All of us, innovators: the 2024 Annual Report
- NII
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
This past year at the Nuclear Innovation Institute has been a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity and shared purpose, continuing to redefine what it means to drive progress in the nuclear sector and beyond.
Take a moment to explore our 2024 Annual Report to learn more about how we are driving progress and preparing for the opportunities ahead.
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Lighting the way
As Chair of the Board, I have the privilege of working alongside a passionate and visionary team that is driving forward innovation and excellence in the nuclear sector and far beyond. As we look ahead, NII will continue to turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into action, ensuring that our region and our industry remain at the forefront of progress.
--James Scongack, NII Board Chair
All of us, innovators.
The successes in this Annual Report are the result of the incredible dedication of our team, the support of our Founding Members and the collaborative spirit of our partners and communities. Together, we are proving that innovation is not the domain of a few—it is the work of all of us.
--Jessica Linthorne, President & Chief Executive Officer
Our Founding Members
NII is driven by engaged, forward-looking member organizations working towards a clean energy future while also creating lasting local impact in the communities of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties.
We asked Senior Leadership: What are you most excited about in 2025?
“Industry advancement initiatives, like the Kaizen for Nuclear program, will reduce barriers and unlock potential for Founding Members and the nuclear sector. National engagement with new partners will further leverage the NII team’s knowledge and expertise.” --Jessica Linthorne, President & CEO
“I am most excited to help guide our organization from a young and emerging entity to one that is sustainable, well-established and widely recognized within the innovation ecosystem.” --Stellina Williams, Vice President & CAO
“In 2025, I’m excited to see NII take bold steps forward—further building pathways that inspire and educate local youth. The year ahead will showcase the power of collaboration to help build the workforce of tomorrow.” --Tracy Murray, Sr. Director, Workforce & Partnership Development
“In a year that is already shaping up to have its share of unpredictability, I’m looking forward to seeing our team navigate a complex political and economic environment with sound, practical and innovative initiatives.” --Chad Richards, Sr. Director, Bruce Power Nexus Research Centre
VISION
A Canadian landscape that celebrates an innovative nuclear industry as an integral part of the clean energy future.
MISSION
To drive an innovative nuclear voice, skill development and industry advancement to support members and encourage collaborative engagement with communities, industries and governments.
This mission is built on work that happens under three pillars:
INDUSTRY VOICE
Key platform for exploring critical energy topics
The first-ever 2024 Clean Energy Frontier Conference in September brought together industry leaders, local experts and community partners for two days of insightful presentations and networking.
Hosted by NII and sponsored by Bruce Power, the conference served as a key platform for exploring energy-related initiatives in the Clean Energy Frontier region.
A meeting point where diverse ideas, disciplines and innovations converge
This year, we launched the Bruce Power Nexus Research Centre—a place of collaboration and a hub where industry leaders, policymakers, scientists and communities come together to find solutions to the most pressing issues of our time.
We also launched the Climate Project, funded by Bruce Power: a living, trusted and accessible digital hub providing actionable intelligence to help people better understand what a changing global climate could mean for people in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties and local Indigenous communities—all located within the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
A homegrown solution for the next generation of skilled trades workers
Launched in February 2024, the NII Energy Co-op is a specialized 17-week education opportunity in partnership with the Bluewater District School Board.
Different than a normal co-op, where one student is placed with one employer, the program exposes students to nearly 30 different careers across the clean energy industry—from construction and welding to emergency management and robotics.
“By opening doors to countless career paths, this program is a testament to the collaborative spirit of our community and the bright future it promises for our youth.”
--Ryan Plante, Local Union Coordinator, UBC Local 2222
Advancing in new dimensions
From renovations to facility bookings, the NII Advance Technology Campus, a first-of-a-kind innovation and education centre, was busy in 2024!
Focusing on collaboration and professional development, the flexible, innovation-driven space welcomed educational programming, big and small events and a host of workspace rentals. Minutes from the Bruce Power site—in the midst of the Clean Energy Frontier—the Campus helps foster opportunities in the nuclear sector and related industries. And that impact is being noticed.
In September, NII received more than $211,000 in funding through the Ontario Government's Rural Economic Development (RED) program, which supports projects that diversify and grow local economies, build community capacity and address barriers to economic development and labour force challenges.
Welders are needed in diverse roles across the country—and the Clean Energy Frontier is no different. Thanks to collaborative training programs hosted at the Campus, newly certified welding students in the region are on the pathway to their apprenticeships. From Fanshawe College's college-level welding program to sessions led by Saugeen Sparks Training Centre and the CWB Welding Foundation, the future is bright for our region.
Delivering enhanced, inclusive educational opportunities
The Nuclear Innovation Institute's Explore program supports engaging, inclusive STEM events and resources for teachers across multiple platforms and various streams of knowledge.
In 2024, the second-annual Science Olympics brought together 12 teams of high school students from across Bruce, Grey and Huron counties to compete at the NII’s Advance Technology Campus.
This groundbreaking event plays a crucial role in bridging the gap in opportunities between urban and rural high school students in the region.
Explore also spent two weeks with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment Office to host the second-annual Summer STEM Camp.
More than 80 students got a firsthand look at how science shapes their world.
INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT
Securing tomorrow through process improvement
We know that a culture of continuous improvement supports a foundation for innovation: by focusing on continual process improvement, you create a solid foundation where big ideas can truly thrive.
In 2024, NII launched Kaizen for Nuclear, a program with the goal of fostering continuous improvement. We’re bringing together Bruce Power, NII’s Founding Members, and partner vendors from the nuclear supply chain to reimagine processes, boost efficiency and empower workers on every level.
Industry projects at a glance
NII's 2024 industry projects leveraged advanced technologies to modernize nuclear operations, enhance compliance, and improve manufacturing.
From using computer vision to digitize legacy plant monitoring, to exploring additive manufacturing for CANDU reactor components, and deploying AI for regulatory compliance, these initiatives demonstrated cost-effective innovations that improve efficiency, safety and reliability in the nuclear industry.
Catalysts for industry growth
AtkinsRéalis, Kinectrics & Framatome took over The Cortex at the NII Advance Technology Campus, hosting dynamic gatherings crafted to serve as a platform for our members to showcase their cutting-edge work, transformative technologies and exceptional skillsets.
Helping the nuclear supply chain showcase this work is key to new technology adoption and accelerating the pace of innovation in the industry.
"Continuous improvement is imperative if we're going to remain a top-tier provider globally… when we all come together to deliver a better product, more efficiency, we all win together."
--Maura McDonald, Vice President Key Account & Stakeholder Management, AtkinsRéalis
NII Core Values
At NII, we see our Core Values as non-negotiables that define who we are and how we operate.
Join us!
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