April Wade (Executive Director) and John Harrell (Board Chairman) of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC) Nonprofit Organization will give a talk on "The VNEC and the Future of the Nuclear Industry in the Commonwealth," Now REGISTER

October 09, 2020

(Friday, 10:30-11:30 am)

To REGISTER, click here!
Abstract
This webinar will review the mission of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC), and present key considerations of the Virginia Nuclear Strategic Plan currently under development.

VNEC is a unique partnership of industry and academic institutions. Our mission is to sustain and enhance the Commonwealth of Virginia as a national and global leader in nuclear energy, and to serve as an interdisciplinary business development, research, training, and information resource on nuclear energy issues. To fulfill this mission, VNEC seeks to promote the benefits of nuclear energy and opportunities available for public and private entities to develop partnerships to advance the industry and the Commonwealth.

Virginia’s nuclear industry serves a critical role in the Commonwealth, the United States, and globally as a center for nuclear technology. In diversity and strength, Virginia’s nuclear capabilities are unparalleled. As the US moves to the next generation of nuclear, Virginia shall continue to lead as it has done since the earliest days of atomic power. The strategic plan under development will guide the industry in its efforts to help the Commonwealth achieve its goal 100% carbon-free energy by 2045.

Bio
April Wade is the Executive Director of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC) and the founder and President of Wade Strategic Communications (WSC), a public affairs firm. As E.D. for VNEC, April represents the nuclear industry in the commonwealth, advocating for additional opportunities in commercial power, nuclear medicine, academic research, and defense applications of nuclear energy.

In more than 20 years as a Public Affairs practitioner, April has worked with clients ranging from oil and gas services firms, the nuclear power industry, rare earth mining, local and county governments, and women's causes. April previously served as Vice President, Communications and Government Affairs for Uranium Resources, Inc., a uranium producer with extensive holdings in Texas and New Mexico.

Prior to founding Wade Strategic Communications, April served as the Communications Director for Louisiana Energy Services (LES/URENCO) on the National Enrichment Facility – the first major nuclear facility to be licensed in more than 30 years and the first ever to receive a combined construction and operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Committee.
April lives in northern Virginia with her husband and their two children.

John Harrell is currently Dominion Energy’s Manager of Nuclear Safety Engineering. His organization is responsible for reactor core and nuclear plant system thermal/hydraulic design, safety analysis, and probabilistic risk assessment for Dominion Energy’s nuclear fleet (North Anna, Surry, Millstone, and V.C. Summer Power Stations). His technical background is in nuclear safety analysis methods development, engineering analysis, licensing, and station support in the areas of reactor core thermal/hydraulic design, system transient analysis, containment analysis, reload safety evaluation, and resolution of as-found conditions for safety-related systems, structures, and components. He previously served in various management positions in Dominion Energy’s corporate Nuclear Engineering and Fuel organization, and as Manager of Engineering Programs at North Anna Power Station. He has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond. John is the current chairman of the board of directors for the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium.