NRCan is the federal department responsible for managing the sustainable development of Canada’s natural resources. It leads on the development and implementation of federal and multilateral government policy on all energy sources. The NED unit develops nuclear energy policy and provides the institutional, legislative, and financial frameworks for the nuclear industry in Canada. NED collaborates with key stakeholders, including departmental and interdepartmental, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) – Canada’s nuclear energy regulator, international and multilateral, and industry to support nuclear as part of the clean energy policy agenda.
During her internship, Nicole was responsible for maintaining situational awareness on geopolitical issues concerning nuclear power and electricity markets. She also supported Canada’s trilateral work with key partners such as the U.S. and the U.K. In this role, Nicole also led and coordinated NRCan’s participation at the annual Canadian Nuclear Association Conference and supported Canada’s involvement in multilateral fora such as the OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and its Steering Committee, the highest decision-making body at the NEA. In addition, she represented NED at the interdepartmental Economic Security Task Force – a working group supporting national security review, export controls, and other legislative & regulatory tools protecting Canadian national and economic security. To effectively brief senior management and other relevant stakeholders, Nicole regularly produced written material such as briefing memos, meeting and scenario notes, analytical reports, and slide decks.
The internship was invaluable for many reasons. First, it provided exposure to the work Canada and other countries around the world are doing, individually and collaboratively, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Second, it highlighted the importance of nuclear energy technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and their promotion by government to reaching net-zero. Third, it provided the context and understanding for why the delivery of policy, market, and regulatory frameworks are not only vital to the deployment of these technologies but are also crucial in offering the certainty that attract investment in them. Lastly, through the internship, Nicole was able to hear and learn from some of the thought leaders in this space, including heads of renewables industry associations and utility providers, as well as provincial, federal, and international leadership.
Leading up to the internship, the MEDI program allowed Nicole to build on her existing skills and successfully navigate her new role. Compulsory courses such as such as Management and Policy Tools for Economic Development and Sustainability Professionals provided her with the ability to write policy briefings and effectively communicate with senior management. Likewise, electives offered by the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development such as Stakeholder Engagement, Collaborations and Partnerships allowed her to build an expertise in stakeholder analysis – an extremely valuable skill when working in a place that depends on collaborative work and stakeholder engagement. Overall, the MEDI program allowed her to build further awareness and leadership on a variety of subjects, as well as develop the communication and management skills that are key to functioning successfully as a policy analyst in the federal government.
Read about other MEDI students internships.