 | London

  • Terry Young – Wolf Creek
  • Vladimir Petrovich Povarov – Rosenergoatom
  • Viktor Igorevich Ignatov – Kalinin
  • Nigel Cann – EDF Energy
  • Magali Lefevre – EDF
  • SU Shengbing – CGN
  • GU Jian – CNNC
  • Mitsuo Matsui – The Chugoku Electric Power Company Inc.

2017 | Gyeongju

  • Debbie Sims – WANO AC
  • Pierre Pilon – Bruce Power
  • Pavlo Pavlyshyn – SE NNEGC “Energoatom”
  • Jouko Turpeinen – Fortum Power and Heat Oy
  • Brian Cowell – EDF Energy
  • Philippe Sasseigne – EDF
  • Jean Van Vyve – ENGIE Electrabel
  • Bum-nyun Kim – KHNP
  • Makoto Yagi – The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc.

2015 | Toronto

  • Thomas Mitchell- OPG
  • Gary Newman – Bruce Power
  • Oswald (Ike) Zeringue – TVA
  • Zbynek Grunda – CEZ, a.s.
  • Andrey Petrov – Rosenergoatom
  • Ami Rastas – Independent/ TVO
  • MA Shu – CGN
  • Miraj Khalid – PAEC/ Chasma 2

2013 | Moscow

  • Fred Dermarkar – OPG
  • Scot Greenlee – Exelon Generation
  • Dominique Minière – EDF
  • Ján Naňo – Slovenske Elektrarne
  • Vasily Omelchuk – Rosenergoatom
  • Matt Sykes – EDF Energy
  • Takao Watanabe – Tohoku EPC, Inc
  • ZHANG Shanming – CGNPC, Ltd

2011 | Shenzhen

  • Muhammad Ahsan – PAEC
  • CHEN Hua – CNNC
  • George Hutcherson – INPO
  • Manuel Ibañez – UNESA
  • Susan Landahl – Exelon
  • LU Changshen – DNMC
  • Stane Rozman – NEK
  • Nikolay Sorokin – Rosenergoatom

2010 | New Delhi

  • Rhonda Lightfoot – Bruce Power
  • Shashi Bhattacharjee – NPCIL
  • Amir Shahkarami – Exelon
  • Bill Coley – British Energy
  • Yunlong Zan – CGNPC
  • Rafael Fernandez De la Garza – CFE
  • Alexander Lokshin – Rosatom
  • Victor Shevaldin – Ignalina NPP

2007 | Chicago

  • Jussi Helski – Fortum
  • Michio Ishikawa – JANTI
  • Louis Long – SONOCO
  • Guntur Nageswara Rao – NPCIL
  • Mano Nazar – AEP
  • Pierre Wiroth – EDF

2005 | Budapest

  • Armen Abagyan – Rosenergoatom
  • Ah-Hong Jeng – Taiwan Power Co.
  • Vladimir Korovkin – Rovno NPP
  • Keith Moser – Exelon
  • Peter Prozesky – British Energy
  • Fred Tollison – INPO

2003 | Berlin

  • Rebba Bhiksham – NPCIL
  • Won-yong Chung – KHNP
  • Pedro Figueiredo – Eletrobras
  • Bernard Fourest – EDF
  • Oliver Kingsley – Exelon
  • Paul Spekkens – OPG